By the end of 2030, the driving license will be available in digital version, stored on a secure mobile application, and common to all EU member countries. A way of simplifying approaches and fighting against fraud.
In 2024, 19,800 people lost their lives on the roads of the European Union, mostly pedestrians, cyclists and driver and motorcycle drivers. It is slightly better than in 2023, but still too high. Faced with this observation, the European Commission had then announced that it wanted to set up a digital permit common to the 27 countries of the European Union. She had notably proposed to establish a digital driving license, which we would store on her smartphone instead of the physical card slipped into her wallet (see our article).
The driving license is already dematerialized in France, via the France Identity application, but this is not the case for all our neighbors. The idea is also to harmonize the regulations and strengthen cooperation between countries. The project is advancing, slowly but surely, since the European Parliament and the Member States finally agreed, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, on the developments and methods of the precious sesame.
HAS The opportunity for this new permit, the European Commission also revises the settlement in order to adapt to driving uses. Obtaining a more difficult driving license, limited validity duration with medical examination for its renewal … Here is everything that changes.
European driving license: a common and dematerialized document
This digital version of the driving license will have the same value as the physical document, but will be accessible from a future European mobile application: the “European Digital Identity Wallet”as explained The European Council website. It will be valid for fifteen years – it will even be possible to lower it to 10 years for a specific category of the population – before a renewal procedure is necessary. This will also be simplified, since it can be done directly online-here again, this is not the case today for all the Member States.
These new features are praised by the Belgian European deputy Yvan Verougstraete: “It means that, for the driver, he will no longer need to have a paper to renew, which he may have forgotten. For those who wish, there is always the possibility of having a paper license, but for those who are more ‘modern’, there will be the possibility of doing without it and sometimes having a little less cards in your pocket, it is also an advantage and it is also an advance towards the future. “
During road checks, police and gendarmes will be able to scan the driver’s phone directly. All data will be displayed instantly, including a possible license withdrawal in another European country. Currently, this information is not automatically accessible due to the lack of coordination between national permits.
European driving license: what changes in terms of rules?
With the establishment of this new European driving license, several rules will change. EU members had a lot of trouble agreeing on the obligation to make a medical visit to obtain the precious sesame. Finally, the new drivers will be subject either to a medical examination or to a screening based on self -assessment. “Before the first issue of a driving license, drivers will have to take a medical examination, including a view of the view and a cardiovascular examination. However, for motorists and motorcyclists, EU countries can choose to replace medical control with self-evaluation forms or, in the event of the renewal of the driving license, by other alternative measures”indicates the report, thus offering enough latitude to member countries.
It is also an opportunity to harmonize the probationary periods for young drivers. Currently, in France, it is three years, or two if the person has made an accompanied driving, during which they must display the famous “A” on their vehicle. From 2030 throughout Europe, this duration should be at least two years. The new rules also predict a hardening of sanctions for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, without any more details. This digital license agreement must now be adopted by Parliament and the 27 member countries. After which, the latter will have four years to put the new measures in place.