Last month, the European Parliament confirmed an update to the EU driving license rules aimed at improving road safety. The revised EU driving license rules are part of a road safety package presented by the Commission in 2023.
Read on to learn how the revised rules and restrictions will apply to both new and experienced drivers, and the adoption of digital (mobile) driving licenses throughout the EU.
Driving license validity periods for experienced drivers
- Driving licenses will be valid for 15 years for motorcycles and cars.
- If a member state allows the driving license to be used as a national ID, it will have the option to reduce the validity period to 10 years.
- Driving licenses for trucks and buses will be valid for five years.
- EU countries have the option to impose a shorter validity term for drivers aged 65 or older to require more frequent medical checks or refresher courses.
Novice drivers face new restrictions, new opportunities
Under the new driving license rules, novice drivers will face some new restrictions as well as new opportunities.
Novice drivers will be subject to restrictions aimed at safer driving. For example:
- New drivers will be subject to a probationary period of at least two years.
- 17-year-olds will be able to get a license to drive a car (category B), but they must drive accompanied by an experienced driver until they are 18 years old.
Due to the shortage of professional (commercial) drivers in the EU, some driving license requirements for new drivers shall be less restrictive. Specifically:
- 18-year-olds can obtain a license to drive a truck (category C) if they have earned a certificate of professional competence.
- 21-year-olds can obtain a license to drive a bus (category D), provided they hold a certificate of professional competence.
Drivers who lack the necessary professional certificates will have to be 21 and 24 respectively to drive these vehicles.
Digital (mobile) driving license adoption by 2030
The digital (mobile) driving license, stored on the holder’s mobile phone, should be available to drivers throughout the EU by 2030. Physical driving licenses will still be available. This transition will be gradual and will vary by Member State.
The timeline for rolling out the new rules
The new rules will become effective 20 days after they are published in the Official Journal of the European Union. EU countries will then have three years to translate the new provisions into national law and an additional year to prepare for their implementation, the European Parliament explains.
Sources/References:
The International Commission for Driver Testing
European Parliament
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