The traffic in Ha Noi. The validity of B1 driving licences has been extended till the driver reaches his or her retirement age. — Photo giaoduc.net.vn

HA NOI (Biz Hub) ─ The validity of B1 driving licences has been extended till the driver reaches his or her retirement age.

This is in accordance with Circular No 48/2014/TT-BGTVT, issued by the ministry of transport, which took effect on December 1.

The B1 licences are granted to non-professional drivers who drive passenger cars with up to nine seats, trucks with designed weights of less than 3,500kg, or tractors with one trailer and designed weights of less than 3,500kg. Prior to December 1, the licences were valid for 10 years only.

In Viet Nam, the retirement ages are 55 for women and 60 for men. B1 licence applicants who are above the retirement age can seek new licences with a 10-year validity.

The stipulated validity terms remained unchanged for the other licences, specifically 10 years for the A4 and B2 licences, and five years for the C, D and E, as well as FB2, FC and FD, besides FE licences. The A1, A2 and A3 licences, which are issued to drivers of two-wheelers and three-wheelers, have no term limit.

The Directorate for Roads of Viet Nam also began the pilot programme of online renewal of driving licences on December 1, in a bid to save time and expenses of the public. It plans to extend the process to the departments of transport at the beginning of the second quarter next year. ─ VNS