European driving licence

This article is about the European driving licence for vehicles. For the computer literacy certification, see European Computer Driving Licence.
German version of a current EU driving licence card with the EU flag on it (2013, specimen)
Driving licences within the European Union are subdivided into different categories (Note: Above graphic may be outdated since 19 January 2013)

The European driving licence is a driving licence replacing the many driving licence styles already in use in the member states of the European Economic Area (European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). It has the credit card-style with a photograph and possibly a microchip. They were introduced to replace the 110 different plastic and paper driving licences of the 300 million drivers in the EEA. The main objective of the licence is to decrease the risk of fraud.

History

Pre-1996 European driving licence

The first step to a European driving licence was taken on 4 December 1980, when the Council of Ministers adopted Council Directive 80/1263/EEC on the introduction of a Community driving licence, which established a Community model national licence that guaranteed the mutual recognition by Member States of national licences. It also established the practice of exchange of licences by holders moving from one Member State to another.

European driving licence as from 1996

Directive 91/439/EEC
European Union directive
Title Council Directive on driving licences
Made by Council
Made under Art. 75 TEC
Journal reference L237, pp 1-24
History
Date made 1991-07-29
Came into force 1991-08-24
Implementation date 1996-07-01
Other legislation
Replaces Directive 80/1263/EEC
Replaced by Directive 2006/126/EC
Repealed

On 29 July 1991, the Council of Ministers adopted the Council Directive 91/439/EEC on driving licences. The directive required Member States to adopt laws implementing the directive before 1 July 1994, which laws would take effect on 1 July 1996. Directive 80/1263/EEC would be repealed on the same date. Directive 91/439/EEC specified the European Union driving licence until its repeal 19 January 2013.

Provisions

The directive harmonises the categories of driving licences among the Member States and establishes two Community driving licence models, one paper version and one plastic card version. It furthermore establishes an obligatory test of knowledge (theory) and a test of skills and behaviour (practical) which has to be successfully passed before an individual is offered a driving licence. It also requires an applicant to meet the minimum standards of physical and mental fitness to drive. The directive specifies the minimum ages for driving different types of vehicles, and establishes progressive access in categories A, C, and D, from light vehicles to larger or more powerful vehicles. The directive stipulates that it is mandatory to have the normal residence in the Member State issuing the licence.[1]

Amendments

The Directive has been substantially amended by nine directives and two acts of accession. The plastic card version of the Community licence model, for example, was added to the Directive by Council Directive 96/47/EC of 23 July 1996.[2]

European driving licence as from 2013

Directive 2006/126/EC
European Union directive
Title Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on driving licences (Recast)
Made by European Parliament & Council
Made under Art. 71 TEC
Journal reference L403, pp. 18-60
History
Date made 2006-12-30
Came into force 2007-01-19
Implementation date 2013-01-19
Other legislation
Replaces Directive 91/439/EEC
Current legislation

In March 2006, the Council of Ministers adopted a Directive proposed by the European Commission to create a single European driving licence to replace the 110 different models currently in existence throughout the EU/EEA.[3][4] The European Parliament adopted the Directive in December 2006.[5] Directive 2006/126/EEC was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 30 December 2006.[6] Its provisions took effect on 19 January 2013; Directive 91/439/EEC was then concurrently repealed.

Provisions

The licence is a credit-card-style, single plastic-coated document, very difficult to falsify. The document will be renewable every 10 or 15 years depending on the member state. Several member states will have the option to include a microchip containing information about the card holder on the card. This will prove extremely useful because police can access the driving licence in their own language. This would solve the problem with the three kinds of alphabet (Latin, Greek and Cyrillic) used in the EEA. In addition, the fields of the driving licence are uniformly numbered, thus allowing the police to decipher the meaning of the fields without electronic access.

Some categories like C and D will be issued for five years only. After expiration, a medical check-up is necessary in order to renew the licence for another five years.

EEA relevance

The directive mentions that it has EEA relevance, meaning that its provisions apply to Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein, as well as the EU.

Implementation

The directive stipulates that members states should adopt laws implementing the directive no later than 19 January 2011. Those laws should take effect in all EEA members states on 19 January 2013. All licences issued before that date will become invalid by 2033.

