Portal
Type: Regulation
Responsible Agency: Ministry of Public Works and Transport
Issuing Date: 2002-09-04
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Contents
Article 3: Classification of Driving Licenses
Chapter II:Driving License Types and Usage
Article 4: Citizen Driving Licenses
Article 5: The Usage of Citizen Driving Licenses
Article 6: Foreign Driving Licenses
Article 7: Request for a Change and Usage of Foreign Driving Licenses
Article 8: International Driving License
Article 9: Usage of International Driving Licenses
Article 10: Military Driving Licenses
Article 11: Usage of Military Driving Licenses
Article 12: Loss of Driving Licenses
Chapter III:Management and Issuance of Driving Licenses
Article 13: Management and Issuance of Driving Licenses Authorities
Article 14: Rights and Duties of Department of Transport
Lao People Democratic Republic
Peace Independence Democracy Unity Prosperity
Ministry of Communication, Transport,
Post and Construction No.: 3416/MCTPC
Date: 04 September 2002
Regulation
on
Management and Driving License Examination of
Land Transport Vehicles
- Pursuant to the Law on Transport;
- Pursuant to the Law on Road Traffic;
- Pursuant to the Prime Minister’s Decree No. 66/PM, dated 20 May 1999 on the Organization and Operation of Ministry of Communication, Transport, Post and Construction;
- Pursuant to the Request of the Transport Department No. 313/DoT, dated 22 April 2002;
The Minister of Communication, Transport, Post and Construction hereby issued a Regulation:
General Provisions
This Regulation defines disciplines for management and driving license examination of land transport vehicles for effectiveness and harmonization across the country.
- ‘Driving’ refers to controlling or directing vehicles on a road;
- ‘Driver’ refers to a person who controls or directs a vehicle on the road;
- ‘Vehicles’ refer to automobiles serving as land transport;
- ‘Driving licenses’ refers to certificates issued by competent authorities for drivers of motorized vehicles who have passed a driving examination according to regulations.
Article 3: Classification of Driving Licenses
Driving licenses are classified into eight types defined as following:
- (A) is valid for all kinds of two-wheeled motor vehicles;
- (A1) is valid for all kinds of three-wheeled motor vehicles for goods transport but not for passengers;
- (A2) is valid for tractors and walking tractors;
- (B) is valid for four-wheeled lightweight vehicles not exceeding 3,500 kg in total;
- (C) is valid for goods-transport vehicles of four or more wheels weighing 3,500 kg or more. The type C driving license can be used instead of the type B license;
- (D) is valid for passenger-transport vehicles of four wheels or more;
- (D1) is valid for three-wheeled passenger-transport motor vehicles;
- (E) is valid for type B, C, D pulling a trailer with a weight of 750 kg and over.
Driving License Types and Usage
Article 4: Citizen Driving Licenses
Citizen Driving Licenses shall be issued to individuals based on the following cases:
1. Pass the Examination:
Lao citizens, aliens, non-residents, and foreigners living in the Lao PDR are eligible to take examination for a driving license as specified in Annex II and obtain a driving license by passing examination in accordance with the disciplines specified in Annex III.
2. Request a change from foreign driving licenses to Lao driving licenses:
Lao citizens, aliens, non-residents living in the Lao PDR and holding foreign driving licenses shall request a change of license to a Lao citizen driving license in accordance with the disciplines specified in Annex I of this Regulation.
3. Request a change from international driving licenses to Lao driving licenses:
Lao citizens, aliens, non-residents living in the Lao PDR and holding international driving licenses have the rights to request a change of license to a Lao citizen driving license in accordance with the disciplines specified in Annex I of this Regulation.
4. Requesting a change from military driver’s licenses to citizen driver’s licenses:
Soldiers, officers, and civil servants of the national defense forces holding military driving licenses have the rights to request a change of license to a citizen driving license based on their types of license in accordance with the disciplines specified in Annex I of this Regulation.
Article 5: The Usage of Citizen Driving Licenses
Citizen driving licenses duly issued to individuals in accordance with regulations by Division of Communication, Transport, Post and Construction in provinces, capital, or special zones can be used for driving across the country.
The citizen driving licenses are valid for 5 years from the date of issuance. One month prior to the expiry date of the driving license, the holders shall recheck their health, and thereafter submit a health certificate and the driving license to the Division of Vehicle and Driving Management in provinces, capital, or special zones where they reside for license extension or renewal
Article 6: Foreign Driving Licenses
Foreign driving licenses refer to a driving permit issued by foreign competent authorities.
Article 7: Request for a Change and Usage of Foreign Driving Licenses
Lao citizens, aliens, non-residents living in the Lao PDR who have lived abroad for purposes such as working, studying, or conducting business on a long-term basis, may obtain a driving license issued by such countries in accordance with their regulations. Upon returning to Lao PDR such driving licenses cannot be used, and shall be changed to a Lao citizen driving license in accordance with No. 2 of Article 4 above.
Foreigners holding a valid foreign driving license issued by their country of origin shall request a certificate for the use of a foreign driving license in accordance with Annex I of this Regulation.
Article 8: International Driving License
There are two types of international driving licenses as following:
- International driving license of the Lao PDR issued by the Department of Transport the Lao PDR for individuals who duly possess a Lao citizen driving license in order to use it in foreign countries.
- Foreign international driving license issued by a competent authority of a foreign country.
