At the plenary session in the French city of Strasbourg, MEPs supported the revision of driver's license rules, with new provisions regarding newly licensed drivers, digital driver's licenses, and driving bans.

This is an update to European Union (EU) driver's license rules, "aimed at improving safety and reducing road collisions, which result in the loss of nearly 20,000 lives each year on EU roads," according to the European assembly.

Under the new rules, 17-year-olds will be able to obtain a passenger car driver's license (category B), but they will have to drive with an experienced driver until they turn 18.

For the first time, a minimum two-year probationary period will also be introduced for newly licensed drivers, with stricter rules and penalties regarding driving under the influence of alcohol and failure to use seat belts or child restraint systems.

To alleviate the shortage of professional drivers, the new rules allow 18-year-olds to obtain a truck driver's license (category C) and 21-year-olds to obtain a bus driver's license (category D), provided they hold a certificate of professional competence. Otherwise, they will need to be 21 and 24, respectively, to drive these vehicles.

Digital license

Another new feature is the digital version of the driver's license, which should be accessible from a mobile phone, the new primary format in the EU, compared to a physical card.

Regarding training, the driver's license exam will now include knowledge of blind spot risks, driver assistance systems, safe door opening, and the risks of distraction when using a phone.

Regarding validity, driver's licenses will be valid for 15 years for motorcycles and cars, with the possibility of reducing this period to 10 years if the driver's license is used as a national identification document.

Driver's licenses for trucks and buses will be valid for five years.

EU countries are expected to reduce the validity period for drivers aged 65 and over to subject holders to more frequent medical examinations or refresher courses.

To obtain a driver's license for the first time or when applying for a renewal, drivers must pass a medical examination, which includes vision and cardiovascular health tests.

The exchange of information between EU countries regarding license seizures, suspensions, or restrictions is also stipulated, with a view to preventing reckless driving abroad.

The new rules will come into force on the 20th day after their publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, with Member States having three years to transpose the directive into national law and an additional year to prepare its implementation.

This revision was initially proposed by the European Commission in March 2023.