The Public Services Agency is in full process of implementation of the reform to modernize the public services provided to the population and align them with the European standards.
Qualification of drivers is one of the areas of activity of the Public Services Agency, to which citizens show a keen interest.
Today, 23 March 2022, the Executive approved a Government Decision, initiated by the Public Services Agency, which provides for the amendment of the Regulation on the examination procedure for obtaining the right to drive, the issuance and validity of the driving licence.
According to the new legal provisions, a series of amendments are to be made, among which:
- 1. Exclusion of the “training ground” subtest for category B driving licence applicants (about 80% of the total number of candidates).
The practical exercises shall be carried out under road and traffic conditions and not on the training ground of the training centers of the Agency. Thus, the practical on-road test shall also include the elements of the training ground subtest ("ramp", "right-angled parking" and "three-point turn") and shall not last more than 25 minutes.
Attention (!): The training ground subtest shall remain in place only for the applicants in driving licence category AM, A1, A2, A and B1.
- 2. Reduction of the number of documents that citizens have to submit on paper when they come to take the driver qualification tests.
Using the information systems of the relevant authorities, the Public Service Agency will be able to independently verify the data about the applicant. Thus, the citizens shall come to the driver qualification tests only with the ID cards, without the need to submit the following:
- Criminal Record. The verification of data will be done through the automated records of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Moldova.
- Medical Certificate. The data will be verified through the automated records of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova.
- Study Certificate. The verification of data about the training course completed by the applicant will be done through the automated records of the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova.
- 3. Implementation of the “right to drive vehicles” concept and notion in relation to the “driving licence” notion and taking over of the international practices regarding the “Electronic driving licences” as well as their record in the State Register of Drivers.
Thus, the right to drive will be verified without the need to physically present the driving licence.
- 4. The prospect of recognition of driving licences issued in the Republic of Moldova by other countries.
The amendments made in the examination procedure for obtaining the right to drive and their alignment with the European standards will make it possible to sign the driving licence conversion agreements between the Republic of Moldova and other states.
The provisions of the agreements for the conversion and mutual recognition of driving licences will bring to the citizens of the Republic of Moldova, permanently or temporarily established in other countries, lots of benefits such as: exemption from undergoing the training courses and additional driving tests when converting the driving licences, free movement in international traffic, as well as facilitation of conclusion of employment contracts.
- 5. Enhancement of examination capacity and queue reduction
At the moment, the waiting time based on the pre-registration is about 30 days. Due to the implementation of these changes, the Public Services Agency estimates that the waiting period will be reduced even more. Previously, the waiting time was about 60-90 days.