diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8b7a12dd..233e6660 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 
 # Python Qdrant Client
 
-Client library and SDK for the [Qdrant](https://github.com/qdrant/qdrant) vector search engine. 
+Client library and SDK for the [Qdrant](https://github.com/qdrant/qdrant) vector search engine.
 
 Library contains type definitions for all Qdrant API and allows to make both Sync and Async requests.
 
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ Create a new collection
 ```python
 from qdrant_client.models import Distance, VectorParams
 
-client.recreate_collection(
+client.create_collection(
     collection_name="my_collection",
     vectors_config=VectorParams(size=100, distance=Distance.COSINE),
 )
diff --git a/docs/source/index.rst b/docs/source/index.rst
index f82630b8..1a5517e3 100644
--- a/docs/source/index.rst
+++ b/docs/source/index.rst
@@ -36,10 +36,11 @@ Create a new collection
 
    from qdrant_client.models import VectorParams, Distance
 
-   client.recreate_collection(
-      collection_name="my_collection",
-      vectors_config=VectorParams(size=100, distance=Distance.COSINE),
-   )
+   if not client.collection_exists("my_collection"):
+      client.create_collection(
+         collection_name="my_collection",
+         vectors_config=VectorParams(size=100, distance=Distance.COSINE),
+      )
 
 Insert vectors into a collection
 
@@ -109,10 +110,11 @@ Starting from version 1.6.1, all python client methods are available in async ve
       # Your async code using QdrantClient might be put here
       client = AsyncQdrantClient(url="http://localhost:6333")
 
-      await client.create_collection(
-         collection_name="my_collection",
-         vectors_config=models.VectorParams(size=10, distance=models.Distance.COSINE),
-      )
+      if not await client.collection_exists("my_collection"):
+         await client.create_collection(
+            collection_name="my_collection",
+            vectors_config=models.VectorParams(size=10, distance=models.Distance.COSINE),
+         )
 
       await client.upsert(
          collection_name="my_collection",
@@ -172,10 +174,9 @@ Indices and tables
    QdrantClient <qdrant_client.qdrant_client>
    AsyncQdrantClient <qdrant_client.async_qdrant_client>
    FastEmbed Mixin <qdrant_client.qdrant_fastembed>
-   
+
 .. toctree::
    :maxdepth: 1
    :caption: Complete Docs
 
    Complete Client API Docs <qdrant_client>
-   
diff --git a/docs/source/quickstart.ipynb b/docs/source/quickstart.ipynb
index 468ba93d..17dcf19d 100644
--- a/docs/source/quickstart.ipynb
+++ b/docs/source/quickstart.ipynb
@@ -209,10 +209,11 @@
    "source": [
     "from qdrant_client.http.models import Distance, VectorParams\n",
     "\n",
-    "client.create_collection(\n",
-    "    collection_name=\"test_collection\",\n",
-    "    vectors_config=VectorParams(size=4, distance=Distance.DOT),\n",
-    ")"
+    "if not client.collection_exists(\"test_collection\"):\n",
+    "\tclient.create_collection(\n",
+    "\t\tcollection_name=\"test_collection\",\n",
+    "\t\tvectors_config=VectorParams(size=4, distance=Distance.DOT),\n",
+    "\t)"
    ]
   },
   {
diff --git a/qdrant_client/local/local_collection.py b/qdrant_client/local/local_collection.py
index d4f3980b..87c1e2cc 100644
--- a/qdrant_client/local/local_collection.py
+++ b/qdrant_client/local/local_collection.py
@@ -2310,6 +2310,7 @@ def ignore_mentioned_ids_filter(
     if query_filter is None:
         query_filter = models.Filter(must_not=[ignore_mentioned_ids])
     else:
+        # as of mypy v1.11.0 mypy is complaining on deep-copied structures with None
         query_filter = deepcopy(query_filter)
         # as of mypy v1.11.0 mypy is complaining on deep-copied structures with None
         if query_filter.must_not is None:  # type: ignore[union-attr]
@@ -2331,6 +2332,7 @@ def _include_ids_in_filter(
     if query_filter is None:
         query_filter = models.Filter(must=[include_ids])
     else:
+        # as of mypy v1.11.0 mypy is complaining on deep-copied structures with None
         query_filter = deepcopy(query_filter)
         # as of mypy v1.11.0 mypy is complaining on deep-copied structures with None
         if query_filter.must is None:  # type: ignore[union-attr]
diff --git a/qdrant_client/migrate/migrate.py b/qdrant_client/migrate/migrate.py
index 0573adbe..7e23eb16 100644
--- a/qdrant_client/migrate/migrate.py
+++ b/qdrant_client/migrate/migrate.py
@@ -111,8 +111,9 @@ def _recreate_collection(
     src_collection_info = source_client.get_collection(collection_name)
     src_config = src_collection_info.config
     src_payload_schema = src_collection_info.payload_schema
-
-    dest_client.recreate_collection(
+    if dest_client.collection_exists(collection_name):
+        dest_client.delete_collection(collection_name)
+    dest_client.create_collection(
         collection_name,
         vectors_config=src_config.params.vectors,
         sparse_vectors_config=src_config.params.sparse_vectors,
diff --git a/tests/benches/test_grpc_upload.py b/tests/benches/test_grpc_upload.py
index 076290a2..99b8d3a2 100644
--- a/tests/benches/test_grpc_upload.py
+++ b/tests/benches/test_grpc_upload.py
@@ -17,8 +17,11 @@ def get_data(num_vectors: int):
 
 def prepare_collection_rest():
     client = QdrantClient(timeout=30)
-    client.recreate_collection(