Categories valid in all EEA countries [7]

Class Description Age of acquisition Requires Includes Remarks
Mopeds
AM Two-wheel vehicles or three-wheel vehicles with a maximum design speed of not more than 45 km/h and with a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50 cubic centimetres. 16 years (15 years in Finland, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden, 14 years in Estonia, Latvia, France, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Hungary). Until 19 January 2013 this class was called "M" in Bulgaria, Finland, Germany, Ireland and Norway.
Motorcycles
A1 Motorcycles with a cylinder capacity not exceeding 125 cubic centimetres and a power not exceeding 11 kW; and motor tricycles with a power not exceeding 15 kW. 16 years. (17 years in the UK, 18 years in Belgium and the Netherlands). AM, (also T in Finland) B licence holders in Czech Republic (only motorcycles with automatic transmission), Italy, Latvia, Slovakia (after two years and only motorcycles with automatic transmission), Spain (after three years), Poland (after three years), Portugal (at least 25 years old or additional licence for mopeds) and Belgium (only with a Belgian Driving Licence, after two years) are allowed to drive motorcycles not exceeding 125cc within the respective countries. In Austria (after five years, training of 6 hours), France (after two years, a training of 7 hours), Luxembourg (after two years, training of 7 hours) and the United Kingdom (Compulsory Basic Training), a practical training without exam is needed for B licence holders.
A2 Motorcycles of a power not exceeding 35 kW and with a power/weight ratio not exceeding 0,2 kW/kg and not derived from a vehicle of more than double its power. 18 years. (19 years in the UK, 20 years in the Netherlands). A1, AM, (also T in Finland) Replaced class "A" on 19 January 2013 in Malta.[8]
A Any motorcycle or motor tricycle not in category A1. Limited to 25 kW and 0.16 kW/kg for 2 years. 20 years. (21 years in the UK, 22 years in the Netherlands). However, access to the driving of motorcycles of this category shall be subject to a minimum of two years' experience on motorcycles under an A2 licence. This requirement as to previous experience may be waived if the candidate is at least 24 years old. A2, A1, AM, (also T in Finland) B licence holders who are at least 21 years of age are allowed to drive motor tricycles (including three-wheeled motorcycles with a power exceeding 15 kW) in the following countries: Czech Republic, Italy, Latvia, Spain and United Kingdom. In France a practical training (at least 7 hours) without exam is needed for B licence holders who want to drive motor tricycles only. In France this option is available only after at least two years of B licence. Replaced class "A+" on 19 January 2013 in Malta.[9]
Motor vehicles
B Motor vehicles with a maximum authorised mass not exceeding 3500 kg and designed and constructed for the carriage of no more than eight passengers in addition to the driver; motor vehicles in this category may be combined with a trailer having a maximum authorised mass which does not exceed 750 kg. 18 years (17 years in the UK, Iceland, Ireland, Hungary and Netherlands(under supervision, from age of 18 without supervision)). AM, S, (also F and G in Croatia) Does not include S in Norway.
BE Without prejudice to the provisions of type-approval rules for the vehicles concerned, combination of vehicles consisting of a tractor vehicle in category B and a trailer or semi-trailer where the maximum authorised mass of the trailer or semi-trailer does not exceed 3500 kg. 18 years (17 years in the UK and Ireland). B Include T in Norway.
Large goods vehicle
C1 Large goods vehicle with a maximum authorised mass of not more than 7.5 t; with or without a trailer with a maximum mass of less than 750 kg. 18 years B
C1E Combinations of vehicles where the tractor vehicle is in category C and its trailer or semi-trailer has a maximum authorised mass of over 750 kg. 18 years C or C1 T see C.
C Large goods vehicle with a maximum authorised mass of more than 3.5 t mass and not more than 8 + 1 seats (lorry); with a trailer with a maximum mass of 750 kg. 21 years (18 years in Bulgaria, Sweden, Finland and Ireland; 18 years in Germany for non-commercial use only except for apprenticeship as professional driver) B C1
CE Other combinations of vehicles and trailers which with combined maximum authorised mass of more than 750 kg. 21 years C C1E
Buses
D1 Light buses with a maximum of 16 + 1 seats. 21 years B Motor vehicles designed and constructed for the carriage of no more than 16 passengers in addition to the driver.; motor vehicles in this category may be combined with a trailer having a maximum authorised mass not exceeding 750 kg.
D1E Combinations of vehicles where the tractor vehicle is in category D1 and its trailer has a maximum authorised mass of over 750 kg. 21 years D or D1
D Vehicles with more than 8 + 1 seats (buses). 24 years B D1 Motor vehicles designed and constructed for the carriage of more than eight passengers in addition to the driver; motor vehicles which may be driven with a category D licence may be combined with a trailer having a maximum authorised mass which does not exceed 750 kg. Includes articulated buses (at least in the UK).[10]
DE Combinations of vehicles where the tractor vehicle is in category D and its trailer has a maximum authorised mass of over 750 kg. 24 years D D1E

National categories

Furthermore there are more national categories for tractors, large motorcycles, motorised wheel boats, motor tricycles (modern voiturettes, Category B1 or S) and military categories such as for driving tanks. National categories means they are not harmonised and only valid within the issuing country.

