Expired Romanian driving licence: what should you do?

Can I still drive with an expired licence?

No. Driving with a licence whose validity has expired is an offence punished with a fine (Emergency Ordinance 195/2002, art. 101).

The amount of the fine is in the law; we don't list it here, because it changes.

If the police stop you

The police keep a licence whose validity has expired and give you a replacement document with the right to drive for 15 days (Emergency Ordinance 195/2002, art. 111).

You can still apply for the new licence when the old one was kept by the police because it had expired (Order no. 82/2024 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, art. 7).

What to do, step by step

1. Have the medical examination at an authorised medical unit and get the document stating that you are fit to drive.
2. Apply in person at any driving licence and vehicle registration office (SPCRPCÎV). Your photo and signature are taken there.
3. You do not bring a form from home: as a rule, the application is generated by the system at the counter, from the details you give there, and you sign it.
4. Your old licence, if you still have it, has a corner cut off and is handed back to you on the spot. Once the application is registered, it is no longer valid.
5. The new licence is posted to the address in Romania that you put on the application, or you collect it from the office chosen on the application. It takes 5 working days on average, 14 calendar days at most.

On request, the counter gives you a replacement document for the licence, valid until the new licence is issued but for no more than 30 days. The order does not say whether this document lets you drive when the old licence had already expired: ask at the counter.

• Track the status of your licence, on dgpci.mai.gov.ro

The medical examination for the driving licence

A licence with a new validity period is only issued after the medical examination (Emergency Ordinance 195/2002, art. 24). The examination is carried out in authorised medical units, which exist in every county (art. 22).

At the counter you hand in the document issued by the medical unit, stating that you are medically fit to drive vehicles in the category you are applying for.

The list of authorised units is published on the Ministry of Health website (ms.ro), under “Autorizații” (Authorisations): look for the file “Lista unităților ambulatorii autorizate pentru examinarea candidaților la obținerea sau preschimbarea permisului”.

• Ministry of Health — Authorisations (the lists of authorised medical units)

What to bring

• The application form, filled in at the counter
• Your ID, the original
• The medical certificate, from an authorised clinic, stating that you are fit to drive
• Your old licence, the original
• Proof that you paid the fee

If you no longer have the old licence, you fill in a declaration by hand, on the application. If you paid through the national electronic online payment system, you do not need to bring proof of payment. The amount is shown on the DGPCI page.

This list covers the usual case. The exact list for your situation is on the official page.

Can you renew before it expires? And long after?

Before, yes: the holder of a Romanian licence can ask at any time to exchange it for a new one with a new validity period.

After, also yes: the order covers a licence requested “before or after its expiry date”, and the article of the law that says you do not retake the test (Emergency Ordinance 195/2002, art. 24) sets no time limit after expiry. Besides people with their domicile or residence in Romania, the same article also covers those who prove they have been studying in Romania for at least 6 months and hold a Romanian licence.

Can it be done online, or through someone else?

Online, no: the order provides for sending the application online only for a duplicate, not for a licence with a new validity period.

Through someone else, only if you are a Romanian citizen with your domicile or residence in Romania and you are temporarily abroad: then a representative can file the application for you, holding a special power of attorney authenticated by a Romanian diplomatic mission or consular office. The power of attorney can also be authenticated by foreign authorities, if it is legalised (supralegalizare) or bears an apostille (Order no. 82/2024, art. 2).

How long the new licence is valid

• Categories AM, A1, A2, A, B, B1, BE and Tr1: 10 years
• Categories C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D, DE, Tr, Tb and Tv: 5 years

What you need

• Driver's licenseRomanian driving licence renewal: what you need

See also

• How long are Romanian ID cards, passports and driving licences valid?
• Expired Romanian ID card: what should you do?