-        COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config=VectorParams(size=VECTOR_SIZE, distance=Distance.COSINE)
+    if client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        client.delete_collection(COLLECTION_NAME)
+    client.create_collection(
+        COLLECTION_NAME,
+        vectors_config=VectorParams(size=VECTOR_SIZE, distance=Distance.COSINE),
     )
 
 
diff --git a/tests/benches/test_rest_upload.py b/tests/benches/test_rest_upload.py
index 0c038bed..585ca46e 100644
--- a/tests/benches/test_rest_upload.py
+++ b/tests/benches/test_rest_upload.py
@@ -17,8 +17,11 @@ def get_data(num_vectors: int):
 
 def prepare_collection_rest():
     client = QdrantClient(timeout=30)
-    client.recreate_collection(
-        COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config=VectorParams(size=VECTOR_SIZE, distance=Distance.COSINE)
+    if client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        client.delete_collection(COLLECTION_NAME)
+    client.create_collection(
+        COLLECTION_NAME,
+        vectors_config=VectorParams(size=VECTOR_SIZE, distance=Distance.COSINE),
     )
 
 
diff --git a/tests/congruence_tests/test_collections.py b/tests/congruence_tests/test_collections.py
index f0fdd8e3..2bc90096 100644
--- a/tests/congruence_tests/test_collections.py
+++ b/tests/congruence_tests/test_collections.py
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 from time import sleep
 from typing import Callable
 
-import pytest
-
 from qdrant_client.http import models
+from qdrant_client.http.exceptions import UnexpectedResponse
 from tests.congruence_tests.test_common import (
     compare_collections,
     generate_fixtures,
@@ -12,6 +11,7 @@ from tests.congruence_tests.test_common import (
     init_remote,
 )
 
+
 COLLECTION_NAME = "test_collection"
 
 
@@ -52,6 +52,25 @@ def test_get_collection():
     )
 
 
+def test_recreate_collection():
+    # this method has been marked as deprecated and should be removed in qdrant-client v1.12
+    local_client = init_local()
+    http_client = init_remote()
+    grpc_client = init_remote(prefer_grpc=True)
+
+    vector_params = models.VectorParams(size=20, distance=models.Distance.COSINE)
+
+    local_client.recreate_collection(COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config=vector_params)
+    http_client.recreate_collection(COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config=vector_params)
+
+    assert local_client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME)
+    assert http_client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME)
+
+    http_client.delete_collection(COLLECTION_NAME)
+    grpc_client.recreate_collection(COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config=vector_params)
+    assert grpc_client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME)
+
+
 def test_collection_exists():
     remote_client = init_remote()
     local_client = init_local()
@@ -61,8 +80,19 @@ def test_collection_exists():
 
     vector_params = models.VectorParams(size=2, distance=models.Distance.COSINE)
 
-    remote_client.recreate_collection(COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config=vector_params)
-    local_client.recreate_collection(COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config=vector_params)
+    try:
+        remote_client.delete_collection(COLLECTION_NAME)
+    except UnexpectedResponse:
+        pass  # collection does not exist
+
+    remote_client.create_collection(COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config=vector_params)
+
+    try:
+        local_client.delete_collection(COLLECTION_NAME)
+    except ValueError:
+        pass  # collection does not exist
+
+    local_client.create_collection(COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config=vector_params)
 
     assert remote_client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME)
     assert local_client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME)
@@ -77,19 +107,28 @@ def test_init_from():
     points = generate_fixtures(vectors_sizes=vector_size)
     vector_params = models.VectorParams(size=vector_size, distance=models.Distance.COSINE)
 
-    remote_client.recreate_collection(
-        collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config=vector_params
-    )
-    local_client.recreate_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config=vector_params)
+    if remote_client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        remote_client.delete_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME)
+    remote_client.create_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config=vector_params)
+
+    if local_client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        local_client.delete_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME)
+    local_client.create_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config=vector_params)
+
     remote_client.upload_points(COLLECTION_NAME, points, wait=True)
     local_client.upload_points(COLLECTION_NAME, points)
     compare_collections(remote_client, local_client, len(points), collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME)
 
     new_collection_name = COLLECTION_NAME + "_new"
-    remote_client.recreate_collection(
+    if remote_client.collection_exists(new_collection_name):
+        remote_client.delete_collection(new_collection_name)
+    remote_client.create_collection(
         new_collection_name, vectors_config=vector_params, init_from=COLLECTION_NAME
