Politics · Russia · 6 hrs ago
Russia backs higher fines for driving without a licence
A Russian government commission backed a proposal to raise fines for driving without a licence or with expired documents.
The proposal would increase the current fine of 5,000 to 15,000 rubles to 15,000 to 30,000 rubles.
For repeat violations, drivers could face fines of up to 50,000 rubles.
The proposal would also remove the 25% discount for paying these fines within 30 days.
It does not cover drivers who have been formally stripped of their licence, who face separate penalties that can include criminal liability.
The proposal’s authors cite more crashes and deaths involving unlicensed drivers, and say more than 12,000 people each year are penalised for this violation three or more times.
A Russian government commission approved an Interior Ministry proposal to increase fines for driving without a licence or with an expired licence.
The proposed fine would rise from 5,000–15,000 rubles to 15,000–30,000 rubles.
Repeat offenders could face fines of 30,000–50,000 rubles.
The proposal would also remove the 25% discount for paying these fines within 30 days.
Authorities say the measures are needed because crashes involving unlicensed drivers and deaths in those crashes are increasing.
- Who
- Russia’s Interior Ministry proposed the changes, and a government commission on legislative activity approved the proposal.
- What
- The proposal would increase fines for driving without a valid licence and remove the early-payment discount.
- When
- The commission’s approval was reported on October 21, 2026.
- Where
- Russia.
- Why
- The proposal’s authors cite an increase in crashes and deaths involving drivers without valid licences, as well as repeat violations.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Media reports said the government commission on legislative activity had approved the Interior Ministry’s proposal.
State Duma transport committee deputy chair Pavel Fedyaev said fines should be increased because crashes involving drivers without licences were rising.
- Current fine
- 5,000–15,000 rubles
- Proposed fine
- 15,000–30,000 rubles
- Repeat-offence fine
- 30,000–50,000 rubles
- Early-payment discount
- The proposed changes would remove the 25% discount available within 30 days.
- Repeat violations
- More than 12,000 people are penalised each year for this offence three or more times.