Post Tagged with: "digital driver’s license"

In 2025, the EU driving license reform will bring several changes for Class B license holders. The goal of the reforms is to reduce accident rates and to standardize driving licenses across Europe. The Council and the European Parliament have now reached a preliminary political agreement on updating the Driving Licence Directive. There are no specific changes for Germany yet; these will only be transposed into national law after the finalization of an Official Journal of the EU.

What is known so far about the changes to driving licenses

So far, the European Council’s press release from the first quarter of 2025 reveals the following changes:

• The digital driver’s license is to be introduced across the EU by 2030 at the latest. It will be accessible via smartphone and is intended to complement, but not replace, the physical driver’s license. Drivers can still apply for a physical driver’s license if they wish.
• The validity of all newly issued driver’s licenses will be limited to 15 years; after this period, the license must be renewed. This is purely a document renewal; the driver’s license itself remains valid unless there are health concerns. The aim of this measure is to ensure that photo and personal data are up to date and to increase security against forgery. In addition, EU countries may also shorten the validity of the driver’s license for older drivers from the age of 65.
• Meanwhile, mandatory health tests for older drivers were rejected, despite the EU Commission’s original proposal. Member states can decide for themselves whether they wish to introduce such tests. In Germany, mandatory health tests for older drivers are currently rejected to avoid additional bureaucratic burdens.
• A uniform two-year probationary period will be introduced across the EU for novice drivers. This regulation is intended to increase road safety and help young drivers gradually become accustomed to road traffic.
• Regardless of the new regulations, all driving licenses issued before January 19, 2013, must be exchanged for the new, uniform EU driving license by January 19, 2033, at the latest. The exchange deadlines are staggered according to the holder’s year of birth and the date the license was issued. The aim of this measure is to standardize driving licenses across Europe and increase security against forgery.