     )
-    local_client.recreate_collection(
+
+    if local_client.collection_exists(new_collection_name):
+        local_client.delete_collection(new_collection_name)
+    local_client.create_collection(
         new_collection_name, vectors_config=vector_params, init_from=COLLECTION_NAME
     )
 
@@ -102,12 +141,17 @@ def test_init_from():
         collection_name=new_collection_name,
     )
 
-    remote_client.recreate_collection(
+    # try with models.InitFrom
+    if remote_client.collection_exists(new_collection_name):
+        remote_client.delete_collection(new_collection_name)
+    remote_client.create_collection(
         new_collection_name,
         vectors_config=vector_params,
         init_from=models.InitFrom(collection=COLLECTION_NAME),
     )
-    local_client.recreate_collection(
+    if local_client.collection_exists(new_collection_name):
+        local_client.delete_collection(new_collection_name)
+    local_client.create_collection(
         new_collection_name,
         vectors_config=vector_params,
         init_from=models.InitFrom(collection=COLLECTION_NAME),
diff --git a/tests/congruence_tests/test_common.py b/tests/congruence_tests/test_common.py
index e97c591a..419ec2e3 100644
--- a/tests/congruence_tests/test_common.py
+++ b/tests/congruence_tests/test_common.py
@@ -99,7 +99,9 @@ def initialize_fixture_collection(
     if vectors_config is None:
         vectors_config = dense_vectors_config
     # no sparse vector config generated by default
-    client.recreate_collection(
+    if client.collection_exists(collection_name):
+        client.delete_collection(collection_name=collection_name, timeout=TIMEOUT)
+    client.create_collection(
         collection_name=collection_name,
         vectors_config=vectors_config,
         timeout=TIMEOUT,
@@ -108,7 +110,8 @@ def initialize_fixture_collection(
 
 
 def delete_fixture_collection(client: QdrantBase) -> None:
-    client.delete_collection(COLLECTION_NAME)
+    if client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        client.delete_collection(COLLECTION_NAME)
 
 
 def generate_fixtures(
diff --git a/tests/congruence_tests/test_payload.py b/tests/congruence_tests/test_payload.py
index 88a44217..cf2b363f 100644
--- a/tests/congruence_tests/test_payload.py
+++ b/tests/congruence_tests/test_payload.py
@@ -1,7 +1,13 @@
+import datetime
+import random
+import uuid
+
+import numpy as np
 import pytest
 
 from qdrant_client import QdrantClient
 from qdrant_client.http import models
+from qdrant_client.http.models import PointStruct
 from qdrant_client.http.exceptions import UnexpectedResponse
 from tests.congruence_tests.test_common import (
     COLLECTION_NAME,
@@ -148,20 +154,19 @@ def test_update_payload(local_client: QdrantClient, remote_client: QdrantClient)
 
 
 def test_not_jsonable_payload():
-    import datetime
-    import random
-    import uuid
-
     local_client = init_local()
     remote_client = init_remote()
 
     vector_size = 2
     vectors_config = models.VectorParams(size=vector_size, distance=models.Distance.COSINE)
-    local_client.recreate_collection(
+
+    local_client.create_collection(
         collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config=vectors_config,
     )
-    remote_client.recreate_collection(
+    if remote_client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        remote_client.delete_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME)
+    remote_client.create_collection(
         collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config=vectors_config,
     )
@@ -191,11 +196,13 @@ def test_not_jsonable_payload():
 
     compare_collections(local_client, remote_client, len(points))
 
-    local_client.recreate_collection(
+    local_client.delete_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME)
+    local_client.create_collection(
         collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config=vectors_config,
     )
-    remote_client.recreate_collection(
+    remote_client.delete_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME)
+    remote_client.create_collection(
         collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config=vectors_config,
     )
@@ -237,21 +244,19 @@ def test_not_jsonable_payload():
 
 
 def test_set_payload_with_key():
-    import numpy as np
-
-    from qdrant_client.models import PointStruct
-
     local_client = init_local()
     remote_client = init_remote()
 
     vector_size = 2
     vectors_config = models.VectorParams(size=vector_size, distance=models.Distance.COSINE)
 
-    local_client.recreate_collection(
+    local_client.create_collection(
         collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config=vectors_config,
     )
-    remote_client.recreate_collection(
+    if remote_client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        remote_client.delete_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME)
+    remote_client.create_collection(
         collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config=vectors_config,
     )
diff --git a/tests/congruence_tests/test_query.py b/tests/congruence_tests/test_query.py
index cb8db9bb..eda9d72c 100644
--- a/tests/congruence_tests/test_query.py
+++ b/tests/congruence_tests/test_query.py
@@ -1273,8 +1273,13 @@ def test_query_with_nan():
     single_vector_config = models.VectorParams(
         size=text_vector_size, distance=models.Distance.COSINE
