Procedures · Traffic
Replacing a lost driving licence and renewing it in 2026: documents, where to apply, fees, retesting
Translated from the Vietnamese original; where they differ, the Vietnamese text and the law prevail.
Awaiting review by a lawyer. Each rule cites its source; where the texts are unclear, the page says so.
A driving licence (giấy phép lái xe, GPLX, often called bằng lái) that is lost while still valid can be replaced without retesting. A licence less than 30 days overdue also needs no test; from 30 days to under 1 year overdue you must retake the theory test; 1 year or more overdue you must retake both the theory and practical tests. You apply on VNeID, the Public Service Portal (Cổng Dịch vụ công), or at a commune-level police office with a receiving point or the Traffic Police Division (Phòng Cảnh sát giao thông). The fee is 115,000 đồng; a paper-printed licence is returned within 2.5 working days.
Major changes from 1/7/2026
- Thông tư 108/2026/TT-BCA (signed on 29/6/2026) replaces Thông tư 12/2025/TT-BCA on driving tests and licensing.
- The time to renew a licence is cut from 5 days to 2.5 working days.
- A licence less than 30 days overdue can be renewed without testing. Previously, even one day overdue meant retaking the theory test.
- Applications are mainly online. People without level 2 identification, without licence data in the system, or facing system errors apply in person.
From 1/3/2025, issuing and renewing driving licences moved from the transport sector to the police (Công an).
When to renew, and when to get a replacement
Renewal (đổi GPLX) in 4 cases:
- The licence is damaged and no longer usable.
- The licence was issued by a Vietnamese authority, is still valid, and you want to renew it.
- The date of birth, surname, middle name, given name or nationality on the licence differs from your ID card or passport.
- You want to combine a licence without expiry (motorbike) and a licence with expiry (car) into one document.
Replacement (cấp lại GPLX): a valid licence that is lost is replaced following the same steps as renewal under khoản 2, 3, 4 Đ.21 Thông tư 108/2026/TT-BCA.
Expired licence (under Thông tư 108/2026/TT-BCA):
| Time overdue | What you must do |
|---|---|
| Less than 30 days | Renew, no test |
| From 30 days to under 1 year | Retake the theory test |
| 1 year or more | Retake the theory and practical tests (test course and on-road) |
You cannot renew if you no longer have the licence and its details are not in the Traffic Police Department's (Cục Cảnh sát giao thông) system, or if you have traffic violations for which you have not yet complied with the penalty decision.
Where to apply, and how to apply online
- Online: the National Public Service Portal, the VNeID app or the police app. Log in with a level 2 identification account, choose the licence renewal or replacement procedure, check the auto-filled information, select the electronic health certificate, pay the fee, and choose how to receive it.
- In person: a commune-level police office with a licence application receiving point, or the Traffic Police Division of the provincial police.
Documents to prepare
- Application form (filled in on the system when applying online).
- A valid driver's health certificate. The electronic version sent to the system by the medical facility is preferred; the paper version is used only when there is a technical error. Car licences require this certificate; for motorcycle licences, you should check at the place of application.
- A 3x4 cm portrait photo with a white background, taken on the spot, or the photo from your identification data.
- Foreigners and overseas Vietnamese: a valid passport.
- Where details do not match: papers for comparison.
You do not have to submit a copy of your ID card. You keep the original licence file yourself.
Processing time and fees
| Item | Amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Guidance to complete an incorrect file | Within 2 working days of receipt | Đ.21 TT 108/2026/TT-BCA |
| Electronic licence linked to VNeID | Data sent to the Traffic Police Department within 1 day after the file is complete | Đ.21 TT 108/2026/TT-BCA |
| Return of the paper-printed licence (PET card) | 2.5 working days from receiving a complete, valid file | điểm c khoản 3 Đ.21 TT 108/2026/TT-BCA |
| Licence renewal or replacement fee | 115,000 đồng/time | STT 2 Biểu mức thu TT 154/2025/TT-BTC |
| Level 2 VNeID with all 5 documents linked, applying online | 0 đồng, from 15/8/2026 to 28/2/2027 | TT 117/2026/TT-BTC; NQ 66.22/2026/NQ-CP |
The five documents to link on VNeID: birth certificate; bank card, payment account or e-wallet; social security account; mobile phone number; electronic health record. If you must retest, you also pay the test fee for your licence class under TT 154/2025/TT-BTC.
We have read Thông tư 108/2026/TT-BCA through summary articles, not the full text. Some articles put the overdue thresholds in Đ.19, others in Đ.9. You should check again at the place of application.
What you receive
An electronic licence linked to VNeID and, if you request it, a PET card licence. You collect the card at the place of application or receive it by post. When the traffic police check you, a licence linked to VNeID can be shown instead of the card.
Common mistakes
- Letting a car licence be 30 days or more overdue, so you must retake the theory test.
- Having unpaid camera fines (phạt nguội), so the renewal application is refused.
- The health certificate has expired, or the medical facility has not yet sent the electronic version to the system.
If you lose a motorbike licence, do you have to retake the test?
No, if your licence details are in the licence management system. Motorcycle licences have no expiry, so when one is lost you apply for a replacement with no test. If the system has no data and you have no papers left, you may have to train and take the test again.
How long after a car licence expires must you retake the test?
If it is 30 days or more overdue, you must retest. From 30 days to under 1 year, you retake the theory test; 1 year or more, both the theory and practical tests. Under 30 days, you only need to renew.
Is it compulsory to change a paper licence to a PET card?
You change it when you want to or when the licence is damaged or has wrong details. A paper licence that is still valid can be used until the expiry date on it (transitional provisions of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024). If the data is linked to VNeID, you can show the version in the app when checked.