Several Ukrainian media outlets and Telegram channels have spread information about the alleged introduction of a bill to the Verkhovna Rada that would oblige all drivers to exchange driver's licenses issued before 2011. However, this bill was already withdrawn in the spring of 2025.
This is the government's European integration bill No. 8082, submitted to parliament in 2022 to harmonize Ukrainian legislation with European legislation. It provided for establishing the validity period of driver's licenses from 5 to 10 years, depending on the category of vehicle. The bill did not pass a single reading and was withdrawn on June 17 due to the election of a new government.
Despite this, on October 1, a number of media outlets published reports about the alleged submission to the Rada of a new bill on reducing the validity period of driver's licenses with mandatory exchange at the Ministry of Internal Affairs service center. Allegedly, those who do not exchange their documents within a year after the expiration date will be forced to take theoretical and practical exams.
Lawyer Bohdan Kushnir noted that such changes could create additional corruption risks and new schemes for obtaining funds at service centers, which is why the draft law was withdrawn. He also suggested that in the future the authorities may re-register this or a modified document with the possible addition of new categories and an increase in cost, but currently there are no plans to mandatory exchange of driver's licenses.
