Post Tagged with: "Driving 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.

If you want to be on the road with a heavy trailer, a class B driving license is not enough. With this driver’s license, trailers are only allowed up to a permissible total mass of 750 kg. Driving a heavier trailer requires a BE driving license or a B96 driving license if, for example, you are traveling with a horse trailer or caravan.

An extension for your class B driver’s license

The B96 driving license is an extension for the class B driving license and allows you to tow heavy trailers. Since B96 is not a separate driver’s license, only theoretical and practical lessons in the driving school are required. There is no test for the B96 in Germany like there is for a class BE driving licence. The B96 extension will be noted on your driver’s license with the key number 96 after you have completed the theoretical and practical part. The extension is valid throughout the EU.

These are your options with the B96 extension

For all those who want to pull more than the class B driving license allows, the B96 extension offers more leeway. You can use it with a total mass of up to 4250 kg. It is important, however, that the total mass is decisive, i.e. the combination of towing vehicle and trailer. So if your towing vehicle weighs two tons, your trailer can still weigh 2250 kg for your journey. If this is not enough for your trailer, you would have to think about a class BE driver’s license, so the trailer alone can weigh 3500 kg as the permissible total weight.

The advantages of the extension B96

If you are thinking about whether you need the B96 extension, then the advantages are probably also important to you. Since no exam has to be taken, the extension can be obtained faster than, for example, the driving license class BE. Also, the costs are lower due to the short duration and fewer hours in the driving school. In addition, the B96 extension offers you more options for towing a trailer than your class B driver’s license.

Find out more about the different driving licenses in our blog post.