European driving licence | |
---|---|
Date first issued | 29 July 1991 |
Issued by | 28 EU member states and 3 EFTA member states |
Valid in | 28 EU member states and 3 EFTA member states |
Purpose | Access to unified driving licence in any of the 31 EEA member states |
Eligibility requirements | EEA residency |
European Union directive | |
Title | Council Directive on driving licences |
---|---|
Made by | Council of the European Union |
Made under | Art. 75 TEC |
Journal reference | L237, pp 1-24 |
History | |
Date made | 29 July 1991 |
Came into force | 24 August 1991 |
Implementation date | 1 July 1996 |
Other legislation | |
Replaces | Directive 80/1263/EEC |
Replaced by | Directive 2006/126/EC |
Repealed |
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 | 30 December 2006 |
Came into force | 19 January 2007 |
Implementation date | 19 January 2013 |
Other legislation | |
Replaces | Directive 91/439/EEC |
Current legislation |
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 kilometres per hour (28 mph) and with a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50 cubic centimetres (3.1 cu in). | 16 years (15 years in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden, 14 years in Estonia, Latvia, France, Italy, Poland, 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 (7.6 cu in) and a power not exceeding 11 kilowatts (15 hp); and motor tricycles with a power not exceeding 15 kilowatts (20 hp). | 16 years. (17 years in the UK, 18 years in Denmark, Greece, Belgium, and the Netherlands). | AM, (also T in Finland) | B licence holders in Czech Republic (only motorcycles with automatic transmission), Italy, Latvia, Malta (after a training of 10 hours), 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 125 cubic centimetres (7.6 cu in) 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 kilowatts (47 hp) and with a power/weight ratio not exceeding 0.2 kilowatts per kilogram (0.12 hp/lb) (Switzerland: 0.16 kilowatts per kilogram (0.097 hp/lb)) and not derived from a vehicle of more than double its power. | 18 years. (19 years in the UK, 20 years in Denmark, Greece, and the Netherlands). | A1, AM, (also T in Finland) | Replaced class 'A' on 19 January 2013 in Malta.[15] | |
A | Any motorcycle or motor tricycle not in category A1/A2 | 20 years. (21 years in the UK, 22 years in Denmark and 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 (Switzerland: 25 years). | 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 kilowatts (20 hp) in the following countries: France, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Latvia, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland (after three years of B licence) and the United Kingdom. In France, a practical training (at least 7 hours) without an exam is needed for B licence holders who want to drive motor tricycles only, and this option is available only after at least two years of B licence. In the Netherlands it's allowed to drive from the age of at least 18, and if you had your driving licence B before 19 January 2013.[citation needed] Replaced class 'A+' on 19 January 2013 in Malta.[16] | |
Motor vehicles | |||||
B | Motor vehicles with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) not exceeding 3,500 kilograms (7,700 lb) 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 kilograms (1,650 lb). You can also tow heavier trailers if the total MAM of the vehicle and trailer isn’t more than 3,500 kilograms (7,700 lb). The limit in the first condition is: 3,500 kilograms (7,700 lb) + 750 kilograms (1,650 lb)= 4,250 kilograms (9,370 lb). The limit for in the second condition is: 2,500 kilograms (5,500 lb) + 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb)= 3,500 kilograms (7,700 lb). | 18 years (17 years in Denmark and Slovakia (under supervision, from age of 18 without supervision),[17] Iceland, Germany, Hungary, and Netherlands (under supervision, from age of 18 without supervision)). 17 years in the UK and Ireland. 17 in Austria after 3000km of driving under supervision. | AM, S, (also A1 in Czech Republic and F and G in Croatia) In Poland and Spain, drivers with 3 years B driver licence are also entitled to ride motorcycles <= 125 centimetres (49 in) and power <= 11 kilowatts (15 hp) and ratio power/weight <= 0.1 kilowatts per kilogram (0.061 hp/lb) | Does not include S in Norway. | |
