A driver's license is issued for a certain period after which it must be replaced. Driver's license renewals in 2021 are virtually unchanged from previous years as no significant changes have been made.
The replacement procedure is mandatory for every driver and cannot be skipped. According to the law, an expired driver's license is equivalent to no driver's license at all, and therefore serious administrative penalties may be imposed. In addition to the expiration of the document, replacement can occur for other reasons (change of last name, first name).
The procedure for replacing a driver's license is enshrined in regulations. Today, the procedure can be performed in various ways. The most important thing is that the replacement happens quite quickly and you don’t have to spend a lot of time in queues.
When is it necessary to change a document?
The law sets out the conditions when replacing a driver's license is mandatory. Ignoring the requirement is not allowed, since in the future all documents may be declared invalid.
Mandatory replacement is carried out in the following cases:
- changing a person’s personal data for any reason;
- loss or serious damage to a driver’s license;
- receiving a new category. You can use the old rights, but not under the new category;
- expiration of ten years from the date of receipt of the document.
It is for this last reason that drivers most often forget to check their license. While an expired document cannot be used. You can start replacing your driver's license in advance - 6 months before the ten-year deadline.
If there are serious reasons, the driver's license may be terminated early. For example, due to deteriorating health conditions due to which the person cannot drive a car.
Where does the replacement take place?
Any actions related to a driver’s license are carried out by the traffic police. This government body issues new rights, changes old ones, and monitors compliance with established rules. Today, you can apply not only through a personal visit, but also by making an appointment in advance. In addition, the application can be submitted through the MFC, which will independently redirect it to the right place. This is especially convenient when the traffic police department is far away and the work schedule does not allow you to come on your own.
IMPORTANT !!! It is worth remembering that since the MFC does not independently resolve issues, but is only an intermediary, it will take more time to receive and process the request. In this regard, it is not recommended to contact such centers when the deadline for replacing a driver’s license is already close to the end.
You can contact any convenient traffic police department, and it does not matter your place of residence or registration. Theoretically, you can change your rights even in another region.
Thus, there are 3 main ways to replace a driver’s license:
- by submitting all documents to the MFC, from where they will be sent further independently. The disadvantage of this method is the increased waiting time, so resorting to it when time is short is not recommended;
- through a personal visit to the traffic police, where an application is submitted on a first-come, first-served basis. As with many other government agencies, queues are extremely common and the likelihood of spending many hours waiting is high;
- pre-registration through government services. All preliminary steps and stages of filling out documents take place in your personal account directly on the website. Thanks to this, a lot of time is saved. The replacement itself still takes place at the traffic police, but by appointment from the website, so you won’t have to wait long. Today, the latter method is the most common and convenient. In addition, it has additional advantages, which will be discussed below.
How to use the State Services portal to replace rights
How to use the State Services portal to replace rights
The procedure for registration, issuance, restoration, and renewal of automobile licenses is handled by a separate division of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate - the District Examination Department. Those who received their license several years ago remember what huge queues there were always in these departments. But now you can use the services of an Internet portal and significantly reduce your time and save your nerves. In addition, the State Services website allows you to save money.
First, you need to log in to the portal. Enter your username and password; if necessary, it is possible to restore data. The account must have the status “Confirmed”. You can read how to do this in this article.
Step-by-step instruction
On the main page, you can enter the following query into the search bar: “Replacing a driver’s license.”
The system will automatically show suitable options from which you can select the one you need.
Or on the main page you need to go to the “All services” section, where on the “Categories” tab.
After this, select the item “Obtaining the right to drive a vehicle”, and then “Replacing a driver’s license when the owner’s data changes, is lost or is unsuitable.” The rules are the same for all cases of replacing a driver's license.
Next, the system will offer detailed instructions. Here you can find out about the tariffs for paying state duties.
To reduce the time when submitting an application, the form can be filled out and submitted directly through the State Services portal. The form requires you to fill in the following information:
- Number of the old driver's license, date of issue, who issued it.
- Citizen's passport details.
- Certificate of passing a medical examination in form No. 003-B/U. The certificate is valid for 1 year. (readable scan or high quality photo).
Replacement of rights after expiration through government services
The last paragraph is not required if the rights are replaced in the event of loss, damage or modification of the applicant's personal data. It is worth noting that if the license is replaced in this way, there will be 2 marks: the date of issue of the new license and the date of future replacement of the certificate after the expiration of the statute of limitations. That is, the intention of not passing the medical examination and submitting an application for a replacement due to damage to the “crust” will not help.
