Driving License (EU)๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ

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Getting a driving licence in the EU

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To get an EU driving licence you must:

Usual residence

You must apply for a licence in the country where you usually or regularly live. As a general rule, it is the country where you live for at least 185 days each calendar year because of personal or work-related ties.

If you have personal/work-related ties in 2 or more EU countries, your place of usual residence is the place where you have personal ties, as long as you go back regularly. You don’t need to meet this last condition if you are living in an EU country to carry out a task for a fixed period of time.

If you move to another EU country to go to college or university, your place of usual residence doesn’t change. However, you can apply for a driving licence in your host country if you can prove you have been studying there for at least 6 months.

Minimum age requirements

To get a driving licence you need to meet the following minimum age requirements. However, in some EU countries, these may be higher or lower or there may be some additional requirements. There are no upper age limits for holding a driving licence. You can keep it as long as you are medically fit to drive, as attested by your doctor.

Minimum medical requirements

Before issuing you with a driving licence, the relevant authorities will check your medical fitness to drive. You may also have to undergo a medical check each time you renew your driving licence or after you reach a certain age. If you are a lorry or bus driver, you must have a medical check-up every 5 years.

Driving test and examiners

There are no EU wide rules on driver training, driving schools or driving instructors. There are however minimum EU standards for:

  • the driving test โ€“ You need to pass both a practical test and a theory test
  • the driving examiners โ€“ They must successfully complete a training program and be subject to periodic quality assurance and training .

If you meet all the necessary requirements you will be issued with an EU standard format driving licence โ€“ a plastic, credit card-sized photo card, with special security features and available in all EU countries since 2013.

Find out more about driving licences models issued before 2013 which are currently still valid, what they look like, their security features and the entitlements and vehicle categories listed on them.

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/vehicles/driving-licence/get-driving-licence/index_en.htm

Driving licence renewal in another EU country

If you move to another EU country and your driving licence expires, you will have to renew it there if that is where you have your normal residence.

No matter the type of driving licence you have โ€“ old or new style format-, you will be issued with the new standard format licence (plastic, credit card sized photo card) when you renew it. Your new licence may have a different validity period from your previous one and will be subject to any restrictions or conditions that apply in your new country.

If your driving licence has been suspended, restricted, withdrawn or cancelled in the EU country which issued it, you will not be able to renew it.

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/vehicles/driving-licence/driving-licence-renewal/index_en.htm

Driving licence exchange and recognition in the EU

Driving licence exchange in the EU

You can have only one EU driving licence at any one time. If you move to another EU country, you don’t usually have to exchange your driving licence for a local one. However, you can voluntarily exchange it for an equivalent one in your new country of residence if you wish.

Voluntary exchange of your driving licence in another EU country

If you want to voluntarily exchange your driving licence you must be a resident of that country and meet the conditions for having a driving licence (e.g. you have reached the minimum age, your state of health permits you to drive, etc.).

Before the authorities exchange your driving licence, they will contact the authorities in your previous country of residence to check that your driving licence has not been restricted, suspended or withdrawn. If you exchange an old-style licence, you will be issued with the new standard format (plastic, credit card-sized photo card available since 2013).

Obligatory exchange of your driving licence in another EU country

You have to exchange your driving licence if:

  • Your licence is lost, stolen or damaged
  • After 2 years of usual residence, if you have a driving licence with an indefinite validity period (only if this is required by the national authorities in the country where you live)
  • You commit a traffic offence in the country where you live

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/vehicles/driving-licence/driving-licence-exchange-recognition/index_en.htm

Driving licence and insurance

When you travel by car in another EU country, make sure your driving licence and car insurance are valid in the countries you will be visiting.

Driving licence recognition and validity

EU driving licences

If your licence was issued in an EU country, you can use it anywhere in the EU.

Before you travel abroad, make sure your driving licence is still valid. If your driving licence expires during a trip abroad, it automatically becomes invalid and may not be recognised in other countries.