BE | Without prejudice to the provisions of type-approval rules for the vehicles concerned, a 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 3,500 kilograms (7,700 lb). | 18 years (17 years in the UK and Ireland). | B | Includes T in Norway and Poland. | |
B1 | Heavy quadricycles | 16 years (Switzerland: 18 years) | AM | This class is optional, i.e. it is not implemented by all countries. | |
Large goods vehicle | |||||
C1 | Large goods vehicle with a maximum authorised mass of not more than 7.5 tonnes (7.4 long tons; 8.3 short tons); with or without a trailer with a maximum mass of less than 750 kilograms (1,650 lb). | 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 kilograms (1,650 lb). | 18 years | C1 | ||
C | Large goods vehicle with a maximum authorised mass of more than 3.5 tonnes (3.4 long tons; 3.9 short tons) mass and not more than 8 + 1 seats (lorry); with a trailer with a maximum mass of 750 kilograms (1,650 lb). | 21 years[citation needed] (18 years in Sweden, Finland, UK and Ireland; 18 years in Germany for non-commercial use only except for apprenticeship as professional driver) | B for 1 year, not including restricted licence | C1 | |
CE | Other combinations of vehicles and trailers which with combined maximum authorised mass of more than 750 kilograms (1,650 lb). | 21 years | C | C1E, T | |
Buses | |||||
D1 | Light buses with a maximum of 16 + 1 seats, maximum length of 8 metres (26 ft). | 21 years[citation needed] | B for 1 year, not including restricted licence | 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 kilograms (1,650 lb). | |
D1E | Combinations of vehicles where the tractor vehicle is in category D1 and its trailer has a maximum authorised mass of over 750 kilograms (1,650 lb). | 21 years | D1 | ||
D | Vehicles with more than 8 + 1 seats (buses). | 24 years (21 years in Ireland) | B for 2 years, not including restricted licence | 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 kilograms (1,650 lb). Includes articulated buses (at least in the UK and in Germany).[18] |
DE | Combinations of vehicles where the tractor vehicle is in category D and its trailer has a maximum authorised mass of over 750 kilograms (1,650 lb). | 24 years (21 years in Ireland) | D | D1E |
Class | Description | Age minimum | Valid in |
---|---|---|---|
F | Tractor | 16 | Austria |
Class | Description | Age minimum | Valid in |
---|---|---|---|
Tкт | Tractor | 16 | Bulgaria |
Tтб | Trolleybus | 24 | |
Tтм | Tram | 24 |
Class | Description | Age minimum | Valid in |
---|---|---|---|
F | Tractor – with or without a trailer | 16 | Croatia |
G | Heavy equipment | 16 | |
H | Tram | 21 |
Class | Description | Age minimum | Valid in |
---|---|---|---|
BF17 | Begleitetes Fahren (accompanied driving) — BF17 licensed driver must be accompanied by B-licence holder age 30+ | 17 | Germany, Austria[19] |
L | Tractor not exceeding 40 km/h by design (with trailer attached: max. 25 km/h) | 16 | Germany |
T | Tractor | 16 |
Class | Description | Age minimum | Valid in |
---|---|---|---|
M | Moped | 14 | Hungary |
K | Two-wheel tractor | 16 | |
T | Tractor – with maximum 2 trailer | 16 | |
TR | Trolleybus | 20 | |
V | Tram | 20 |
Class | Description | Age minimum | Valid in |
---|---|---|---|
W | Work Vehicle – includes land tractors with or without a trailer | 16 | Ireland |
Class | Description | Valid in |
---|---|---|
TRAM | Tram | Latvia |
TROL | Trolleybus |
Class | Description | Age minimum | Valid in |
---|---|---|---|
S | Snowmobile | 16 | Norway |
T | Tractor | 16 |
Class | Description | Age minimum | Valid in |
---|---|---|---|
T | Tractor | 16 | Poland |
Class | Description | Age minimum | Valid in |
---|---|---|---|
F | Tractor | 16 | Slovenia |
Class | Description | Age minimum | Valid in |
---|---|---|---|
F | Tractor <= 45 kilometres per hour (28 mph) | 16 | Switzerland |
G | Tractor <= 30 kilometres per hour (19 mph) | 14 | |
M | Moped <= 30 kilometres per hour (19 mph) | 14 |
Country | Code | Before 19 January 2013 (in Croatia before 1 July 2013) | Since 19 January 2013 (in Croatia since 1 July 2013) |
---|---|---|---|
Austria | A | ||
Belgium | B | ||
Bulgaria | BG | ||
Croatia | HR | ||
Cyprus | CY | ||
Czech Republic | CZ | ||
Denmark | DK | ||
Estonia | EST | ||
Finland | FIN | [20] | |
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 |