The system will prompt you to select the date and time of your visit to the State Traffic Inspectorate, as well as the appropriate department. After this, you can send the documents for verification.
Replacement of rights after expiration through government services
The next step is to pay the state fee. This can be done by cashless payment directly on the website. In addition, citizens have access to other methods:
- at the cash desk of any bank;
- through ATMs;
- online banking;
- electronic wallets;
- from a mobile phone account.
So how much does it cost to change your license at the traffic police? The portal offers applicants to renew their rights through State Services and save money. When paying the state fee on the website, a 30% discount is provided. Full price - 2000 rubles, with a discount - 1400 rubles.
Payment receipt can be received by email
You can receive a payment receipt by email. You need to go to the State Traffic Inspectorate unit on the specified date, preferably at a slightly predetermined time. The applicant must provide originals of all necessary documents.
Employees of the State Traffic Inspectorate will verify the data, take a photograph of the driver for his license, and within a short time will issue a new national driver’s license. The website says the procedure takes about an hour. In reality, long delays occur.
Important! When filling out an application on the State Services portal, be sure to pay attention to the information blocks. The resource warns in advance about technical work and possible failures. For example, in some regions in January 2021 it is temporarily impossible to pay state fees online, and therefore receive a discount; in Moscow and Moscow Region, appointments may be displayed with a 3-hour shift.
What documents will be required
The Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation establishes an exhaustive list of documents that will be required to replace a driver’s license. It is recommended to collect and prepare them in advance, since some of them require material costs and time. Of course, you can assemble the entire package in one day, but it is better to take care of this in advance.
At the moment, the documents required to renew a driver’s license will be as follows:
- a drawn up and completed application requesting replacement and issuance of a new document. If you contact the traffic police and the MFC in person, you can make an application in advance. If the replacement takes place online, simply fill out the form provided on the website;
- passport;
- a medical certificate confirming that there are no obstacles to driving a vehicle. There are some nuances associated with obtaining these documents, so it makes sense to look at them separately;
- a valid or expired driver's license. It is worth remembering that replacement can begin no earlier than six months before the expiration date of the document;
- receipt for payment of state duty. In most cases, there is no need to print a receipt, since all information immediately goes into a single database.
IMPORTANT !!! It is recommended that you make copies of key documents yourself in advance, since sometimes inspectors require them, and printing them directly on site can be difficult.
Depending on the place where the driver’s license is replaced, photographs may take place directly at the department, or you will have to bring the photographs yourself. To avoid unnecessary expenses and misunderstandings, you should clarify this nuance in advance.
The inspector does not have the right to demand other documents. Otherwise, you can appeal the decision to a higher official or to court.
What to expect if you have to take an exam when replacing your license
Although the information about passing the exam has been refuted, we should always be prepared for the fact that at any moment this reform may find its place in our lives. Therefore, let's look at how this procedure will take place and what drivers will need to do for this. Well, in addition to the standard things, such as 20 theoretical questions with the possibility of being wrong no more than twice, you will have to pay the state fee for taking the exam, as well as bring a photo and undergo a medical examination. All this, of course, cannot but upset motorists, because those who have passed the traffic rules exam know how tedious this process is. In addition, it is worth noting that passing the exam when replacing your license has other disadvantages. One of these disadvantages is that the questions on the tickets are often far from perfect and do not correspond to reality, which can become an obstacle to successful completion.
Obtaining a medical certificate
One of the most important stages is obtaining a medical document confirming the physical and mental ability of a person to drive a car. Replacement of licenses every 10 years is primarily associated with such confirmations, since someone unable to drive for health reasons poses a danger on the road to other road users.
ATTENTION !!! You can get a certificate in different ways, which will differ in time and money spent. However, in any case, it is necessary to use the services only of those medical institutions that issue conclusions on state-issued forms. Any other certificates are not valid and are not intended for submission to the traffic police authorities.
To obtain a certificate, you must go through an entire commission of doctors. This can be done either in a private licensed clinic or in a public one. In the first case, the entire procedure takes place in one day, but you will have to pay for it. Government services are also paid, although they are cheaper, but you will have to wait longer. Sometimes it takes up to a week for doctors to get through. The most important doctors will be a narcologist and a psychiatrist. Their conclusion must be issued exclusively by government agencies.