     )
-    local_client.recreate_collection(COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config=single_vector_config)
-    http_client.recreate_collection(COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config=single_vector_config)
+
+    local_client.delete_collection(COLLECTION_NAME)
+    local_client.create_collection(COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config=single_vector_config)
+
+    http_client.delete_collection(COLLECTION_NAME)
+    http_client.create_collection(COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config=single_vector_config)
+
     fixture_points = generate_fixtures(vectors_sizes=text_vector_size)
     init_client(local_client, fixture_points, vectors_config=single_vector_config)
     init_client(http_client, fixture_points, vectors_config=single_vector_config)
diff --git a/tests/congruence_tests/test_search.py b/tests/congruence_tests/test_search.py
index 3a1f83f8..a015614c 100644
--- a/tests/congruence_tests/test_search.py
+++ b/tests/congruence_tests/test_search.py
@@ -359,8 +359,13 @@ def test_query_with_nan():
     single_vector_config = models.VectorParams(
         size=text_vector_size, distance=models.Distance.COSINE
     )
-    local_client.recreate_collection(COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config=single_vector_config)
-    remote_client.recreate_collection(COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config=single_vector_config)
+
+    local_client.delete_collection(COLLECTION_NAME)
+    local_client.create_collection(COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config=single_vector_config)
+
+    remote_client.delete_collection(COLLECTION_NAME)
+    remote_client.create_collection(COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config=single_vector_config)
+
     fixture_points = generate_fixtures(vectors_sizes=text_vector_size)
     init_client(local_client, fixture_points, vectors_config=single_vector_config)
     init_client(remote_client, fixture_points, vectors_config=single_vector_config)
diff --git a/tests/congruence_tests/test_sparse_search.py b/tests/congruence_tests/test_sparse_search.py
index 85dbd659..53c5d3e3 100644
--- a/tests/congruence_tests/test_sparse_search.py
+++ b/tests/congruence_tests/test_sparse_search.py
@@ -297,10 +297,12 @@ def test_query_with_nan():
     )
     named_sparse_vector.vector.values[0] = np.nan
 
-    local_client.recreate_collection(
+    local_client.create_collection(
         COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config={}, sparse_vectors_config=sparse_vectors_config
     )
-    remote_client.recreate_collection(
+    if remote_client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        remote_client.delete_collection(COLLECTION_NAME)
+    remote_client.create_collection(
         COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config={}, sparse_vectors_config=sparse_vectors_config
     )
     init_client(
diff --git a/tests/congruence_tests/test_updates.py b/tests/congruence_tests/test_updates.py
index 573d2417..1896eb1b 100644
--- a/tests/congruence_tests/test_updates.py
+++ b/tests/congruence_tests/test_updates.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import itertools
-import math
 import uuid
 from collections import defaultdict
 from typing import Dict, List
@@ -158,10 +157,11 @@ def test_upload_collection_float_list():
 
     vectors = np.random.randn(UPLOAD_NUM_VECTORS, vectors_dim).tolist()
     vectors_config = models.VectorParams(size=vectors_dim, distance=models.Distance.EUCLID)
-    local_client.recreate_collection(
-        COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config=vectors_config, timeout=TIMEOUT
-    )
-    remote_client.recreate_collection(
+
+    local_client.create_collection(COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config=vectors_config, timeout=TIMEOUT)
+    if remote_client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        remote_client.delete_collection(COLLECTION_NAME, timeout=TIMEOUT)
+    remote_client.create_collection(
         COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config=vectors_config, timeout=TIMEOUT
     )
 
@@ -193,12 +193,15 @@ def test_upload_collection_np_array_2d():
     vectors = np.random.randn(UPLOAD_NUM_VECTORS, vectors_dim)
     ids = list(range(len(vectors)))
     vectors_config = models.VectorParams(size=vectors_dim, distance=models.Distance.EUCLID)
-    local_client.recreate_collection(
+
+    local_client.create_collection(
         COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config=vectors_config,
         timeout=TIMEOUT,
     )
-    remote_client.recreate_collection(
+    if remote_client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        remote_client.delete_collection(COLLECTION_NAME, timeout=TIMEOUT)
+    remote_client.create_collection(
         COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config=vectors_config,
         timeout=TIMEOUT,
@@ -221,12 +224,15 @@ def test_upload_collection_list_np_arrays():
     vectors = [np.array(vector) for vector in vectors]
     vectors_config = models.VectorParams(size=vectors_dim, distance=models.Distance.EUCLID)
     ids = list(range(len(vectors)))
-    local_client.recreate_collection(
+
+    local_client.create_collection(
         COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config=vectors_config,
         timeout=TIMEOUT,
     )
