Driving license in a new way – EU changes to regulations in 2025

In March 2025, EU institutions agreed on a comprehensive modernisation of driving licence rules, introducing a number of significant changes for drivers across the EU. This is the first major reform in years, including a digital driving licence, a mandatory trial period for new drivers and new regulations for professional drivers.

The aim of the changes is, on the one hand, to improve road safety (in line with the EU’s “Vision Zero” – zero fatalities by 2050), and on the other – to adapt the system to digital realities and alleviate the problem of the lack of professional drivers. Below we present all the most important changes to the driving license.

Digital driving license and extended document validity

The digital driving licence will become a basic standard in the EU in the coming years. The new regulations provide that by 2030 at the latest, every EU citizen will be able to use a digital driving licence on their smartphone, integrated with the European digital identity wallet. The digital document is to be recognised in all EU countries, while drivers will retain the right to receive a traditional, physical document upon request.

The new directive also extends the validity period of issued documents. Standard driving licenses for categories A (motorcycle) and B (passenger car) will be valid for 15 years (currently a maximum of 15 years in Poland, 10 years in some countries), with the possibility of shortening this period to 10 years if the driving license also serves as an identity card. On the other hand, category C (trucks) and D (buses) authorizations will be renewed every 5 years – uniformly throughout the EU. This will allow for regular checks of the qualifications and health of professional drivers. Additionally, EU countries will retain the option of introducing shorter validity periods for drivers over 65 years of age if they consider it necessary.

New trial period and better driver training

As the changes are aimed at improving road safety, uniform rules have been introduced for novice drivers. A minimum two-year probationary period will apply throughout the EU for those who have just obtained their driving license. During this time, young drivers will be subject to stricter regulations. There are stricter penalties for, among others, driving under the influence of alcohol or driving without a seat belt.

Another new feature in the training and testing process is the increased focus on real-world road hazards. To obtain a driving license, candidates will now have to master knowledge and skills on topics such as safe phone use while driving and the consequences of distraction, blind spot hazards, driver assistance systems (ADAS), and even such mundane issues as safely opening vehicle doors after parking. The new requirements also include preparation for driving in difficult conditions, such as on slippery surfaces or in snow. All of this is intended to make new drivers better adapted to the realities of the road and more aware of the risk to other road users (pedestrians, cyclists).

Driver health checks have also been standardized at EU level. Before the first driving license is issued, the candidate will be required to undergo a medical examination assessing the ability to drive a vehicle – including an eye and cardiovascular examination. However, in the case of extending the authorizations, the member states will retain some flexibility – the new regulations allow for replacing the mandatory tests with a health self-assessment form or other alternative measures, if the country considers this sufficient for drivers of passenger categories. At the same time, the EU recommends conducting information campaigns to increase public awareness of the minimum physical and mental requirements needed for safe driving.

Lower age for truck and bus drivers

The biggest changes are coming to professional drivers. In response to the serious driver shortage in Europe, the minimum age required to obtain a heavy vehicle driving license has been lowered. Category C (heavy goods vehicles) will be available from 18 years (previously 21 years), and category D (buses) from 21 years (previously 24 years) – provided that the young driver obtains full professional qualifications (i.e. completing training and passing the exam for a professional qualification certificate, the so-called CPC).

What’s more, the EU intends to introduce a uniform model of driving with an experienced driver for young people who have just obtained their license in all countries. Member states will be able to allow 17-year-olds to obtain a category B license, and optionally even category C1/C, provided that they drive only in the company of another, experienced driver until they turn 18. This system of an accompanying driver has already had good results in some countries and will be extended throughout the EU.

Other important changes

In addition to the above key reforms, the set of amendments also provides for several other improvements to the regulations. The definitions of emergency vehicles (police, ambulance, fire brigade, etc.) have been clarified and facilities for volunteer drivers have been introduced.

The modernised regulations take into account the growing popularity of electric vehicles and campers. The weight of these vehicles (e.g. batteries in “electric cars”) often exceeds the previous limit of 3.5 tonnes for category B. After the reform, drivers with a category B driving licence will be able to drive vehicles with a permissible mass of up to 4.25 tonnes – provided they complete additional training or a supplementary exam. This will make it easier, among other things, to drive larger campers and heavier low-emission vehicles by drivers without category C. Detailed rules (e.g. scope of training) will be clarified by each EU country before this change is implemented.

Expert opinions

The proposed changes to the driving licence have won support from both road safety experts and the transport industry. Raluca Marian, policy director at the International Road Transport Union (IRU), said the European Parliament had taken a “major step towards eliminating key barriers preventing young EU citizens from joining the profession (…). The European road transport sector needs both local drivers and professionals from third countries to overcome the chronic shortage – we are already short of more than 500,000 drivers”.

In turn, road safety experts emphasize that unifying training standards and the probation period across the EU will help improve the skills of novice drivers and thus reduce the number of accidents on European roads. All this means that the modernization of driving license regulations, although still in the implementation phase, is already being assessed as a step in the right direction – both for improving safety and for the condition of the transport industry.

When will the changes come into force?

The new driving license regulations are in the finalization phase of the legislative process. The common position of the European Parliament and the Council was initially agreed at the end of March 2025 and must now be formally approved by both institutions (which is expected in 2025 after the final wording of the regulations has been finalized). After the official adoption of the directive, EU member states will have 4 years to implement the new regulations into national law. This means that, for example, the requirement of a probationary period or new age thresholds for drivers will become effective for drivers no later than 2029, unless one of the countries introduces them earlier. In turn, the full launch of the digital driving license system (a mobile application recognized in all countries) is planned for 2030.

It is worth adding that the reform in question is part of a broader package of road safety measures proposed by the European Commission in 2023 – this package also includes, among other things, provisions facilitating the enforcement of driving bans throughout the EU for drivers who flagrantly break the law, which complements the changes in the rules for issuing driving licences themselves.