 Austria

Class Description Age of acquisition Valid in
F Tractors 16 years  Austria

 Bulgaria

Class Description Age of acquisition Valid in
T Tractor - The national vehicle category T gives permission to drive tractors within Bulgaria. 16 years  Bulgaria

 Croatia

Class Description Age of acquisition Valid in
F Tractors - with or without a trailer 16 years  Croatia
G Heavy equipment 16 years  Croatia
H Tram 21 years  Croatia

 Germany

Class Description Age of acquisition Valid in
BF17 Begleitetes Fahren - Accompanied driving: the young driver must be accompanied by someone aged 30 or above who has held a valid B-licence for a minimum of 5 years. Germany and Austria introduced this model a few years ago to decrease the accident rate among young drivers. When the driver reaches legal age BF17-licences are exchanged for B-licences. 17 years.  Germany Austria[11]

 Norway

Class Description Age of acquisition Valid in
S Snowmobile - The national vehicle category S gives permission to drive snowmobiles within Norway. 16 years.  Norway
T Tractor - The national vehicle category T gives permission to drive tractors within Norway. 16 years.  Norway

 Poland

Class Description Age of acquisition Valid in
T Tractors 16 years  Poland

 Slovenia

Class Description Age of acquisition Valid in
F Tractors 16 years  Slovenia

  Switzerland

Even though Switzerland is a EFTA member state, it is not a member of the European Economic Area. Switzerland has, however, generally adopted much of the harmonised EU legislation with regard to driving licences. Swiss licences can be exchanged in most EEA countries. Switzerland has, since the 2000s, used the EU system of vehicle categories and issued EEA-style credit-card licences.

To apply for a car driving licence (category B), the applicant must be 18 years old. They must first attend first aid courses, and pass an eyesight test. Passing a theory exam is required to receive a learner's permit/licence valid for two years. This allows holders to drive a car only if accompanied by an adult aged 23 or more who has had a full driving licence for a minimum of three years. Before passing the practical exam, the candidate must attend 10 hours of theory lessons on "sensibilisation [familiarisation] to road traffic". Practical driving lessons are not legally required, but are considered a de facto prerequisite for passing the practical exam [taken] with a government official [Driving Test Examiner]. Upon succeeding the practical exam, a probationary driving licence is issued for three years. To obtain the full, unlimited, driving licence after these three years, the candidate must not commit a serious traffic offence, and attend two days of further driving training.

For motorcycles and heavier vehicles, the regulations are different, and some agrarian vehicles can be driven without a licence. As of 2011, a 45-minute driving lesson costs around 90 CHF, while the various fees and theoretical instruction costs associated with getting a car driving licence can amount to up to CHF 600, without counting the costs for the two days of further training.

The theoretical exam must be taken in either German, French or Italian. In some cantons it is possible to take it in English.

Gallery

Country Abbr. Before 19 January 2013 Since 19 January 2013
 Austria A
 Belgium B
 Bulgaria BG
 Croatia HR
 Cyprus CY
 Czech Republic CZ
 Denmark DK
 Estonia EST
 Finland FIN
 France F
 Germany D


 Greece GR
 Hungary H
 Iceland IS
 Ireland IRL
 Italy I
 Latvia LV
 Liechtenstein FL
 Lithuania LT
 Luxembourg L
 Malta M
 Netherlands NL
 Norway N

 Poland PL
 Portugal P
 Romania RO
 Slovakia SK
 Slovenia SLO
 Spain E
 Sweden S
 United Kingdom UK

Standard data field labeling

To help users of different languages to understand what each of the data fields on the licence contains, they are labelled with a number. A legend is usually supplied on the reverse of the card in the issuing authority's language.

  1. surname
  2. given name a)
  3. date of birth, place of birth
  4. a) date of issue, b) date of expiry, c) issuing authority, d) personal numberb)
  5. licence number
  6. photograph of holder
  7. signature of holder
  8. Addressc)
  9. licence categories
  10. first issuing date of the category
  11. expiry date of the category
  12. restrictions (number coded)
  13. barcode (personal number)

a): Though the EU directive states, this to be other names, local variations may occur
b): The addition of the personal number, is a local variation. The EU directive states that 4(d) is optional and should be a number other than the one listed under number 5
c): The address is optional in the EU directive, and thus not implemented by all countries

See also

References

External links