When do you need to retake your driving license? [2026 Information]

Most drivers only consider retaking their driving tests when faced with a serious traffic violation. However, not every revocation of driving rights automatically means retaking the theory and practical exams. In some cases, additional training is sufficient, while in others, you must prove your knowledge and driving skills again at "Regitra".

There are also many questions regarding driving under the influence, the responsibilities of novice drivers, the terms for the return of driving rights, and additional courses. There is a lot of information, but differing requirements often cause confusion and uncertainty.

In this article, we will explain when you need to retake your driver's license, in which cases additional training is sufficient, how the process of returning driving rights works, and what consequences you face when driving while your license is revoked.

When is it necessary to retake the license?

You need to retake the driving theory and practical exams at "Regitra" if your driving rights were revoked for a year or longer. If the license is lost for a shorter specified period, you need to attend a special course and obtain a certificate, with which you can regain your driver's license.

If the license is lost for a year or longer, you will need to retake the exams for one higher category you hold. For example, if you have B and C categories, you will only need to retake the C category. However, if you also have an A category, you will need to take exams for the A category as well.

The complexity of vehicle categories is arranged from the easiest to the hardest as follows: B1, B, BE, C1/D1 (either C1 or D1), C1E/D1E (either C1E or D1E), C, D, DE, CE. If the revoked driver's license also included A1, A2, or A categories, you will need to retake exams for these categories as well. 

When are driving rights returned?

• For a person whose driving rights were revoked due to traffic violations, these rights are returned only after completing additional driver training as prescribed.

• For a person whose driving rights were revoked for a year or longer due to a legal violation, the rights are returned only after the revocation period ends and after completing additional driver training and retaking the driving exam, except for a person whose rights were revoked for committing a violation while intoxicated or under the influence of narcotic, psychotropic, or other psychoactive substances.

• For a person whose driving rights were revoked for committing a violation while intoxicated or under the influence of narcotic, psychotropic, or other psychoactive substances, the rights are returned only after the revocation period ends, following the procedure established by the Government or its authorized institution, after medical and educational certification, completing additional driver training, and retaking the driving exam. Retaking the driving exam is not required if the rights were revoked for less than a year for the violation specified in this section.

After losing the right to drive, you may also need to undergo a health check and obtain a health knowledge certification.

How to find out if your driving rights are revoked?

To find out if your driving rights have been revoked, first check if you have received a notice of a fine. Such notices usually arrive by registered mail to your home or you are informed via email that you have received a notice in the VMI self-service. After paying the fine, be sure to pay attention to other informational documents provided in the received notice, such as the administrative offense protocol.

Not all drivers carefully read the content of the protocol, which outlines the essence of the violation and the applicable responsibility, so they continue to participate in traffic despite the fact that the revocation period of driving rights began from the day the fine was paid.

Revocation of rights for novice drivers

A novice driver who does not yet have 2 years of driving experience is subject to the same conditions as those with more experience. This means that if the license is lost for a year or longer, you will need to retake the exams for one higher category you hold and additionally for the A category if you had it.

If you do not complete additional driver training within one year, you lose the right to drive, and your license will not be exchanged for a valid 10-year one. You can regain the right to drive only by retaking the driving exams, after which a new 3-year valid driver's license will be issued.

Courses after losing driving rights

If you do not yet have 2 years of driving experience and caused a traffic accident that resulted in injury to a participant or violated at least one of the following traffic rules, you must complete additional driver training.

This must be done within one year from the date the decision recognizing you as having committed a legal violation becomes effective or from the date of execution of the administrative order issued for committing an administrative offense. 

Training can be undertaken at any driving school that organizes such courses.

Traffic rules violations requiring additional training

• Fulfill drivers' duties to pedestrians;

• Observe overtaking rules;

• Do not use mobile devices while driving;

• Observe traffic control signals;

• Use warning signals as prescribed by traffic rules;

• Observe the rules for crossing intersections;

• Drivers must use seat belts, motorcycle helmets;

• Do not exceed the speed limit;

• Do not drive vehicles while intoxicated.

Revocation of rights for intoxication

Driving under the influence not only endangers your safety and that of others but also risks fines and losing your license. The main penalties for driving under the influence are:

• For mild intoxication, a fine of 800 to 1100 euros and revocation of driving rights for 12 to 18 months.

• For repeated driving under the influence, a fine of 850–1500 euros and revocation of driving rights for 12 to 48 months.

• For dangerous driving under the influence (0.41 – 1.5 per mille), a fine of 600 to 850 euros and revocation of driving rights for 24 to 36 months.

• If you drove under the influence (more than 1.5 per mille), you will face criminal liability. You will be fined and considered convicted for 3 years from the date of fine payment or other penalty execution.

Regaining rights after intoxication

To regain a driver's license revoked for driving under the influence, you must:

• Attend special courses on the harm of alcohol and drugs to human health (organized by most driving schools).

• Also, complete additional driver training (at a driving school).

• If the driver's license is revoked for more than a year, you must retake the theory and practical exams at "Regitra".

Only then will you regain your rights. You can also regain rights lost for driving under the influence earlier if you agree to drive only vehicles equipped with alcohol interlocks. With alcohol interlocks in the vehicle, your driver's license will be marked with code "69". 

What to do if you lose your driver's license?

​If you lose the right to drive, it means you also lose your driver's license, so you may additionally need to undergo a health check, obtain a health knowledge certification, and attend additional driver training courses. If the driving rights were revoked for a year or longer, you must retake the theoretical and practical driving exams at "Regitra".

Driving without a license when it is revoked

Driving vehicles when the driver is disqualified from driving or driving vehicles without alcohol interlocks when required incurs a fine of 450–700 euros.

If driving under the influence (0.41–1.5 per mille) or under the influence of narcotic, psychotropic, or other psychoactive substances when rights are revoked, or avoiding intoxication testing incurs a fine of 1100–1500 euros.

Update your traffic rules knowledge. Our TRAFFIC TESTS (TRAFFIC TICKETS) will help with that.