-    remote_client.recreate_collection(
+    if remote_client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        remote_client.delete_collection(COLLECTION_NAME, timeout=TIMEOUT)
+    remote_client.create_collection(
         COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config=vectors_config,
         timeout=TIMEOUT,
@@ -267,12 +273,15 @@ def test_upload_wrong_vectors():
         "text": models.VectorParams(size=vector_size, distance=models.Distance.COSINE)
     }
     sparse_vectors_config = {"text-sparse": models.SparseVectorParams()}
-    local_client.recreate_collection(
+
+    local_client.create_collection(
         collection_name=wrong_vectors_collection,
         vectors_config=vectors_config,
         sparse_vectors_config=sparse_vectors_config,
     )
-    remote_client.recreate_collection(
+    if remote_client.collection_exists(collection_name=wrong_vectors_collection):
+        remote_client.delete_collection(collection_name=wrong_vectors_collection)
+    remote_client.create_collection(
         collection_name=wrong_vectors_collection,
         vectors_config=vectors_config,
         sparse_vectors_config=sparse_vectors_config,
diff --git a/tests/test_async_qdrant_client.py b/tests/test_async_qdrant_client.py
index ab072377..413e0bc0 100644
--- a/tests/test_async_qdrant_client.py
+++ b/tests/test_async_qdrant_client.py
@@ -113,8 +113,6 @@ async def test_async_qdrant_client(prefer_grpc):
         await client.delete_collection(COLLECTION_NAME)
         await client.create_collection(**collection_params)
 
-    await client.recreate_collection(**collection_params)
-
     await client.get_collection(COLLECTION_NAME)
     await client.get_collections()
     if not version_set or dev_version or minor_version >= 8:
@@ -355,9 +353,9 @@ async def test_async_qdrant_client_local():
         collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config=models.VectorParams(size=10, distance=models.Distance.EUCLID),
     )
+    if await client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        await client.delete_collection(COLLECTION_NAME)
     await client.create_collection(**collection_params)
-    await client.delete_collection(COLLECTION_NAME)
-    await client.recreate_collection(**collection_params)
 
     await client.get_collection(COLLECTION_NAME)
     await client.get_collections()
@@ -537,7 +535,8 @@ async def test_async_qdrant_client_local():
     assert (await client.retrieve(COLLECTION_NAME, ids=[1]))[0].payload == {}
 
     # region teardown
-    await client.delete_collection(COLLECTION_NAME)
+    if await client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        await client.delete_collection(COLLECTION_NAME)
     collections = await client.get_collections()
 
     assert all(collection.name != COLLECTION_NAME for collection in collections.collections)
diff --git a/tests/test_in_memory.py b/tests/test_in_memory.py
index faaf294b..2b96f4d9 100644
--- a/tests/test_in_memory.py
+++ b/tests/test_in_memory.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ def qdrant() -> QdrantClient:
 
 
 def test_dense_in_memory_key_filter_returns_results(qdrant: QdrantClient):
-    qdrant.recreate_collection(
+    qdrant.create_collection(
         collection_name="test_collection",
         vectors_config=models.VectorParams(size=4, distance=models.Distance.DOT),
     )
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ def test_dense_in_memory_key_filter_returns_results(qdrant: QdrantClient):
 
 
 def test_sparse_in_memory_key_filter_returns_results(qdrant: QdrantClient):
-    qdrant.recreate_collection(
+    qdrant.create_collection(
         collection_name="test_collection",
         vectors_config={},
         sparse_vectors_config={"text": models.SparseVectorParams()},
diff --git a/tests/test_local_persistence.py b/tests/test_local_persistence.py
index e08f6e31..4a9bb74a 100644
--- a/tests/test_local_persistence.py
+++ b/tests/test_local_persistence.py
@@ -23,7 +23,9 @@ def ingest_dense_vector_data(
     embeddings = np.random.randn(len(lines), vector_size).tolist()
     client = qdrant_client.QdrantClient(path=path)
 
-    client.recreate_collection(
+    if client.collection_exists(collection_name):
+        client.delete_collection(collection_name)
+    client.create_collection(
         collection_name,
         vectors_config=rest.VectorParams(
             size=vector_size,
@@ -51,7 +53,9 @@ def ingest_sparse_vector_data(
     sparse_vectors = generate_random_sparse_vector_list(vector_count, max_vector_size, 0.2)
     client = qdrant_client.QdrantClient(path=path)
 
-    client.recreate_collection(
+    if client.collection_exists(collection_name):
+        client.delete_collection(collection_name)
+    client.create_collection(
         collection_name,
         vectors_config={}
         if not add_dense_to_config
diff --git a/tests/test_migrate.py b/tests/test_migrate.py
index 9bf0950e..8cedc288 100644
--- a/tests/test_migrate.py
+++ b/tests/test_migrate.py
@@ -383,9 +383,7 @@ def test_vector_params(
         ),
     }
 
-    local_client.recreate_collection(
-        collection_name=collection_name, vectors_config=vectors_config
-    )
+    local_client.create_collection(collection_name=collection_name, vectors_config=vectors_config)
 
     local_client.migrate(second_local_client)
 
@@ -485,7 +483,7 @@ def test_recreate_collection(remote_client: QdrantClient):
         )
     )
 
-    remote_client.recreate_collection(
