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Driving licences

TA-9-2024-0095 · P9_TA(2024)0095 · PE750.248

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Parliament's amended version of the proposed directive on driving licences sets common rules on licence models, categories, issuance, validity, renewal, and mutual recognition, and introduces mobile driving licences. It requires member states to issue both physical and mobile driving licences by default, with applicants able to renounce one format and request it later. It sets minimum ages for licence categories, allows accompanied driving from age 17 for categories B, C, and C1, and establishes a probationary period of at least two years for novice drivers. It specifies administrative validity periods: 15 years for categories AM, A1, A2, A, B, B1, and BE; five years for categories C, CE, C1, C1E, D, DE, D1, and D1E. It lays down rules on medical fitness, driving tests, examiner standards, and exchange of licences from third countries, and requires member states to assist each other via the EU driving licence network.

Key points

  1. Member states must issue both physical and mobile driving licences by default from four years after adoption; applicants may renounce one format and request it later, with reissue within two weeks.
  2. Physical driving licences must meet anti-forgery standards; microchips or QR codes may be included, but their loss does not affect licence validity.
  3. Minimum ages for licences: 16 for AM, A1, B1; 18 for A2, B, BE, C1, C1E; 20 or 21 for A; 21 for C, CE, D1, D1E; 24 for D, DE, with lower ages for professional drivers holding a CPC.
  4. Member states may lower minimum ages for categories B and BE to 17, and for C to 18 and D to 21 for fire service, civil protection, and public order vehicles.
  5. An accompanied driving scheme allows licences for categories B, C, and C1 from age 17, with conditions for the accompanying person.
  6. Novice drivers face a probationary period of at least two years, with stricter penalties for alcohol (blood alcohol level exceeding 0.2 g/mL) and other offences.
  7. Administrative validity is 15 years for categories AM, A1, A2, A, B, B1, BE and five years for C, CE, C1, C1E, D, DE, D1, D1E; member states may reduce validity for drivers over 70.
  8. Driving licences for categories BE, C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D, DE require prior entitlement to category B; equivalences between categories are specified.
  9. Two years after first issue, category B licences allow driving alternatively fuelled vehicles up to 4,250 kg and ambulances up to 4,250 kg.
  10. Member states must exchange information via the EU driving licence network (RESPER) to prevent fraud and enforce disqualifications.
  11. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts to update technical annexes and implementing acts for interoperability and security of QR codes and mobile licences.

Who is affected

  • Driving licence applicants and holders in the EU: new rules on licence formats, validity, and probationary periods.
  • Professional drivers of trucks and buses: lower minimum ages for categories C, CE, D, DE if holding a CPC.
  • Novice drivers: subject to probationary period and stricter penalties.
  • Drivers aged 70 and over: member states may reduce licence validity to five years or less.
  • Drivers of alternatively fuelled vehicles and ambulances: category B licences allow driving heavier vehicles after two years.

Figures and deadlines

  • 15 years administrative validity for categories AM, A1, A2, A, B, B1, BE.
  • Five years administrative validity for categories C, CE, C1, C1E, D, DE, D1, D1E.
  • Minimum age 16 for AM, A1, B1; 18 for A2, B, BE, C1, C1E; 21 for C, CE, D1, D1E; 24 for D, DE.
  • Probationary period at least two years for novice drivers.
  • Blood alcohol level exceeding 0.2 g/mL for novice drivers.
  • Maximum authorised mass 4,250 kg for alternatively fuelled vehicles and ambulances driven with category B licence after two years.

Legal basis: Article 91(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union