The European Parliament voted on decisive reforms for driving licenses, inaugurating a new era in pan-European driving permits. The revolutionary changes include digital driving licenses with fifteen-year validity, mandatory probationary phase for novice drivers and cross-border enforcement of sanctions in cases of license suspension.
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The legislative regulation will be activated twenty days after its official publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Member states have a three-year deadline to incorporate the new provisions into their national legislation, while they will have an additional year for their practical implementation.
15-year validity for new driving licenses
The renewed driving licenses will have fifteen-year validity for motorcycles and passenger vehicles. In countries where the driving permit also functions as an identity card, the validity period may be limited to ten years. In contrast, driving licenses for trucks and buses will maintain five-year validity. EU member states gain the ability to shorten the validity period of licenses for drivers over sixty-five years old. Additionally, they can impose more frequent medical checks or mandatory attendance of refresher courses for this age group.
Before issuing a first permit or upon renewal, candidate drivers are required to undergo medical examination covering ophthalmological and cardiovascular tests. However, member states may replace the medical check with self-assessment or alternative evaluation systems for car and motorcycle license holders.
Probationary period and new age limits
For the first time, European legislation establishes a mandatory probationary period of minimum two years duration for newly licensed drivers. During this phase, stricter rules and heavier penalties apply for violations such as driving under the influence of alcohol, not wearing seatbelts or failing to install child seats. Young drivers will be able to obtain category B car licenses from age seventeen, but will drive exclusively under the guidance of an experienced driver until they reach adulthood.
To address the shortage of professional drivers, the new regulations allow obtaining category C truck licenses from age eighteen and category D bus licenses from age twenty-one, provided candidates hold a certificate of professional competence. Without this certificate, age limits increase to twenty-one and twenty-four years respectively.
Digital driving licenses and printed alternatives
According to the new legislation, the digital driving license accessible through mobile phones will gradually become the primary form of permit in the European Union. Nevertheless, MEPs ensured that citizens will retain the right to request printed licenses. In cases of physical card applications, issuance must occur without unjustified delays and typically within three weeks of application submission.
Cross-border enforcement of sanctions and license suspension
To combat dangerous driving abroad, every suspension, revocation or restriction of driving licenses will be immediately communicated to the issuing country, ensuring cross-border enforcement of sanctions.
National authorities are obliged to exchange information without delays regarding decisions to revoke driving licenses due to serious violations:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Involvement in fatal traffic accidents
- Excessive speed limit violations (e.g. driving 50 km/h above the permitted limit)
Improved training and safety
German MEP Jutta Paulus from the Greens, rapporteur for driving licenses, emphasized: “By 2030, the new directive for European driving licenses will introduce digital driving permits, while providing citizens complete freedom of choice between electronic and physical cards.” The rapporteur for driving license suspension, Matteo Ricci of the Socialists, stated: “Today we take a significant step forward in improving road safety. The introduction of clearer and more timely criteria for suspending driving rights in cases of serious violations helps protect not only responsible drivers but the entire community.”
Thanks to pressure from MEPs, new driver training and testing specifications will focus more on risks concerning pedestrians, children, cyclists and other vulnerable road users. Safe driving education will incorporate more elements for protecting these groups, while volunteers such as firefighters and rescuers will gain easier access to driving emergency vehicles.