+    remote_client.create_collection(
         collection_name,
         vectors_config=vectors_config,
         shard_number=3,
diff --git a/tests/test_qdrant_client.py b/tests/test_qdrant_client.py
index a4607e1f..6c010d79 100644
--- a/tests/test_qdrant_client.py
+++ b/tests/test_qdrant_client.py
@@ -6,8 +6,10 @@ from tempfile import mkdtemp
 from time import sleep
 from typing import List
 
+
 import numpy as np
 import pytest
+from httpx import Timeout
 from grpc import Compression, RpcError
 
 import qdrant_client.http.exceptions
@@ -199,8 +201,9 @@ def test_records_upload(prefer_grpc, parallel):
     )
 
     client = QdrantClient(prefer_grpc=prefer_grpc, timeout=TIMEOUT)
-
-    client.recreate_collection(
+    if client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        client.delete_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME, timeout=TIMEOUT)
+    client.create_collection(
         collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config=VectorParams(size=DIM, distance=Distance.DOT),
         timeout=TIMEOUT,
@@ -234,7 +237,8 @@ def test_records_upload(prefer_grpc, parallel):
 
     records = (Record(id=idx, vector=np.random.rand(DIM).tolist()) for idx in range(NUM_VECTORS))
 
-    client.recreate_collection(
+    client.delete_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME, timeout=TIMEOUT)
+    client.create_collection(
         collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config=VectorParams(size=DIM, distance=Distance.DOT),
         timeout=TIMEOUT,
@@ -263,7 +267,9 @@ def test_point_upload(prefer_grpc, parallel):
 
     client = QdrantClient(prefer_grpc=prefer_grpc, timeout=TIMEOUT)
 
-    client.recreate_collection(
+    if client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        client.delete_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME, timeout=TIMEOUT)
+    client.create_collection(
         collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config=VectorParams(size=DIM, distance=Distance.DOT),
         timeout=TIMEOUT,
@@ -295,7 +301,8 @@ def test_point_upload(prefer_grpc, parallel):
     assert result_count.count < 900
     assert result_count.count > 100
 
-    client.recreate_collection(
+    client.delete_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME, timeout=TIMEOUT)
+    client.create_collection(
         collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config=VectorParams(size=DIM, distance=Distance.DOT),
         timeout=TIMEOUT,
@@ -321,7 +328,9 @@ def test_upload_collection(prefer_grpc, parallel):
     batch_size = 2
     client = QdrantClient(prefer_grpc=prefer_grpc, timeout=TIMEOUT)
 
-    client.recreate_collection(
+    if client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        client.delete_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME, timeout=TIMEOUT)
+    client.create_collection(
         collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config=VectorParams(size=size, distance=Distance.DOT),
         timeout=TIMEOUT,
@@ -346,7 +355,8 @@ def test_upload_collection(prefer_grpc, parallel):
 
     assert client.get_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME).points_count == 5
 
-    client.recreate_collection(
+    client.delete_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME, timeout=TIMEOUT)
+    client.create_collection(
         collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config=VectorParams(size=size, distance=Distance.DOT),
         timeout=TIMEOUT,
@@ -381,8 +391,9 @@ def test_multiple_vectors(prefer_grpc):
     ]
 
     client = QdrantClient(prefer_grpc=prefer_grpc, timeout=TIMEOUT)
-
-    client.recreate_collection(
+    if client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        client.delete_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME, timeout=TIMEOUT)
+    client.create_collection(
         collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config={
             "image": VectorParams(size=DIM, distance=Distance.DOT),
@@ -440,8 +451,9 @@ def test_qdrant_client_integration(prefer_grpc, numpy_upload, local_mode):
         client = QdrantClient(location=":memory:", prefer_grpc=prefer_grpc)
     else:
         client = QdrantClient(prefer_grpc=prefer_grpc, timeout=TIMEOUT)
-
-    client.recreate_collection(
+    if client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        client.delete_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME, timeout=TIMEOUT)
+    client.create_collection(
         collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config=VectorParams(size=DIM, distance=Distance.DOT),
         timeout=TIMEOUT,
@@ -1032,8 +1044,9 @@ def test_qdrant_client_integration(prefer_grpc, numpy_upload, local_mode):
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("prefer_grpc", [False, True])
 def test_qdrant_client_integration_update_collection(prefer_grpc):
     client = QdrantClient(prefer_grpc=prefer_grpc, timeout=TIMEOUT)
-
-    client.recreate_collection(
+    if client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        client.delete_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME, timeout=TIMEOUT)
+    client.create_collection(
         collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config={
             "text": VectorParams(size=DIM, distance=Distance.DOT),
@@ -1092,8 +1105,9 @@ def test_qdrant_client_integration_update_collection(prefer_grpc):
