the changes already approved by the EU for our driving license

Europe approved it and now we have three years to collect the ideas, adapt them to our country and implement them. It was decided in November and should mark the DGT’s agenda until 2028 because the idea of ​​the European Union is that the driving licenses of all the countries that make up it have the same rights and obligations.

When and what? November 5, 2025. That was the date on which the European Commission approved Directive (EU) 2025/2205 of the European Parliament and of the Council of October 22, 2025 on driving licenses, which amends Regulation (EU) 2018/1724 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Directive (EU) 2022/2561 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repeals them. Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Regulation (EU) No 383/2012.

If you have missed this tremendous title, what you should know is that all the changes to be applied are summarized in the first point of the directive, which specifies that common standards are established for the entire European Union for the following points:

• a) the models, standards and categories of driving licenses
• b) the issuance, validity, renewal and reciprocal recognition of driving licenses
• c) certain aspects of the exchange, replacement, cancellation, withdrawal, suspension and restriction of driving licenses
• d) certain aspects applicable to novice drivers, in particular in relation to the accompanied driving system and the trial period.

How does it affect us? It is something that remains to be defined because we already know how the issue of European directives and applications in member countries works. And the fact is that, although a country has the obligation to implement the changes, the truth is that It’s not always done on time.at the risk of a reprimand from Europe or, in the worst case, economic sanctions.

That said, the most important points in which we should see changes in the driving license are the following:

• Same validity in all member countries and communication in the withdrawal of points from the driving license between countries
• Extension of the validity of permits to 15 years (instead of the current 10 years) on licenses A and B
• Extension of the trial period (new driver) to two years
• Access to the B driving license from the age of 17
• Access to permit C (trucks) at 18 years old and permit D (buses) at 21 years old

all the same. If the European Union is interested in anything, it is in standardizing the validity of driving licenses throughout Europe. Right now, countries do not have clear communication with each other and a driver with a driving license without points can drive without restrictions in another country. Likewise, work is being done to ensure that the withdrawal of points for an infraction in a foreign country impacts the driver’s daily life and has consequences in their country. That is, if we are deducted points for an infraction in Germany, that punishment will be reflected on our license when we drive through Spain.

In this homogenization, there has also been debate about the validity of the driving license, the time it can remain active and whether at some point it should be withdrawn. The latter is specified in the directive that it’s discriminatory Therefore, it is left in the hands of the member countries to maintain the relevant physical and psychological tests. In addition, the validity periods should be extended to 15 years as a general rule when, right now, it is 10 years.

Two seasons as a beginner and access at 17 years old. Although there are no plans on the table for changes to Spanish regulations, the truth is that the new directive has some changes as far as younger drivers are concerned.

Firstly, access to a driving license is reduced to 17 years of age for the B license (which allows driving cars) as long as the driving is accompanied by a co-driver with the following characteristics:

• Be over 24 years old
• Have more than five years of experience as a driver
• Have a valid driving license
• Comply with alcohol and drug limits

In addition, drivers who receive a driving license when these years are implemented will be considered new drivers for two years. That, in Spain, has a direct impact on the limits in current alcohol controls.

We need drivers. Furthermore, the European Union is experiencing a drought of truck and bus drivers. Right now it is estimated that the European Union has a deficit of more than 100,000 bus drivers and In Spain alone, 37,000 drivers will be needed this year as those who are now active retire. Let’s not talk about the truckers, with a hole of more than three million.

To alleviate this crisis, the European Union wants to lower the limits for driving a truck (C license) to 18 years, something that is already active in Spain. For the D license (buses for the transport of more than eight passengers) you must be 21 years of age. Right now in our country it is necessary to be 24 years old or have, at least, the certificate of professional aptitude (CAP) in the accelerated initial qualification modality to obtain it sooner. The DGT collects all the possibilities here active at this time.

Photo | Jack Delulio and Alexander Popov

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