Be aware that you cannot drive in another country on a provisional driving licence or certificate.

EU driving licences issued in exchange for a nonโ€‘EU licence

If you have exchanged your nonโ€‘EU licence for an EU licence in the country where you now live, you can drive with it throughout the EU.

Non-EU driving licences

If you want to drive in the EU on a licence issued in a country outside the EU, contact the authorities of the country you are visiting, or your embassy or consulate in that country.

Lost or stolen driving licence

If your driving licence is lost or stolen while you are travelling abroad, contact the local police and your consulate or embassy to report the matter.

Your consulate will contact the national authorities that issued your driving licence (to check it was not restricted, suspended, cancelled or revoked).

On the basis of the information received from the consulate, the police may then issue a provisional document that allows you to drive in that country for a limited period of time.

You can only apply for a replacement driving licence in the country where you have your usual residence.

Provisional licences and certificates issued to temporarily replace lost or stolen licences are not automatically recognised in other EU countries.

Car insurance validity

Your car insurance policy issued in home country covers you throughout the EU if you injure someone?

Find out more information about national regulations concerning insurance cover when travelling abroad.

The European Commission is not responsible for the content of external websites.

Your car’s number plate is proof that you have liability insurance. This means that police in another country will not normally stop you to check if you are insured. If you travel with a trailer, it needs to be insured too. In some EU countries you must have separate insurance for a trailer. Check with your insurer before you travel.

Always take your insurance papers with you. It may make things easier if you have an accident or are stopped by the police.

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/driving-abroad/driving-licence-and-insurance/index_en.htm

Driving licence and insurance

When you travel by car in another EU country, make sure your driving licence and car insurance are valid in the countries you will be visiting.

Driving licence recognition and validity

EU driving licences

If your licence was issued in an EU country, you can use it anywhere in the EU.

Before you travel abroad, make sure your driving licence is still valid. If your driving licence expires during a trip abroad, it automatically becomes invalid and may not be recognised in other countries.

Be aware that you cannot drive in another country on a provisional driving licence or certificate.

Standard format

Since 2013, all driving licences issued in the EU have a standard format โ€“ a plastic, credit card-sized photocard, with better security features.

You can still use your old-style licence, but it will be changed to the new format when you renew it (or at the latest by 2033).

The following categories of driving licence are recognised throughout Europe: AM, A1, A2, A, B, BE, B1, C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D and DE.

EU driving licences issued in exchange for a nonโ€‘EU licence

If you have exchanged your nonโ€‘EU licence for an EU licence in the country where you now live, you can drive with it throughout the EU.

Non-EU driving licences

If you want to drive in the EU on a licence issued in a country outside the EU, contact the authorities of the country you are visiting, or your embassy or consulate in that country.

Lost or stolen driving licence

If your driving licence is lost or stolen while you are travelling abroad, contact the local police and your consulate or embassy to report the matter.

Your consulate will contact the national authorities that issued your driving licence (to check it was not restricted, suspended, cancelled or revoked).

On the basis of the information received from the consulate, the police may then issue a provisional document that allows you to drive in that country for a limited period of time.

You can only apply for a replacement driving licence in the country where you have your usual residence.

Provisional licences and certificates issued to temporarily replace lost or stolen licences are not automatically recognised in other EU countries.

Car insurance validity

Your car insurance policy issued in home country covers you throughout the EU if you injure someone?

Find out more information about national regulations concerning insurance cover when travelling abroad.

The European Commission is not responsible for the content of external websites.

Your car’s number plate is proof that you have liability insurance. This means that police in another country will not normally stop you to check if you are insured. If you travel with a trailer, it needs to be insured too. In some EU countries you must have separate insurance for a trailer. Check with your insurer before you travel.

Always take your insurance papers with you. It may make things easier if you have an accident or are stopped by the police.

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/driving-abroad/driving-licence-and-insurance/index_en.htm

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