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("prefer_grpc", [False, True])
 def test_points_crud(prefer_grpc):
     client = QdrantClient(prefer_grpc=prefer_grpc, timeout=TIMEOUT)
-
-    client.recreate_collection(
+    if client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        client.delete_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME, timeout=TIMEOUT)
+    client.create_collection(
         collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config=VectorParams(size=DIM, distance=Distance.DOT),
         timeout=TIMEOUT,
@@ -1141,8 +1155,9 @@ def test_points_crud(prefer_grpc):
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("prefer_grpc", [False, True])
 def test_quantization_config(prefer_grpc):
     client = QdrantClient(prefer_grpc=prefer_grpc, timeout=TIMEOUT)
-
-    client.recreate_collection(
+    if client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        client.delete_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME, timeout=TIMEOUT)
+    client.create_collection(
         collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config=VectorParams(size=DIM, distance=Distance.DOT),
         quantization_config=ScalarQuantization(
@@ -1201,7 +1216,9 @@ def test_custom_sharding(prefer_grpc):
     client = QdrantClient(prefer_grpc=prefer_grpc, timeout=TIMEOUT)
 
     def init_collection():
-        client.recreate_collection(
+        if client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+            client.delete_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME)
+        client.create_collection(
             collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME,
             vectors_config=VectorParams(size=DIM, distance=Distance.DOT),
             sharding_method=models.ShardingMethod.CUSTOM,
@@ -1375,8 +1392,9 @@ def test_sparse_vectors(prefer_grpc):
         pytest.skip("Sparse vectors are supported since v1.7.0")
 
     client = QdrantClient(prefer_grpc=prefer_grpc, timeout=TIMEOUT)
-
-    client.recreate_collection(
+    if client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        client.delete_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME)
+    client.create_collection(
         collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config={},
         sparse_vectors_config={
@@ -1454,8 +1472,9 @@ def test_sparse_vectors_batch(prefer_grpc):
         pytest.skip("Sparse vectors are supported since v1.7.0")
 
     client = QdrantClient(prefer_grpc=prefer_grpc, timeout=TIMEOUT)
-
-    client.recreate_collection(
+    if client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        client.delete_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME)
+    client.create_collection(
         collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config={},
         sparse_vectors_config={
@@ -1536,8 +1555,9 @@ def test_sparse_vectors_batch(prefer_grpc):
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("prefer_grpc", [False, True])
 def test_vector_update(prefer_grpc):
     client = QdrantClient(prefer_grpc=prefer_grpc, timeout=TIMEOUT)
-
-    client.recreate_collection(
+    if client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        client.delete_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME, timeout=TIMEOUT)
+    client.create_collection(
         collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config=VectorParams(size=DIM, distance=Distance.DOT),
         timeout=TIMEOUT,
@@ -1595,8 +1615,9 @@ def test_vector_update(prefer_grpc):
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("prefer_grpc", [False, True])
 def test_conditional_payload_update(prefer_grpc):
     client = QdrantClient(prefer_grpc=prefer_grpc, timeout=TIMEOUT)
-
-    client.recreate_collection(
+    if client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        client.delete_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME, timeout=TIMEOUT)
+    client.create_collection(
         collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config=VectorParams(size=DIM, distance=Distance.DOT),
         timeout=TIMEOUT,
@@ -1634,8 +1655,9 @@ def test_conditional_payload_update(prefer_grpc):
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("prefer_grpc", [False, True])
 def test_conditional_payload_update_2(prefer_grpc):
     client = QdrantClient(prefer_grpc=prefer_grpc, timeout=TIMEOUT)
-
-    client.recreate_collection(
+    if client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        client.delete_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME, timeout=TIMEOUT)
+    client.create_collection(
         collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config=VectorParams(size=DIM, distance=Distance.DOT),
         timeout=TIMEOUT,
@@ -1714,8 +1736,9 @@ def test_insert_float():
 
 def test_locks():
     client = QdrantClient(timeout=TIMEOUT)
-
-    client.recreate_collection(
+    if client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        client.delete_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME, timeout=TIMEOUT)
+    client.create_collection(
         collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config=VectorParams(size=DIM, distance=Distance.DOT),
         timeout=TIMEOUT,
@@ -1760,8 +1783,9 @@ def test_locks():
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("prefer_grpc", [False, True])
 def test_empty_vector(prefer_grpc):
     client = QdrantClient(prefer_grpc=prefer_grpc, timeout=TIMEOUT)
