The Council of the European Union and the European Parliament have reached a provisional political agreement on a major update of the EU Driving Licence Directive. The reform introduces a series of significant changes that aim to improve road safety, modernise the driving permit system, and address current challenges such as youth driver training and driver shortages in professional categories.
Novice
One of the headline reforms is the introduction of a harmonised two-year probation period for novice drivers across all EU Member States. During this period, stricter sanctions will apply for offences such as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This measure seeks to support safer driving habits among young motorists and reduce accident risks in the crucial early years of driving.
Digital
By the end of 2030, all EU citizens will have access to a uniform mobile driving licence, integrated into the European Digital Identity Wallet. The digital version will be recognised in all Member States and co-exist with a physical driving licence, which will remain available upon request. Both digital and physical licences will be valid for 15 years for passenger cars and motorcycles — longer than the current validity — except when used as a form of ID, where validity will be 10 years.
Medical
To further improve road safety, the reform takes a step toward harmonising medical screening procedures across the EU. Each Member State will be required to carry out either a formal medical examination or implement a self-assessment questionnaire to evaluate fitness to drive when issuing licences.
Accompaniment
The update introduces an accompanied driving scheme, allowing young people to begin training for driving licences in categories such as passenger cars (B) and trucks/vans (C) at the age of 17, provided they are accompanied by an experienced driver. This aims to both enhance driving skills and help tackle the shortage of professional drivers in many EU countries.
Access
The reform also addresses issues faced by EU citizens living in a Member State different from their nationality. Under the new rules, it will be possible to take driving tests and obtain a licence in the country of citizenship, if language barriers prevent them from testing in the host country’s official languages.
Policy
This revision is part of the European Commission’s Road Safety Package (2023), which supports the EU’s Road Safety Policy Framework 2021–2030. The framework includes the Vision Zero objective — aiming for zero deaths and serious injuries on EU roads by 2050 — and an interim goal to cut road fatalities and serious injuries by 50% by 2030. Although EU road safety has improved markedly over the past two decades, 20,400 people died in road accidents in 2023 — just a 1% decrease from the year before. Preliminary 2024 figures show a 3% decrease, but to meet the 2030 target, an annual reduction of at least 4.5% is needed. Alongside the driving licence directive, the Road Safety Package also includes proposals to improve rules on driver disqualification and cross-border enforcement of road traffic offences.
The provisional agreement will now require formal approval by the Council’s Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) and the European Parliament, followed by legal-linguistic finalisation before formal adoption.