Article 9: Usage of International Driving Licenses
International driving licenses of the Lao PDR issued to individuals who duly possess a Lao citizen driving license for at least one year and have never had an accident or seriously violated traffic regulations such as the following individuals:
- Civil servants who are assigned to perform duties or to study, or students studying abroad on a long-term basis;
- All Lao citizens, aliens, non-residents, and foreigners living in the Lao PDR who are permitted to perform their affairs abroad on a long-term basis.
International driving licenses of the Lao PDR have 12-month validity. At least 30 days prior to the expiry date such licenses shall be requested for a renewal with the Department of Transport, the Ministry of Communication, Transport, Post and Construction.
Foreign international driving licenses held by foreigners can be used in the Lao PDR based upon their validity. If the holders want to continue using such driving licenses upon their expiration, they shall follow the disciplines specified in Annex I of this Regulation.
Article 10: Military Driving Licenses
Military driving licenses are issued by competent departments, divisions, or units of the Ministry of National Defense that have the rights and duties to issue such licenses to soldiers, officers, and civil servants of the national defense forces.
Article 11: Usage of Military Driving Licenses
Military driving licenses are only valid for vehicles directly serving the national defense work and registering with “ກທ” number plate. The licenses are not valid for vehicles registered with all types of civilian number plates.
Article 12: Loss of Driving Licenses
Lao citizens, aliens, non-residents, and foreigners living in the Lao PDR who lose a driving license such as a citizen driving license, a foreign or international driving license, shall notify the loss of a driving license in accordance with the disciplines specified in Annex I of this Regulation in order to be considered for reissuance of licenses by the relevant authorities.
Management and Issuance of Driving Licenses
Article 13: Management and Issuance of Driving Licenses Authorities
Management and Issuance of Driving Licenses Authorities consist of:
- Department of Transport;
- Division of Communication, Transport, Post and Construction in provinces, capital, and special zones.
Article 14: Rights and Duties of Department of Transport
Department of Transport has the following rights and duties on the management and issuance of driving licenses:
- To approve a committee for driving examination upon the request of Division of Communication, Transport, Post and Construction in provinces, capital, and special zones;
- To manage and monitor driving examination as well as to manage and monitor driving licenses across the country;
- To issue permanent citizen driving licenses;
- To issue international driving licenses of the Lao PDR to Lao citizens, aliens, non-residents, and foreigners living in the Lao PDR who already have Lao citizen driving licenses in order to be used abroad;
- To monitor and issue to Lao citizens, aliens, and non-residents living in the Lao PDR an approval for a change from foreign and international driving licenses into Lao citizen driving licenses;
- To monitor and issue to soldiers, officers, and civil servants of the national defense forces an approval for a change from military driving licenses into citizen driving licenses;
- To issue permits or certificates for the use of foreign and international driving licenses issued abroad to foreigners to use them in the Lao PDR;
- To issue international driving licenses of the Lao PDR and certificates for the use of foreign or international driving licenses to foreigners replacing lost licenses that such loss has already been notified in accordance with regulations;
- To provide technical training to the technical Vehicle and Driving Management staff of Division of Communication, Transport, Post and Construction in provinces, capital, and special zones, and technical staff of driving schools on a regular and continuous basis;
- To issue an additional guideline for implementation of this Regulation.
Article 15: Rights and Duties of Division of Communication, Transport, Post and Construction in Provinces, Capital, and Special Zones
Division of Communication, Transport, Post and Construction in provinces, capital, and special zones has the following rights and duties on the management and issuance of driving licenses:
- To form a committee for driving examination and propose to the Department of Transport, the Ministry of Communication, Transport, Post and Construction for approval. Upon approval, the committee shall be proposed to the Governor of provinces, the capital governor, or Governor of special zones for official appointment;
- To manage and monitor driving examination and the issuance of driving licenses within their area in accordance with regulations issued by the Ministry of Communication, Transport, Post and Construction;
- To supervise the Vehicle and Driving Management Units in examining applications for driving examination or a change of driving license for organizing driving examination for residents or citizens working within their locality;
- To issue 6 month validity of temporary driving licenses to people who have passed the driving examination or change driving licenses as well as send information on people who have obtained the temporary driving license to the Department of Transport for the issuance of permanent driving licenses;
- To issue 6 month validity of temporary driving licenses to people who lose their citizen driving license that have already been notified to the relevant authorities in accordance with regulations or for validity extension;
- To manage, monitor, and examine the driving instruction of driving schools under their supervision;
- To provide short-term training on theory and practical driving to people who can drive and regular or long-term training on theory and practical driving to people who cannot drive in accordance with the curriculum stipulated by the Ministry of Communication, Transport, Post and Construction and to issue a certificate for people who complete the theory training to be attached to an application for driving examination, in case a province, capital, or special zones does not have a driving school, the service fee for such training shall be charged as appropriate.
Final Provisions
The Department of Transport in collaboration with relevant authorities are responsible for implementing this Regulation efficiently.
This Provision is effective from the date of signature and replaces the Regulation No. 2217/MCTPC, dated 17/9/1993 on the Management and Driving License Examination for Land Transport Vehicles. All requirements, rules, or regulations that conflict with this Regulation shall be canceled.
Minister
[Signature and Seal]
Buathong
Download English:Regulation on Management and Driving License Examination of Land Transport Vehicles No 3416/MCTPC Date: 04 September 2002
Download Lao:Regulation on Management and Driving License Examination of Land Transport Vehicles No 3416/MCTPC Date: 04 September 2002