-
-    client.recreate_collection(
+    if client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        client.delete_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME, timeout=TIMEOUT)
+    client.create_collection(
         collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME,
         vectors_config={},
         timeout=TIMEOUT,
@@ -1820,19 +1844,25 @@ def test_client_close():
 
     # region http
     client_http = QdrantClient(timeout=TIMEOUT)
-    client_http.recreate_collection(
+    if client_http.collection_exists("test"):
+        client_http.delete_collection("test")
+    client_http.create_collection(
         "test", vectors_config=VectorParams(size=100, distance=Distance.COSINE)
     )
     client_http.close()
     with pytest.raises(qdrant_exceptions.ResponseHandlingException):
-        client_http.recreate_collection(
+        if client_http.collection_exists("test"):
+            client_http.delete_collection("test")
+        client_http.create_collection(
             "test", vectors_config=VectorParams(size=100, distance=Distance.COSINE)
         )
     # endregion
 
     # region grpc
     client_grpc = QdrantClient(prefer_grpc=True, timeout=TIMEOUT)
-    client_grpc.recreate_collection(
+    if client_grpc.collection_exists("test"):
+        client_grpc.delete_collection("test")
+    client_grpc.create_collection(
         "test", vectors_config=VectorParams(size=100, distance=Distance.COSINE)
     )
     client_grpc.close()
@@ -1873,7 +1903,9 @@ def test_client_close():
 
     # region local
     local_client_in_mem = QdrantClient(":memory:")
-    local_client_in_mem.recreate_collection(
+    if local_client_in_mem.collection_exists("test"):
+        local_client_in_mem.delete_collection("test")
+    local_client_in_mem.create_collection(
         "test", vectors_config=VectorParams(size=100, distance=Distance.COSINE)
     )
     local_client_in_mem.close()
@@ -1885,24 +1917,30 @@ def test_client_close():
         )
 
     with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
-        local_client_in_mem.create_collection(
-            "test", vectors_config=VectorParams(size=100, distance=Distance.COSINE)
-        )
+        if not local_client_in_mem.collection_exists("test"):
+            local_client_in_mem.create_collection(
+                "test", vectors_config=VectorParams(size=100, distance=Distance.COSINE)
+            )
 
     with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
-        local_client_in_mem.delete_collection("test")
+        if local_client_in_mem.collection_exists("test"):
+            local_client_in_mem.delete_collection("test")
 
     with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmpdir:
         path = tmpdir + "/test.db"
 
         local_client_persist_1 = QdrantClient(path=path)
-        local_client_persist_1.recreate_collection(
+        if local_client_persist_1.collection_exists("test"):
+            local_client_persist_1.delete_collection("test")
+        local_client_persist_1.create_collection(
             "test", vectors_config=VectorParams(size=100, distance=Distance.COSINE)
         )
         local_client_persist_1.close()
 
         local_client_persist_2 = QdrantClient(path=path)
-        local_client_persist_2.recreate_collection(
+        if local_client_persist_2.collection_exists("test"):
+            local_client_persist_2.delete_collection("test")
+        local_client_persist_2.create_collection(
             "test", vectors_config=VectorParams(size=100, distance=Distance.COSINE)
         )
         local_client_persist_2.close()
@@ -1910,10 +1948,6 @@ def test_client_close():
 
 
 def test_timeout_propagation():
-    import time
-
-    from httpx import Timeout
-
     client = QdrantClient()
     vectors_config = models.VectorParams(size=2, distance=models.Distance.COSINE)
     with pytest.raises(
@@ -1922,9 +1956,13 @@ def test_timeout_propagation():
         # timeout is Optional[int]
         # if we set it to 0 - recreate_collection raises operation is in progress instead of timed out
         client.http.client._client._timeout = Timeout(0.01)
-        client.recreate_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config=vectors_config)
-    time.sleep(0.5)
-    client.recreate_collection(
+        if client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+            client.delete_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME)
+        client.create_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config=vectors_config)
+    sleep(0.5)
+    if client.collection_exists(COLLECTION_NAME):
+        client.delete_collection(collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME, timeout=10)
+    client.create_collection(
         collection_name=COLLECTION_NAME, vectors_config=vectors_config, timeout=10
     )
 
@@ -1937,10 +1975,11 @@ def test_grpc_options():
     assert client._client._grpc_options == {"grpc.max_send_message_length": 3}
 
     with pytest.raises(RpcError):
-        client.create_collection(
-            "grpc_collection",
-            vectors_config=models.VectorParams(size=100, distance=models.Distance.COSINE),
-        )
+        if not client.collection_exists("grpc_collection"):
+            client.create_collection(
+                "grpc_collection",
+                vectors_config=models.VectorParams(size=100, distance=models.Distance.COSINE),
+            )
 
 
 def test_grpc_compression():