Updated requirements for driving schools and driving exams

The updated state standards STB 2191.1-2020 and STB 2191.2-2020 were published on October 16 on the National Legal Internet Portal. The documents were approved by resolutions of the State Committee for Standardization on September 30, 2026.

One of the main innovations will be the mandatory video recording of thematic control tests and practical driving exams. The recording must capture not only the road situation but also the actions of the student and the examiner, as well as their voices.

Video recorders must have a viewing angle of at least 120 degrees. The resolution of the main camera must be at least 1920 × 1080 pixels, and the auxiliary camera at least 1280 × 720. Recording must be done at a frequency of at least 25 frames per second, with mandatory recording of date and time.

Before the start of the control test or exam, the responsible employee must check the equipment's operability and the correctness of the set date and time.

Driving schools will be required to store recordings of exams and thematic control tests for six months, and videos of regular practical lessons for one month. After these periods expire, the recordings must be deleted. It is not mandatory to video record every driving lesson; the requirement specifically applies to thematic control tests and practical exams.

Theoretical classes in driving schools must be conducted only in person, unless otherwise provided by law. However, the use of modern technologies, including simulator-trainers, virtual reality, and other interactive learning tools, is permitted.

Requirements for driving instructors are also clarified. A master of industrial training must have a higher or secondary specialized education, a qualification improvement certificate for the relevant program, and at least three years of driving experience in the required vehicle category. For instructors teaching the driving of wheeled tractors and self-propelled machines, two years of relevant experience is sufficient.

The updated standard also defines requirements for training vehicles. They must be registered with the State Automobile Inspectorate (SAI) as training vehicles, with certain exceptions, and equipped with a GPS satellite monitoring system. This system must allow real-time tracking of the vehicle's location and movement parameters, as well as storing this data.

However, if practical lessons are video recorded, the training vehicle does not need to be equipped with GPS. Specific exceptions are provided for motorcycles, trailers, wheeled tractors, self-propelled machines, and vehicles of certain state bodies.

The standard also clarified the technical characteristics of training vehicles. For category A, a motorcycle with an engine displacement of at least 220 cubic centimeters or an electric motor with a maximum power of more than 11 kW is required. For category B, a car with a technically permissible gross mass of no more than 3.5 tons and no more than eight passenger seats. For category C, a truck with a mass of at least 8 tons is needed, and for category D, a vehicle with more than 17 seating places and a length of at least 6.5 meters. Separate requirements are defined for vehicles with trailers.

It will also be possible to take the exam in a different training vehicle, but only under exceptional circumstances. This is allowed if the vehicle the student learned to drive cannot be presented for the exam due to a serious technical malfunction requiring prolonged repair, a road accident, or other insurmountable circumstances. Instead, a training vehicle of the same make and model or another vehicle of the appropriate category can be used.

Requirements for the chairpersons of driving school examination commissions have also been clarified. They must meet the established educational requirements and possess a driver's license of any category. In addition, certain provisions regarding the use of software, equipment for driving ranges, and the issuance of training certificates have been adjusted.

The new changes likely do not provide for an increase in the number of training hours. The updated standards do not define new durations for theoretical and practical lessons: the minimum training periods, list of subjects, and number of hours are determined by the relevant unified training programs.

No new rules for calculating penalty points or evaluating student errors during exams are being introduced. All the listed changes will come into effect on January 1, 2027.

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