Driving before 17, new validity timeframes and homogeneous rules, the European Union (EU) has approved reforms to driving licence rules, affecting all driving licence holders.
The EU aims to modernise the document, improve road safety and bring the rules applied across different Member States closer together, reducing the differences between national systems.
Under the new European directive, measures will be introduced to cover not only experienced drivers but also those preparing to get behind the wheel for the first time. Overall, the main elements of the reform include the digitalisation of documents, new validity periods and stricter requirements for newly qualified drivers.
The initiatives also aim to make driving between Member States easier by promoting greater consistency in the recognition of driving licences, while establishing mechanisms to raise drivers’ awareness of serious traffic offences.
Digital driving licence for use across the EU
The introduction of a digital driving licence, accessible via mobile phone and recognised in all countries, will be one of the main changes to be implemented.
The aim is to allow drivers to present their licence in digital format without having to carry the physical version when travelling by car within the EU.
The system will be introduced gradually, with the digital format expected to become the norm following a transition period. However, the European bloc does not intend to phase out physical documents entirely, allowing licence holders to choose their preferred format.
The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport states that the transition to this new digital model forms part of a modernisation process aimed at simplifying the use and recognition of driving licences across different Member States.
Changes to validity periods
The administrative validity of driving licences will also change. For example, driving licences for cars and motorcycles will have an administrative validity period of 15 years. In countries where the driving licence also serves as an identity document, this period may be reduced to 10 years.
For those who drive heavy goods vehicles and passenger transport vehicles professionally, driving licences will have an administrative validity period of five years.
It is worth emphasising that the administrative validity of a document is not linked to the holder’s age. The 15-year period refers only to how long a driving licence remains valid before it needs to be renewed. A licence will not expire simply because a driver reaches a certain age.
Two-year probationary period
Those who have just obtained their driving licence will be subject to a probationary period of at least two years. During this time, stricter rules will apply and the consequences of traffic offences will be more severe. In Portugal, the probationary period is already three years.
The measure aims to reduce road accidents across the EU by strengthening efforts to prevent risky behaviour that can become normalised during the first years of driving.
Possibility of driving at a younger age
The reform also opens the door to allowing people to start driving cars at the age of 17, subject to certain conditions. To do so, young drivers will have to drive alongside an experienced driver, who must also meet specific requirements to supervise them.
In Portugal, there has already been debate about allowing learner drivers to complete some of their driving lessons accompanied by a tutor who is not a qualified instructor from a driving school, as previously reported by The Portugal News.
The measure aims to provide a more gradual learning process, allowing prospective motorists to gain experience in real traffic situations before they begin driving independently.
Implementation of the new rules
The planned changes will be introduced gradually, with different implementation schedules applying to individual measures.
Some of the new rules could begin to take effect later this year, with the changes being progressively implemented until 2028. This means that not all drivers across all Member States will experience the changes on the same date.
By harmonising the rules and modernising driving licence documents, the European Commission aims to make road travel simpler and safer while strengthening cooperation between Member States.
The digital driving licence, new validity periods and probationary arrangements for newly qualified drivers are therefore the main pillars of a transformation expected to shape driving in Europe over the coming years.