Starting today, May 10, 2022, the new provisions of the Regulation on the examination procedure for obtaining the right to drive, the issuance and validity of the driving license shall be applied.
Among the main changes are the following:
1. Conducting of the practical test for category B driving licence applicants (about 80% of the total number of candidates).
For these candidates, the exercises of the “training ground” subtest will be carried out in road traffic and not on the training ground of the training centers of the Public Services Agency. The practical “road traffic” test shall also include the elements of the “training ground” subtest and shall last no more than 25 minutes. When passing the “road traffic” test, candidates for the right to drive vehicles in category B will have to perform one of the following special maneuvers:
1) maintaining the lane when reversing for a distance of about 20 m;
2) turning the vehicle in the opposite direction, using forward and backward motion (1 attempt by "3 point turn");
3) parking the vehicle and leaving the parking space (parallel, oblique, or right-angle, forwards or in reverse, on the flat, 1 attempt).
Attention (!) Candidates who have taken the “training ground” test and got the mark "Passed" before 08.05.2022 shall not carry out special driving manoeuvres.
2. Practical tests conducted for the other categories
Candidates for a category A and subcategories AM, A1, A2 and B1 driving licence will take the practical test on a specially prepared area.
The practical test for candidates applying for category A and subcategories AM, A1, A2 and B1 driving licence will last at least 15 min.
Candidates for a driving licence of categories/subcategories BE, C1, C1E, C, CE shall pass the “road traffic” practical test in conditions of real traffic and prove their skills to carry out the following driving manoeuvre:
- parking safely for loading/unloading at a loading ramp/platform or similar installation (1 attempt).
When passing the “road traffic” test, candidates for a driving licence of categories/subcategories D, D1, and D1E shall carry out the following driving manoeuvre:
- parking/stopping to let passengers on or off the bus safely (1 attempt).
The duration of the practical test for candidates applying for categories BE, C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D will be at least 45 min.
3. Reduced number of paper documents to be presented by citizens when they come to take the driver qualification exams
Using the information systems of the relevant authorities, the Public Services Agency will be able to independently verify the data about the applicant. Thus, the citizens shall come to take the driver qualification exams only with their ID cards and there will be no need to submit the following:
- certificate of contravention. The data will be verified 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 data about the training course completed by the applicant will be verified through the automated records of the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova.
The candidates who have obtained the mentioned documents until 08.05.2022 shall present the paper documents.
4. The prospect of recognizing driving licences issued in the Republic of Moldova by other countries.
The changes made to the examination procedure for obtaining the right to drive and their alignment with the European standards will allow signing agreements for the conversion of Moldovan driving licences between the Republic of Moldova and other states.
The provisions of the agreements on the conversion and mutual recognition of driving licences will provide the citizens of the Republic of Moldova, permanently or temporarily established in other countries, with a number of advantages, such as: exemption from additional training courses and driving tests in order to convert the driving licences, free movement in international traffic, as well as facilitation of conclusion of employment contracts.
5. Examination capacity enhancement and queue reduction
Currently, the waiting time based on the pre-registration is about 20 days. Due to the changes made, the Public Services Agency estimates that the waiting period will be reduced even more. Previously, the waiting time was about 60-90 days.
The new methodology for organizing and conducting the exams for obtaining the right to drive vehicles was developed by the Ministry of Education and Research in collaboration with the Public Services Agency and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The application of the new methodology will allow the alignment of national legislation with the provisions of the Directive (EU) 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament on driving licenses.