Digital Driving Licences Coming to the EU: Stricter Training and Unified Sanctions for Safer Roads

The updated framework aims to strengthen road safety and reduce the nearly 20,000 fatalities recorded every year on Europe’s roads.
Under the new directive, the rules will come into force 20 days after publication in the EU’s Official Journal, with member states given three years to transpose them into national law and an additional year for full implementation.

A fully digital driving licence
The headline change is the introduction of a digital driving licence, available via smartphone and gradually becoming the standard format across the EU. Citizens will still have the right to request a physical, card-style licence, which must be issued promptly — within three weeks of application.

Updated driver training and stricter probation period

The practical driving test will now cover new areas such as the dangers of blind spots, the use of driver-assistance systems, safe door opening techniques, and the risks of mobile phone distractions. Training will also put greater emphasis on protecting vulnerable road users — including pedestrians, children, and cyclists.For the first time, a two-year probation period will apply to newly licensed drivers. During this time, tougher penalties will be enforced for offences such as drink-driving, not wearing a seatbelt, or failing to use child restraints.

Seventeen-year-olds will be allowed to obtain a Category B licence (cars) but must drive only under the supervision of an experienced driver until turning 18. To tackle the shortage of professional drivers, 18-year-olds will be able to drive trucks (Category C) and 21-year-olds buses (Category D), provided they hold a Certificate of Professional Competence.

Validity, health checks, and renewal

Driving licences will be valid for 15 years for cars and motorcycles — or 10 years if they also serve as an ID card. Licences for trucks and buses will be valid for five years.
Member states may shorten the validity period for drivers over 65, requiring more frequent medical checks or refresher courses. Medical assessments for issuing or renewing a licence will include vision and cardiovascular health tests, and governments may also introduce self-assessment tools for private drivers.

Cross-border enforcement of penalties
To curb dangerous driving abroad, any suspension, restriction, or withdrawal of a driving licence will be immediately shared with the issuing member state, ensuring the mutual recognition of sanctions across the EU. National authorities will be obliged to exchange information on serious offences such as drink- or drug-driving, fatal accidents, or speeding by more than 50 km/h.
“A major step forward for Europe’s drivers”

Jutta Paulus, the European Parliament’s rapporteur on driving licences, said that by 2030, the new directive will make the digital driving licence a reality, giving citizens the choice between a mobile app and a physical card. “European drivers will soon benefit directly from these substantial improvements,” she added.