European driving licence | |
---|---|
Date first issued | 29 July 1991 |
Issued by | 28 EU member states and 3 EFTA member states |
Valid in | 28 EU member states and 3 EFTA member states |
Purpose | Access to unified driving licence in any of the 31 EEA member states |
Eligibility requirements | EEA residency |
European Union directive | |
Title | Council Directive on driving licences |
---|---|
Made by | Council of the European Union |
Made under | Art. 75 TEC |
Journal reference | L237, pp 1-24 |
History | |
Date made | 29 July 1991 |
Came into force | 24 August 1991 |
Implementation date | 1 July 1996 |
Other legislation | |
Replaces | Directive 80/1263/EEC |
Replaced by | Directive 2006/126/EC |
Repealed |
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 | 30 December 2006 |
Came into force | 19 January 2007 |
Implementation date | 19 January 2013 |
Other legislation | |
Replaces | Directive 91/439/EEC |
Current legislation |
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 kilometres per hour (28 mph) and with a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50 cubic centimetres (3.1 cu in). | 16 years (15 years in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden, 14 years in Estonia, Latvia, France, Italy, Poland, 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 (7.6 cu in) and a power not exceeding 11 kilowatts (15 hp); and motor tricycles with a power not exceeding 15 kilowatts (20 hp). | 16 years. (17 years in the UK, 18 years in Denmark, Greece, Belgium, and the Netherlands). | AM, (also T in Finland) | B licence holders in Czech Republic (only motorcycles with automatic transmission), Italy, Latvia, Malta (after a training of 10 hours), 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 125 cubic centimetres (7.6 cu in) 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 kilowatts (47 hp) and with a power/weight ratio not exceeding 0.2 kilowatts per kilogram (0.12 hp/lb) (Switzerland: 0.16 kilowatts per kilogram (0.097 hp/lb)) and not derived from a vehicle of more than double its power. | 18 years. (19 years in the UK, 20 years in Denmark, Greece, and the Netherlands). | A1, AM, (also T in Finland) | Replaced class 'A' on 19 January 2013 in Malta.[15] | |
A | Any motorcycle or motor tricycle not in category A1/A2 | 20 years. (21 years in the UK, 22 years in Denmark and 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 (Switzerland: 25 years). | 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 kilowatts (20 hp) in the following countries: France, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Latvia, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland (after three years of B licence) and the United Kingdom. In France, a practical training (at least 7 hours) without an exam is needed for B licence holders who want to drive motor tricycles only, and this option is available only after at least two years of B licence. In the Netherlands it's allowed to drive from the age of at least 18, and if you had your driving licence B before 19 January 2013.[citation needed] Replaced class 'A+' on 19 January 2013 in Malta.[16] | |
Motor vehicles | |||||
B | Motor vehicles with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) not exceeding 3,500 kilograms (7,700 lb) 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 kilograms (1,650 lb). You can also tow heavier trailers if the total MAM of the vehicle and trailer isn’t more than 3,500 kilograms (7,700 lb). The limit in the first condition is: 3,500 kilograms (7,700 lb) + 750 kilograms (1,650 lb)= 4,250 kilograms (9,370 lb). The limit for in the second condition is: 2,500 kilograms (5,500 lb) + 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb)= 3,500 kilograms (7,700 lb). | 18 years (17 years in Denmark and Slovakia (under supervision, from age of 18 without supervision),[17] Iceland, Germany, Hungary, and Netherlands (under supervision, from age of 18 without supervision)). 17 years in the UK and Ireland. 17 in Austria after 3000km of driving under supervision. | AM, S, (also A1 in Czech Republic and F and G in Croatia) In Poland and Spain, drivers with 3 years B driver licence are also entitled to ride motorcycles <= 125 centimetres (49 in) and power <= 11 kilowatts (15 hp) and ratio power/weight <= 0.1 kilowatts per kilogram (0.061 hp/lb) | Does not include S in Norway. | |
