Driver's License Must Be Replaced for Changes in Personal Data or Health Status

Russia tightens driver's licence rules with fines and vehicle seizures

Russian drivers are required to replace their driver's license if their personal details change or if there are changes in their health condition, the Russian Interior Ministry's press center told TASS in response to a relevant inquiry. Failure to do so may result in a fine of up to 15,000 rubles.

A driver's license must be replaced in the following cases: expiration of its validity period; changes to the personal information listed in the license; if the license becomes unfit for further use due to wear, damage, or other reasons that make the information (or part of it) illegible; or if the license is lost or stolen. Replacement is also mandatory if there are changes in the driver's health, including newly identified medical conditions that affect their ability to operate a vehicle, the press center explained.

Driving with an expired license is an offense under Russia's Code of Administrative Offenses, the ministry emphasized.

Under Article 12.7, Part 1, of the Code, driving without a valid license (excluding learner drivers) carries an administrative fine of 5,000 to 15,000 rubles. In such cases, the offender's vehicle may be impounded, and the driver will be prohibited from operating it.

However, if a driver does not operate a vehicle after their license expires, they will not face any penalties, the Interior Ministry concluded.