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There will be a uniform drivers licence as of yesterday

FROM today all new driving licences issued across the EU will be in the form of a plastic ‘credit card’ with a standard European format and tougher security protection, the Commission announced yesterday .

The new European licence will progressively replace the more than 100 different paper and plastic models currently in use by more than 300 million drivers across the EU.

 It is part of a broader package of measures coming into force designed to enhance free movement, tackle driving licence fraud and improve road safety across the EU. 

"Traffic police across Europe are currently expected to recognise more than 100 different types of paper and plastic driving licence. ID photos may be long out of date, the categories for which the driver is licenced unclear and the document may be easy to forge. Fake driving licences are a licence to kill, that is why we need licences which are easy to read, easy to understand and very difficult to falsify,” said a statement from the Commission.

All new European driving licences will be issued according to a new format, a plastic ‘credit card’, with a photo and standard information requirements - easy to recognise and read across the EU.  

Existing licences are not affected, but will be changed to the new format at the time of renewal or at the latest by 2033. The European driving licence can be adapted to incorporate national symbols as decided by each Member State. 

The new driving licence includes a number of security features to make it "tamper proof" and to avoid falsification. 

In addition, it is backed up by the creation of a European electronic data exchange system to facilitate the exchange of information between national administrations. This will simplify the process for managing driving licences for people changing residence from one Member State to another. It will also significantly help to prohibit "driving licence tourism" and fraud, for example, to enforce the new, more stringent prohibition, of a Member State issuing a licence to someone who has already had their licence withdrawn, suspended or restricted by another Member State. 

The Regular Renewal of Licences 

“Central to tackling fraud and improving road safety is the need for a regular renewal of licences across the EU. Under the new rules, licences must be renewed, for car drivers and motorcyclists, every 10-15 years, depending on the Member State. For buses and lorry drivers licences must be renewed every five years and a medical check-up will be necessary for renewal,” the Commission said.

This is an administrative renewal, and does not require any additional testing. It ensures that licencing information, photos etc. are kept up to date, security features on cards can be regularly updated to new technology and Member States have constantly updated information about the licences in circulation. 

The European driving licence regime also strengthens protection for the most vulnerable categories of road users, said the Commission. This includes:  a higher age limit for the most powerful motorbikes, up from the existing 21 to 24 years. The new regime requires driving experience of a minimum of four years instead of two.

Mopeds will also constitute a new vehicle category and moped licence candidates will from now on be required to pass a theory test. Member States may also introduce skill and behaviour tests and medical examinations. The EU sets a minimum recommended age of 16 years at which licences are mutually recognised by all Members States. Prior to this there were no minimum EU requirements for mopeds. 

Under the new rules, driving examiners will have to comply with minimum standards as regards their initial qualification and periodic training.