BE | Without prejudice to the provisions of type-approval rules for the vehicles concerned, a 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 3,500 kilograms (7,700 lb). | 18 years (17 years in the UK and Ireland). | B | Includes T in Norway and Poland. | |
B1 | Heavy quadricycles | 16 years (Switzerland: 18 years) | AM | This class is optional, i.e. it is not implemented by all countries. | |
Large goods vehicle | |||||
C1 | Large goods vehicle with a maximum authorised mass of not more than 7.5 tonnes (7.4 long tons; 8.3 short tons); with or without a trailer with a maximum mass of less than 750 kilograms (1,650 lb). | 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 kilograms (1,650 lb). | 18 years | C1 | ||
C | Large goods vehicle with a maximum authorised mass of more than 3.5 tonnes (3.4 long tons; 3.9 short tons) mass and not more than 8 + 1 seats (lorry); with a trailer with a maximum mass of 750 kilograms (1,650 lb). | 21 years[citation needed] (18 years in Sweden, Finland, UK and Ireland; 18 years in Germany for non-commercial use only except for apprenticeship as professional driver) | B for 1 year, not including restricted licence | C1 | |
CE | Other combinations of vehicles and trailers which with combined maximum authorised mass of more than 750 kilograms (1,650 lb). | 21 years | C | C1E, T | |
Buses | |||||
D1 | Light buses with a maximum of 16 + 1 seats, maximum length of 8 metres (26 ft). | 21 years[citation needed] | B for 1 year, not including restricted licence | 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 kilograms (1,650 lb). | |
D1E | Combinations of vehicles where the tractor vehicle is in category D1 and its trailer has a maximum authorised mass of over 750 kilograms (1,650 lb). | 21 years | D1 | ||
D | Vehicles with more than 8 + 1 seats (buses). | 24 years (21 years in Ireland) | B for 2 years, not including restricted licence | 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 kilograms (1,650 lb). Includes articulated buses (at least in the UK and in Germany).[18] |
DE | Combinations of vehicles where the tractor vehicle is in category D and its trailer has a maximum authorised mass of over 750 kilograms (1,650 lb). | 24 years (21 years in Ireland) | D | D1E |
Class | Description | Age minimum | Valid in |
---|---|---|---|
F | Tractor | 16 | Austria |
Class | Description | Age minimum | Valid in |
---|---|---|---|
Tкт | Tractor | 16 | Bulgaria |
Tтб | Trolleybus | 24 | |
Tтм | Tram | 24 |
Class | Description | Age minimum | Valid in |
---|---|---|---|
F | Tractor – with or without a trailer | 16 | Croatia |
G | Heavy equipment | 16 | |
H | Tram | 21 |
Class | Description | Age minimum | Valid in |
---|---|---|---|
BF17 | Begleitetes Fahren (accompanied driving) — BF17 licensed driver must be accompanied by B-licence holder age 30+ | 17 | Germany, Austria[19] |
L | Tractor not exceeding 40 km/h by design (with trailer attached: max. 25 km/h) | 16 | Germany |
T | Tractor | 16 |
Class | Description | Age minimum | Valid in |
---|---|---|---|
M | Moped | 14 | Hungary |
K | Two-wheel tractor | 16 | |
T | Tractor – with maximum 2 trailer | 16 | |
TR | Trolleybus | 20 | |
V | Tram | 20 |
Class | Description | Age minimum | Valid in |
---|---|---|---|
W | Work Vehicle – includes land tractors with or without a trailer | 16 | Ireland |
Class | Description | Valid in |
---|---|---|
TRAM | Tram | Latvia |
TROL | Trolleybus |
Class | Description | Age minimum | Valid in |
---|---|---|---|
S | Snowmobile | 16 | Norway |
T | Tractor | 16 |
Class | Description | Age minimum | Valid in |
---|---|---|---|
T | Tractor | 16 | Poland |
Class | Description | Age minimum | Valid in |
---|---|---|---|
F | Tractor | 16 | Slovenia |
Class | Description | Age minimum | Valid in |
---|---|---|---|
F | Tractor <= 45 kilometres per hour (28 mph) | 16 | Switzerland |
G | Tractor <= 30 kilometres per hour (19 mph) | 14 | |
M | Moped <= 30 kilometres per hour (19 mph) | 14 |
Country | Code | Before 19 January 2013 (in Croatia before 1 July 2013) | Since 19 January 2013 (in Croatia since 1 July 2013) |
---|---|---|---|
Austria | A | ||
Belgium | B | ||
Bulgaria | BG | ||
Croatia | HR | ||
Cyprus | CY | ||
Czech Republic | CZ | ||
Denmark | DK | ||
Estonia | EST | ||
Finland | FIN | [20] | |
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 |