The Commission welcomes provisional agreement on modernised driving licences rules

The European Commission welcomes the provisional agreement reached yesterday between the European Parliament and the Council on its initiative to modernise EU driving licence rules.

The new Directive on driving licences aims to reduce the number of crashes on EU roads and to cut undue burdens on citizens and authorities related to administrative procedures. To achieve these goals, the Directive contains several key elements, including the introduction of digital EU driving licences that can be accessed on mobile phones or other digital devices, and used throughout the entire EU. Additionally, an EU-wide accompanied driving scheme will be introduced for 17-year-old drivers, a measure that has been proven to significantly improve road safety. This scheme may also be extended to 17-year-old lorry drivers under certain conditions.

The new Directive also includes an EU-wide probationary period for novice drivers, a measure aiming to reduce the risk of crashes among new drivers. Given that 2 out of 5 fatal collisions involve drivers under 30, this measure is particularly important. Furthermore, the Directive will introduce new requirements on physical and mental fitness to drive. 

The safety of pedestrians, cyclists, scooters, and other micromobility users is also a priority in the new Directive. Drivers will need to prove their risk awareness of these vulnerable road users, when taking their theory and practical tests. The new rules will also enable the recognition of licences issued in specific third countries that have a road safety framework similar to the EU.

Commissioner for Transport, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, welcomed the agreement: "These updated driving licence rules mark a major step forward in modernising our licencing system and enhancing road safety across the EU. From the introduction of digital driving licences to measures that support young drivers, this agreement paves the way for a more accessible, efficient, and safer mobility system. Most importantly, it will help us reduce fatalities on EU roads, bringing us closer to our Vision Zero goal."

Digital driving licences

The new rules will introduce a fully digital driving licence, available on a mobile phone or other digital device. It will be issued into the EU Digital Identity Wallet. This innovation will simplify administrative procedures for citizens and national authorities alike, while making licence replacement, renewal, and exchange significantly easier when moving between Member States.

After a brief transitionary period, digital driving licences will be issued by default in all Member States. However, physical driving licences remain available at request, particularly for those who do not possess a smartphone or prefer or need a physical document (e.g. when travelling to third countries that do not recognise digital licences).

Accompanied driving schemes for 17-year old drivers

The new Directive introduces an EU-wide accompanied driving scheme for 17-year-old drivers of cars (category B). Accompanied driving schemes have been proven to significantly improve road safety. Member States will have the possibility to introduce such a scheme under certain conditions also for 17-year-old lorry drivers (categories C1, C1E and C), with mutual recognition of such schemes among the Member States that apply it. This measure reduces the “school-to-wheel” gap, thus helping to attract more young people to the profession of lorry driver.

Stricter rules for novice drivers

The new Directive introduces a probationary period of at least two years for novice drivers, during which they will be subject to stricter rules and sanctions in the whole EU. This is essential as even if young drivers only represent 8% of all car drivers, 2 out of 5 fatal collisions involve a driver or rider aged under 30.

More systematic checks of the fitness to drive

The fitness to drive of driving licence holders will in the future be more systematically checked. The new Directive contains several provisions that aim at ascertaining whether a driver is still (physically and mentally) fit to drive. As a minimum, drivers will be asked to fill in a self-assessment before a licence is issued to them and at each licence renewal or comply with other assessment systems designed at the national level.

Better protection of vulnerable road users

To better protect vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, and users of e-scooters and other micromobility devices, the new rules adjust training and testing requirements to place greater emphasis on the safety of these groups.

Bringing licencing rules in line with technical advancements

To bring driving licencing rules in line with vehicle technical advancements and the transition to zero-emission vehicles, new testing requirements will, for example, assess the knowledge and skills linked to advanced driving assistance systems and other automated technologies.

Promotion of use of alternatively-powered and other special vehicles

The new Driving Licence Directive also allows driving with a category B licence alternatively-fuelled vehicles, including emergency vehicles, with a maximum weight up to 4.25 tonnes (instead of 3.5 tonnes). This takes account of the fact that alternatively-fuelled vehicles are often heavier than conventionally-powered vehicles, e.g. due to the weight of the battery, and thus should help promote their market uptake, as no higher licence category is needed to drive them.

New rules will also be introduced allowing drivers holding a category B driving licence to, after some targeted training or testing decided for by the Member State, acquire additional rights to drive heavy motor caravans.

EU-wide recognition of EU licences issued in exchange for licences from specific third countries

Right now, EU licences issued in one EU Member State in exchange for driving licences originating in a third country are marked with code ‘70’ and don’t have to be recognised by other Member States if their holders take up residence there. The new Directive provides for the EU-wide recognition of EU licences issued in exchange for licences from specific third countries which have a road safety framework similar to the EU. Together with Member States, the Commission will assess and decide on a country-by-country basis which third countries are to benefit from such treatment.

Allowing citizens to obtain their driving licence in their home Member State under certain conditions

Taking your driving licence should not be a language exam. Therefore, the new rules will allow citizens to obtain their driving licence in their Member State of citizenship in case the Member State they live in does not provide interpretation or translation in their (EU) language, when they wish to acquire their first category B (passenger car) driving licence.

Next steps

The European Parliament and the Council will now formally adopt the new Directive, which will enter into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal of the EU. Member States will have four years to transpose the Directive into national legislation.

Background

Road safety is a major societal issue. In 2024, nearly 20,000 people were killed in road crashes in the European Union. The EU has set itself the ambitious target of "Vision Zero" – zero road deaths by 2050, with an intermediate target of reducing fatalities by 50% by 2030.

Road safety is a shared responsibility between the EU and Member States. While national and local authorities deliver most day-to-day actions, the EU contributes with safety rules for infrastructure and vehicles and for driving testing and licencing, coordinates cross-border cooperation between authorities and efforts to exchange best practices, and funds road safety projects.

The Directive on which agreement could be found yesterday is part of the road safety package, a set of three legislative proposals which the Commission brought forward on 1 March 2023.