A single driving licence model will be introduced across Europe from January 19, and new rules about the design of the licence card itself and the period for which it is valid.

This will:

  • stop citizens, police forces and those responsible for the issuing of driving licences becoming confused by conflicting rules in different countries, and
  • should help prevent criminals producing fraudulent driving licences.

This is hoped to make it easier for countries to accept driving licences issued by other member states and let people living in these countries move more freely around Europe.

All new driving licences will be issued in the new format – for new learner drivers and those who pass a test, and replace all existing valid licences with the new format when drivers notify a change, exchange or renew their licence.

All vehicle categories will be shown on the back of your licence with dates shown against those you are entitled to drive. Drivers will not be entitled to drive any category of vehicle that has lines shown instead of dates.

Drivers will keep the entitlements they had when they passed their driving test and the types of vehicles that applied to those entitlements at that time. To learn to drive or pass a test to drive additional vehicles on or after 19 January 2013, drivers will have to meet any new minimum age limits, and the entitlement they receive will be as described under the new rules.

More detail about how they affect existing drivers/riders and those intending to become drivers/riders on or after 19 January 2013 can be found in the Fact Sheets by clicking the link below.

The Fact Sheets cover:

  • Fact Sheet 1: Motorcycles, mopeds and tricycles
  • Fact Sheet 2: Vehicles that can be driven and the age restrictions for driving
  • Fact Sheet 3: Drivers of buses and lorries (medium and large goods and passenger carrying vehicles) – new driving licence validity periods
  • Fact Sheet 4: The new driving licence card design explained
  • Fact Sheet 5: Trailer restrictions for car and small vehicle drivers.

Click here to view the fact sheets

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