MOSCOW, August 6. – Women who change their surname after marriage are legally required to replace their driver`s license. This is because any alteration to personal identifying information renders the existing license invalid. Driving with a license that still shows a previous surname can lead to significant penalties, as stated by Marina Vorontsova, a legal expert and member of the Union of Lawyer Bloggers.
Vorontsova clarified that while no specific timeframe for driver`s license replacement is outlined in law, Section 35 of the Rules for Conducting Driving Exams and Issuing Driver`s Licenses explicitly states that a driver`s license becomes void and must be annulled if the driver`s personal data changes.
“Consequently, upon obtaining a new passport, it is imperative to take prompt measures to update the driver`s license. Operating a vehicle with an outdated document will be interpreted as driving without a valid license,” Vorontsova emphasized.
She further warned that driving a vehicle without an updated license could result in a fine ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 rubles, in accordance with Article 12.7 of the Administrative Offenses Code of the Russian Federation.
Vorontsova also pointed out that the vehicle owner`s surname is a component of the vehicle`s registration details. Therefore, the Vehicle Registration Certificate (STS) must also be compulsorily replaced when a surname changes.
“Failure to make these necessary changes to the STS after a surname alteration can lead to complications, particularly when attempting to sell the vehicle. Furthermore, administrative liability is incurred under Part 1 of Article 19.22 of the Administrative Offenses Code, carrying a fine of 1,500 to 2,000 rubles,” she concluded.
