Lost driver's license: recovery, retaking exams, required documents

Losing a driver's license often raises more questions than it might seem at first glance. Some only need to wait for the end of the driving disqualification period and attend additional training, while others have to retake the theory and practical exams at "Regitra." Drivers often do not know what documents will be needed and what actions must be taken to have the driving rights restored as quickly as possible.

No fewer questions arise for those who have simply lost their driver's license or are dealing with the procedure for restoring driving rights after a violation. Different requirements apply in different situations, so it is important to know what documents will be needed, whether additional training is required, and when one can apply for the return of the driver's license. 

We will discuss further in which cases driving rights are revoked, what needs to be done to regain them, and when it is necessary to retake the "Regitra" exams. We will also review the necessary documents, additional driver training, and actions to be taken if a driver's license is lost. 

Loss of Driver's License

A driver's license lost due to traffic rule violations causes inconvenience, as you cannot drive vehicles during the disqualification period. After committing a traffic violation, first ensure that your driving rights have been revoked and comply with the conditions set during the driver's license disqualification period.

How to Know if Driving Rights are Revoked?

To find out if your driving rights have been revoked, first check if you have received a notice of a fine. Such notices usually arrive by registered mail to your home or you are informed via email that you have received a notice in the VMI self-service. After paying the fine, be sure to pay attention to other informational documents provided in the received notice, such as the administrative offense protocol.

Not all drivers carefully read the content of the protocol, which outlines the essence of the violation and the applicable responsibility, so they continue to participate in traffic despite the fact that the driving disqualification period began from the day the fine was paid.

Read more about traffic fines in the article "Traffic Fines: For Speeding, Driving Without Technical Inspection, etc. 2025"

Driving Without a License When Revoked

Driving vehicles when the person has had their driving rights revoked, or driving vehicles without complying with the prohibition to drive vehicles not equipped with alcohol interlocks, incurs a fine of 450–700 euros.

If driving under the influence (0.41–1.5 per mille) or under the influence of narcotic, psychotropic, or other psychoactive substances when rights were revoked, as well as avoiding intoxication testing, incurs a fine of 1100–1500 euros.

How to Regain a Driver's License?

After losing a driver's license, it is additionally necessary to undergo a health check (if the driving rights were revoked for driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances), obtain a health knowledge certification, and attend additional driver training courses. If the driving rights were revoked for a year or longer, you will need to retake the theory and practical driving exams at VĮ "Regitra".

Additional driver training may also be required for novice drivers (those without 2 years of experience / "leaf"), who have violated traffic rules. Without attending these courses, a 10-year valid driver's license is not issued.

How to Attend Additional Driver Training?

Most driving schools organize additional driver training. The training usually lasts one day, at most two, and costs about 90 euros.

The training course consists of:

• 45-minute theory course,

• 90-minute psychology course,

• 45-minute practical safe, economical, and ecological driving training with a category B vehicle,

• 45-minute individual analysis of the committed traffic violation(s) with a psychologist and a final knowledge test.

When registering for additional driver training, the person must provide:

• Administrative court decision or police ruling based on which administrative responsibility was applied (if the police ruling is lost, it can be obtained from the e-police website).

• Driver's license (if it is not revoked).

• Identity document.

• Violation description (it can be brought or filled out at the driving school).

Revoked Rights for Intoxication

Driving while intoxicated risks not only your own and others' safety but also incurs a fine and loss of driving rights. Fines for driving while intoxicated start from 800 euros.

To regain a driver's license that was revoked for driving while intoxicated, you will need to:

• Attend special courses on the harm of alcohol and drugs to human health (organized by most driving schools).

• Also, you will need to complete additional driver training (at a driving school).

• If the driver's license is revoked for more than a year, you will need to retake the theory and practical exams at "Regitra".

Only then will you regain your rights. Rights lost for intoxicated driving can also be regained earlier. This can be done if you agree to drive only vehicles equipped with alcohol interlocks. With alcohol interlocks in the vehicle, your driver's license will be supplemented with the code "69".

When is it Necessary to Retake the License?

Retaking the license, i.e., the driving theory and practical exams at "Regitra" is necessary if the driving rights were revoked for a year or longer. If the rights were lost for a shorter specified time, a special course must be attended, and a certificate obtained, with which you can regain the driver's license.

If the rights were lost for a year or longer, you will need to retake the exams for one higher category you hold. For example, if you have B and C categories, you will only need to retake the C category. However, if you also have an A category, you will need to take exams for the A category as well.

According to complexity, vehicle categories are arranged from easiest to hardest as follows: B1, B, BE, C1/D1 (optionally either C1 or D1), C1E/D1E (optionally either C1E or D1E), C, D, DE, CE. If the revoked driver's license also included A1, A2, or A categories, exams for these categories will also need to be retaken.

Read more about retaking the license in the article "When is it Necessary to Retake the License?"

Which Exams Need to be Retaken?

If the driving rights were revoked for a year or longer, you will need to retake the theory and practical driving exams at VĮ "Regitra".

Attending additional driver training is mandatory for individuals whose driving rights were revoked due to traffic violations for less than a year, one year, and longer. Driving rights are restored only after the disqualification period ends and the additional driver training is completed.

Required Documents

Driving rights will be restored at VĮ "Regitra", so after the penalty period, when arriving at the driver's license issuing division, you will need to present:

• Identity document.

• Medical certificate of health check.

• Health knowledge certification (first aid course certificate).

• Certificate of completion of additional driver training courses (from the driving school).

• Certificates of passed theoretical and practical driving exams at VĮ "Regitra" (only if the driving rights were revoked for a year or more).

In Which Cases is it Necessary to Recheck Health?

After losing a driver's license, it is mandatory to recheck health only if the driving rights were revoked for driving while intoxicated (in such cases, the certificate includes a restriction indicating that the driver drove while intoxicated). 

How Long is the Health Knowledge Certification (First Aid) Certificate Valid?

The health knowledge certification (first aid) certificate for non-professionals, AM, A1, A2, A, B1, B, and BE drivers, is valid indefinitely, so a new one is not needed if the license is lost.

Meanwhile, for C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D, DE category drivers, the health knowledge certification is valid for 5 years, so if it has expired, the health knowledge certification (first aid) course must be retaken.

The health knowledge certification (first aid) certificate is granted after attending mandatory health (first aid) training. You can attend these at a health institution, driving school, or remotely (online).

I Lost My Driver's License – What to Do?

For a lost (misplaced, stolen) driver's license, be sure to report it to "Regitra" (online or by visiting a branch), as this prevents possible illegal use. After reporting, order a duplicate driver's license, and then a new driver's license. You can order a driver's license if your permanent residence is in Lithuania. There is no need to additionally contact the police.