The Cabinet of Ministers allows driving on old licenses for one year after the war ends
During the period of martial law in Ukraine and for one year after its termination, citizens may operate motor vehicles using a driver's license issued for the first time for two years, even if its validity period has expired. This provision is established by Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 184 dated March 3, 2022. However, such a license is considered invalid and must be exchanged. This was reported by hsc.gov.ua citing МВС, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
According to current legislation, the simplification applies only to documents that were issued to the driver for the first time for a short term of two years. Licenses obtained for five or fifteen years do not fall under this norm, and their owners must comply with general rules regarding the validity period of documents. The presence of an expired document of the category ‘two years’ permits vehicle operation only during the period of martial law and for twelve months after its official conclusion.
Conditions for exchanging documents
Despite the temporary permission to drive, such a driver’s license is legally invalid and subject to mandatory exchange for a new document of standard validity. To avoid legal complications and fines, it is recommended to submit an application for replacement as soon as possible. The procedure is available online through the electronic driver’s cabinet or the Diiya mobile application, provided that data about the document is already entered into the system.
Documents for service centers
The service can also be obtained in person at any convenient service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs regardless of registration place. For this, it is necessary to have the original driver’s license, a passport with a mark on the place of registration or an ID card with an extract on the place of residence, as well as the tax payer registration number (RNOKPP). The cost of the service is approximately 650 UAH, excluding bank commission.
Additional examinations
There is an important exceptional rule: if the driver received three or more traffic violations during the period of using the license issued for two years, the exchange of the document will be carried out only after successfully passing theoretical and practical exams at the service center. This is an additional measure of road safety control.
Registration and consultations
Before visiting the service center, it is mandatory to register for the service through the E-Zapys website or the corresponding mobile application. An alternative option is using the self-service terminal located directly in the center premises. For additional questions, you can contact the hotline at (044) 290-19-88 or on the pages of the Main Service Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on social media.
Photo: hsc.gov.ua
Read also: Donald Trump confirms talks with Vladimir Putin’s representative