You can undergo a medical examination in any region, regardless of the place of registration. In the absence of contraindications, the chief physician issues a conclusion on a special form, which must be attached to the general package of documents for replacing a driver’s license. Depending on the region and location of the examination, the total cost can range from 1 to 5 thousand rubles.
It is worth noting that the law allows the use of a medical certificate obtained after deprivation of rights. However, it is important to remember that the certificate is valid for 1 year from the date of its issue, after which you will have to obtain a new certificate.
Prerequisites
The initiator of the new law obliging drivers to take an exam when replacing their license was the Union of Driving Schools of Russia (URR). Let us immediately clarify that the proposed law provides for passing the exam only when replacing licenses; if they are lost or damaged, you will not have to take the exam. There were two reasons for the proposal of such a law. The first and most obvious is that after 10 years, traffic rules are simply forgotten, and drivers need to restore their knowledge. The second reason lies in the fact that traffic rules undergo annual changes and reforms, and therefore all motorists need to undergo new training and learn new traffic rules once in a while.
Replacement of a driver's license at the MFC
This method can be considered the simplest, but slowest option. It can only be recommended if there is enough time left. First, you need to call the hotline and find out which departments deal with these issues. After this, the collected package of documents is submitted to the center. From the moment you take it you need to wait 1 to 2 weeks. After the employee calls, you can come and receive a new document.
In 2021, what documents are needed at the MFC?
The general list is general and includes:
- a completed application for the production and issuance of a new document. You can take it both on the official website and directly on the spot;
- passport and its copies;
- old driver's license, if not lost;
- medical certificate obtained from a specialized institution;
- receipt for payment of state duty. Today its size is 2 thousand rubles.
In addition to the above documents, you must electronically submit photographs that will be required to issue a new driver’s license.
Replacement of a driver's license at the traffic police
Today, using this method is extremely inconvenient and unprofitable. Firstly, due to the long waiting time, and secondly, for financial reasons. However, if for some reason it is not possible to use the government services website, you can personally contact the traffic police.
It’s better to arrive either very first, or vice versa, at the end of the queue. Otherwise, you will have to spend long hours waiting. At the same time, the replacement procedure itself is not very long: contact the inspector, fill out an application, submit all documents, take photographs and issue a new document. The list of documents is general and does not differ in any way from the other cases listed above.
Where to find sample applications
Sample applications can be obtained from the State Traffic Inspectorate, a multifunctional center, or downloaded from the government services portal. In the first two cases, the driver will have to fill out the forms himself, in the third, they will be filled out automatically. You can also download the application and its completed sample on our website.
As a basis for replacing the plastic, you must indicate one of the reasons: “due to expiration”, “due to loss”, “due to damage” or “due to a change of surname”.
Also read: 5 pros and cons of a black car
Replacement of a driver's license for public services
This method is considered not only the most convenient and fastest, but also the cheapest of all. All documents and applications can be prepared directly at home on the website. To do this, you will need to go to your personal account, go to the appropriate section and fill out the form provided. At the appointed time (usually the next day), you must come to the selected traffic police authority, where a new document is issued. At the same time, you won’t have to waste time in long queues and wait until the inspector is free. All documents have been prepared in advance and you just need to pick up your new license.
IMPORTANT !!! In addition, payment of state fees on the website occurs at a discount. Instead of 2 thousand, its size will be 1400 rubles. You won't have to print any receipts.
The only disadvantage of this method is the need for pre-registration. To create an account on the site, you need to personally appear at a special center where verification takes place. The service can be either paid or free, depending on the location. After activation, you can use your personal account in full.
Responsibility
According to the law, expired rights are equated to their absence and administrative liability is provided for this. The sanction of the article entails a fine of 5 to 15 thousand rubles. In addition, the vehicle is detained and subsequently evacuated to a special impound lot. It is important to note that there is a fee for parking a car. On average, a day will cost from 2 thousand rubles.
To return the car, you will first have to obtain a new license, then pay the imposed fines and parking services. For the driver, such a trip can cost extremely significant amounts. In practice, there have been cases when the amount of all payments and fines exceeded the cost of the car (if it was an old and inexpensive car). We must not forget that with an expired license it may be difficult to demand compensation from the insurance company, and in some cases it will shift all responsibility to the driver.
Thus, the procedure for replacing and renewing a driver's license is extremely important. It cannot be ignored, as it can lead to significant problems in the future.
