Driving license can be issued to individuals of the following ages:

• "AI" subcategory of vehicles can be provided to 16-year old individuals;
• "A", "B" categories of vehicles and "B1", "C1" subcategories can be provided to 18-year old individuals;
• "C" category of vehicles and "D1" subcategory can be provided to 21-year old individuals whose length of service as drivers is no less than 3 years, including experience in driving "C1" subcategory vehicles for no less than 1 year;
• "Tm" category of vehicles can be provided to 21-year old individuals;
• "D" and "Тb" category of vehicles can be provided to 23-year old individuals whose length of service as drivers is no less than 3 years, including experience in driving "D1" subcategory vehicles for no less than 1 year;
• "BE", "CE", "DE" categories of vehicle combinations can be provided to individuals who have been driving "B", "C" and "D" categories of vehicles for no less than 12 months;
• "C1E", "D1E" categories of vehicle combinations can be provided to individuals who have been driving "C", "D" categories or "C1", "D1" subcategories for no less than 12 months.

Foreign citizens, stateless persons and other persons who do not speak the state or Russian languages may take the theoretical exam in the presence of qualified translators, the details of which shall be recorded in the minutes of the examination commission.

A new sample of driving license came into effect on March 03, 2015 and has the following types of categories:

1."А", "A1":   two-wheeled motorcycle;

2."В": automobiles gross laden weight of which does not exceed 3.500 kg and the number of seats, exclusive of driver`s seat, does not exceed 8, and also which can gather speed of no less than 100 km/h based on technical capabilities;

3."B1":  tricycles or 4-wheelers;

4."С", "C1": trucks gross laden weight of which exceeds 3.500 kg;

5."D": buses with no less than 28 seats and with length of no less than 7 m;

6."D1": buses with no more than 28 seats and with length of no less than 7 m;

7."BE": automobiles  gross laden weight of which does not exceed 3.500 kg and the number of seats, exclusive of driver`s seat, does not exceed 8,  and also which can gather speed of no less than 100 km/h based on technical capabilities with trailer gross laden weight of which does not exceed 1000 kg and gross laden weight of vehicle combination should not exceed 3 500 kg;

8."СЕ", "C1E": trucks gross laden weight of which exceeds 3.500 kg with trailer that has no less than two axis with distance between them over 1 m or semitrailer;

9."DE", "D1E": articulated buses or buses with no less than 28 seats and with length of no less than 7 m with trailer, gross laden weight of which should be no less than 1.000 kg;

10."Tm": tram;

11."Tb": trolleybus.

Before taking the test, prospective drivers should provide a medical certificate via the information system of the authorized health care authority (not required if the licence is being replaced before its expiry date). To do this, you should contact a medical organization (private or public) where medical professionals provide services.

1.  The following are allowed to pass exams:

• persons wishing to obtain the right to drive vehicles of category «A», «B», «C», «D», «E», trams, trolleybuses, passed a full course of training in educational organizations, and before the start of training - medical survey with granting;
• persons who have independently prepared themselves in the scope of the corresponding programs for obtaining a certificate for the right to drive vehicles of category «A» and «B» and residing in places where there are no organizations for training and retraining drivers of vehicles.
• persons who graduated from higher and secondary special educational institutions in the automotive and tractor specialty, to represent the right to drive vehicles belonging to category «A» and «B» upon presentation of a copy of the diploma, extracts from semester and examination sheets, appendices to the diploma and passing into the REU theoretical and practical examinations for the categories requested.

2.  For exams in the REU for the right to drive vehicles, their delivery, obtaining certificates for the right to drive vehicles are allowed to persons registered at a permanent place of residence, temporary residence for a period of more than 6 months if there are supporting documents, as well as from foreign citizens registered in the bodies of internal affairs at the place of their stay.Servicemen of the urgent service of all arms of the armed forces are admitted to examinations at the place of deployment of military units.

Candidates are admitted to exams upon submission of the following:

1. A medical certificate on admission to vehicle driving issued in form No. 073/y.
2. A certificate on completion of the driving course issued by the organization training vehicle drivers.

The exams are taken in the following sequence: first theoretical, then practical one.

An individual willing to obtain a driving license who has not passed a theoretical exam is not admitted to a practical one. 

To obtain a multi-category driving license, a candidate takes one theoretical exam, while the practical exam is carried out separately for each category.

Considering the time limits set out in this paragraph, the candidate selects the place, day and time of the theoretical or practical exam based on the availability of slots for the theoretical or practical exams at least one working day prior to the date of the examination.

The repeated examination, both theoretical and practical, is scheduled for the next working day from the day of the previous one.

In the event of two failures in the theoretical exam, the next theoretical exam is held no earlier than one month later.

In the event of two failures in the practical exam, the next practical exam is held no earlier than one month later.

If there are three failures in the practical exam, the results of the theoretical exam are cancelled (the number of attempts is reset). A candidate will not be allowed to take the theoretical exam until at least two months after the test.

Persons who have completed training under the referral of local military authorities are allowed to re-take the exam in seven calendar days.

The practical exam is graded based on the following system: positive mark - "PASSED", negative mark - "FAILED".

The "PASSED" mark is awarded when the candidate has answered at least 32 questions correctly within the allotted time. Otherwise, the candidate will be marked 'FAILED'.

The lack of an answer to the question is considered an error.

Currently, there are two options to obtain a driving license: through applying to a “Government for Citizens” Public Corporation branch or through applying via e-Gov Portal but only in cases of a driving license exchange.

To obtain a driving license for the first time or when adding categories for the right to drive vehicles, a candidate should provide the following documents to the Public Corporation:

1. An ID document (for identification purposes) or its electronic version from the Digital Document service;
2. Medical certificate via the information system of an authorized health authority (not required if the licence is replaced before the expiry date);
3. Certificate on completion of training courses through the information system of professional associations for the training of drivers of vehicles or "Driving School" AIS;
4. A document certifying that you paid the state fee or made a non-cash payment when applying.
5. Document certifying employment length (statement of employment) for assignment of the following categories: "С", "D1", "D", "Tm", "Tb".

To obtain a driving license after the expiration of the revocation period, only a theoretical exam is passed.

The theoretical and practical tests are not taken when a driving licence is exchanged after its expiry date. Driving licences issued abroad are replaced after passing a theory test.