The new period of validity applies from the next driving licence renewal, after five, ten or twenty years, depending on the case. Holders of old driving licences therefore do not have to exchange them immediately. You can continue to use them until the renewal date.
The reform also includes special regulations for drivers over 65 years of age. Member States may shorten the validity period of their driving licences and require more frequent medical examinations or refresher courses. However, this measure is not mandatory: each country is free to implement it.
The reform also includes changes to the procedure for obtaining or renewing a driving licence. MEPs want to introduce medical examinations, including ophthalmological and cardiovascular examinations, to confirm that drivers have the necessary physical fitness for safe driving.
But here, too, the Member States retain a certain amount of leeway. They may decide to replace this medical examination with a self-assessment system or other nationally determined assessment methods. In practice, therefore, the medical examination will not be systematically mandatory in Europe.
