At the end of October, the European Parliament and the Council adopted Directive (EU) 2025/2205 on driving licenses and Directive (EU) 2025/2206 on driving license withdrawals. The new rules concern the key professional driving document and establish uniform standards for the exchange of licenses and the application of driving bans within the EU.
Although some publications focused on lowering the minimum age of drivers, the actual innovation is of a formal nature. Drivers from the age of 18 can now drive vehicles under Directive (EU) 2022/2561. The main changes concern the exchange of driving licences issued in third countries and the cross-border application of driving bans.
The directive introduces two alternative mechanisms for foreign driving licences issued outside the European Economic Area. The first is a harmonised system - for countries recognised by the European Commission as having driver training and testing systems that are comparable to EU standards. The Commission assesses the quality of driver training systems and may adopt an act setting out the rules for exchange, the categories of driving licences, the terms of their issue, and the minimum requirements for physical and mental fitness. A driving licence issued under such a system contains an EU code and is automatically recognised when changing residence in another Member State.
National legislation is also provided for - for countries that are not part of the harmonised system. In this case, Member States apply their own rules for the exchange, including verification of the authenticity of documents, possible passing of a theoretical or practical test and compliance with physical and mental fitness requirements. The EU driving licence issued on this basis will also contain a code indicating the disagreement with the exchange.
When a driver moves from a third country to another EU Member State, the validity of the licence may be limited and the new country of residence may require additional procedures under local rules.
The new directives extend the possibility of extending driving bans imposed in onein a member state, throughout the EU. This applies to serious offences:
- exceeding the speed limit by 50 km/h or more;
- driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs;
- being involved in a serious accident;
- serious traffic offences (dangerous overtaking, running a red light, driving against traffic, creating a safety hazard).
Information about the ban is transmitted between member states electronically. The issuing country is obliged to withdraw, suspend or restrict the driver's rights. Refusal is only possible if the driver's rights of defence, the principle of a fair trial or the principle of ne bis in idem (impossibility of being punished twice for the same offence) are violated.
If an indefinite ban has been imposed in another member state, the directive allows the driver to apply for reinstatement of the rights in another country after consultation with the country of origin. In this case, the indefinite ban remains in the country where the violation was committed.
Member States are obliged to adopt and publish national provisions to implement the directives by 25 November 2027. They will usually enter into force on 25 May 2028.