A new era of driving in Europe is about to begin. The European Parliament has officially approved the most far-reaching reform of driving-license rules in decades, aiming to make roads safer and end the long-standing problem of national loopholes in traffic enforcement.
Under the new directive, driving bans imposed in one EU country will apply across the entire Union. This means that offenders who lose their license for serious violations — such as drunk driving, drug use, fatal accidents, or extreme speeding — will no longer be able to simply cross a border and continue driving legally elsewhere.
Member states will have three years to transpose the new law into national legislation and one additional year to fully implement it.
Digital driver’s licenses by 2030
By the end of the decade, all EU citizens will be able to carry a digital driver’s license, accessible on smartphones and recognized in all member states. Physical cards will remain available, but both formats will be equally valid.
The goal is to simplify border controls, rental procedures, and renewals, creating one unified standard for the entire European Union.
Driving bans that don’t stop at borders
The reform introduces a new mechanism that will allow a member state where a serious traffic violation occurs to notify the issuing country, which will then be required to recognize and enforce the driving ban.
Until now, such penalties could only apply within the country of offence. Once the directive is integrated into national law, EU-wide enforcement will ensure that traffic offenders are held accountable regardless of where they obtained their license.
According to Germany’s ADAC automobile club, this change will only become “practically relevant” once each state completes its legal adaptation — but it marks a major shift toward a unified European traffic area.
Learning earlier – and across Europe
The reform also expands the system of accompanied driving. Young drivers will be able to gain supervised driving experience earlier and even continue practicing while on holiday in other EU countries. Germany already offers this model, but now it will apply Union-wide.
For professional drivers, the scheme may also be introduced voluntarily to improve safety standards and address the shortage of qualified truck and bus drivers across Europe.
Lower age limits for professional licenses
To attract younger workers to the transport sector, the EU is lowering minimum age requirements:
- Truck licenses: from 21 to 18 years
- Bus licenses: from 24 to 21 years
This step, combined with enhanced training and monitoring, aims to make the sector more appealing without compromising safety.
Safer driving lessons and modern training
Driving schools will soon focus more strongly on real-life road safety challenges. Future drivers will receive additional instruction on:
- Distractions caused by smartphones
- Blind spots and visibility
- Use of modern driver-assistance systems
- Interacting safely with pedestrians, children, and cyclists
The EU believes this will improve awareness and significantly reduce avoidable accidents in urban areas.
Easier rules for motorhome owners
The reforms also bring good news for motorhome enthusiasts. Holders of a standard Class B license will soon be allowed to drive vehicles up to 4.25 tonnes, provided they complete specialized training or an additional test.
Each country will be able to decide whether this requires a short course or a full examination, but the measure aims to reflect the increasing popularity and weight of modern motorhomes.
No mandatory medical checks for older drivers
One of the most debated proposals — compulsory medical exams for older drivers — has been dropped. Each country will decide individually whether to introduce optional health certificates or self-assessment forms, but there will be no EU-wide obligation.
Earlier ideas, such as special license categories for SUVs or night driving bans for young motorists, also failed to make it into the final law. The suggestion to force drivers over 70 to renew their license every five years was likewise abandoned.
Vision Zero: the EU’s ultimate goal
The reform is part of the EU’s Vision Zero strategy, which aims to eliminate road deaths and serious injuries by 2050. The interim goal is to cut traffic fatalities by half by 2030 compared with 2019 levels.
Progress remains slow: over the past five years, road deaths in the EU have fallen by just 12 percent. In 2024, 19,940 people were killed in road accidents across the bloc — a modest two percent drop from the previous year.
Sweden and Denmark remain Europe’s safest countries, with 20 and 24 deaths per million inhabitants, respectively. Germany, with 33 deaths per million, performs better than the EU average of 45 — but officials say there is still a long way to go.
