In other words, the changes will not be immediate, but will gradually change the issuance and monitoring of driving licences across Europe. However, a closer look at the details of this reform shows that some measures remain relatively flexible: Member States retain some leeway in adapting various provisions.
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The validity period is now limited.
One of the most important changes concerns the validity period of driving licences. Until now, some driver’s licenses – especially the old, pink papers that many French people still have – were valid for life. The European reform now provides for a maximum validity period of 15 years for car and motorcycle licenses.
In some countries where driving licences also serve as official identification documents, the validity period could be reduced to up to ten years. In particular, old driving licences must be gradually replaced by a new, European format with an expiry date. According to the European Parliament’s Directorate-General for Communication, member states have a long transitional period to implement this amendment, which could extend until 19 January 2033.
