Changes from adopted text to adopted text

Removed(c) as regards category A2 or category A, and on the condition that they have acquired a minimum of two years' experience on a motorcycle in category A1 or in category A2 respectively, either:

Removed(i) passed a test of skills and behaviour only, or

Removed(ii) completed a training pursuant to Annex VI;

Removed(d) they have completed a training or passed a test of skills and behaviour, or completed a training and passed a test of skills and behaviour pursuant to Annex V as regards category B for driving a vehicle combination referred to in Article 6(1), point (c)(ii), third paragraph;

Removed(e) they have their normal residence in the territory of the Member State issuing the licence, or can produce evidence that they have been studying there for at least six months.

Removed1a. Member States shall adopt the necessary provisions in order to ensure that persons who have a disability and whose test is carried out in a vehicle adapted for their disability are exempted from undertaking tasks incompatible with their disability. [Am. 94]

Removed2. The minimum duration of the administrative validity of driving licences issued by Member States shall be as follows: [Am. 95]

Removed(a) 15 years for categories AM, A1, A2, A, B, B1 and BE;

Removed(b) five years for categories C, CE, C1, C1E, D, DE, D1 and D1E.

RemovedThe renewal of a driving licence may trigger a new administrative validity period for another category or categories the licence holder is entitled to drive, insofar as this is in conformity with the conditions laid down in this Directive.

RemovedThe presence of a microchip or QR code pursuant to Article 4(5) and Article 4(6) respectively shall not be a prerequisite for the validity of a driving licence. The loss or unreadability of the microchip or of the QR code, or any other damage thereto, shall not affect the validity of the driving licence.

RemovedMember States may limit the period of administrative validity of driving licences issued to novice drivers within the meaning of Article 15(1), for any category in order to apply specific measures to such drivers, for the purpose of improving their road safety.

RemovedWhile respecting the principle of subsidiarity, Member States may limit the period of administrative validity of individual driving licences for any category, while considering medical fitness and ability to drive safely in accordance with Annex III, in case it is found necessary to apply an increased frequency of medical checks or other specific measures, including restrictions for traffic offenders, in order to further improve road safety measures. [Ams. 253, 315 and 335]

RemovedMember States shall reduce the periods of administrative validity set out in the first subparagraph to five years or less for driving licences of holders residing on their territory having reached the age of 70, in order to apply an increased frequency of medical checks or other specific measures, including refresher courses. This reduced period of administrative validity shall only be applied upon renewal of the driving licence. [Am. 97]

RemovedMember States may reduce the period of administrative validity set out in this paragraph of driving licences of persons who have been granted a temporary residence permit or who enjoy temporary protection or adequate protection under national law on their territory. For that purpose, this reduced period of administrative validity shall be equal to or shorter than the administrative validity of the temporary residence permit or of the temporary protection or adequate protection.

Removed3. The renewal of driving licences when their administrative validity expires shall be subject to both of the following conditions:

Removed(a) continuing compliance with the minimum standards of physical and mental fitness for driving set out in Annex III;

Removed(b) normal residence in the territory of the Member State issuing the licence, or evidence that the applicant has been studying there for at least six months, at the time they submit their application.

Removed4. In case of a crisis Members States may extend the period of administrative validity of driving licences that would otherwise expire, for a maximum period of six months. The extension may be renewed where the crisis persists.

RemovedAny such extension shall be duly reasoned and notified immediately to the Commission. The Commission shall immediately publish this information in the Official Journal of the European Union. Member States shall recognise the validity of driving licences whose period of administrative validity has been extended under this paragraph.

RemovedWhere a crisis affects several Member States, the Commission may adopt implementing acts in order to extend the period of administrative validity of all or certain categories of driving licences that would otherwise expire. That extension may not exceed six months and may be renewed where the crisis persists. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 22(3).

RemovedWhere a Member State is not, and is not likely to be, affected by difficulties that rendered the renewal of driving licences impracticable as a consequence of the crisis referred to in the third subparagraph, or has taken appropriate national measures to mitigate the crises’ impact, that Member State may decide not to apply the extension introduced by the implementing act referred to in the third subparagraph, after first informing the Commission. The Commission shall inform the other Member States thereof and publish a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

RemovedFor the purposes of this paragraph, a crisis means an exceptional, unexpected and sudden, natural or man-made event of extraordinary nature and scale that takes place inside or outside of the Union, with significant direct or indirect impacts on the area of road transport and that also prevents or significantly impairs the possibility for the holders of driving licences or relevant national authorities from carrying out the necessary procedures for their renewal.

Removed5. Without prejudice to national criminal and police laws, Member States may apply to the issuing of driving licences national provisions relating to conditions other than those referred to in this Directive. They shall inform the Commission thereof.

Removed6. When issuing or renewing driving licences in categories AM, A, A1, A2, B, B1 and BE, Member States may require an examination applying the minimum standards of physical and mental fitness for driving set out in Annex III instead of the self-assessment laid down in point 3 of that Annex. In that case, the medical examination shall cover all the medical incapacities mentioned in Annex III.

RemovedThe Commission shall adopt by [date-of-adoption+18 months] implementing acts setting out the content of the self-assessment referred to in point 3 of Annex III and covering all of the medical incapacities mentioned in that Annex. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 22(2). [Am. 99]

RemovedWhile respecting the principle of subsidiarity, when renewing driving licences in categories AM, A, A1, A2, B, B1, BE and T Member States may require an examination applying the minimum standards of fitness for driving set out in Annex III. [Ams. 256 and 318]

Removed6a. Member States shall establish evidence-based guidelines for General Practitioners and family doctors to identify those who may be at risk of driving a car, and shall operate in coordination with licencing authorities. [Am. 100]

Removed6b. Member States shall develop national sensibility campaigns to raise awareness among the general public about mental or physical signals that may put a person at risk of driving a vehicle. [Am. 101]

Removed7. No person may hold more than one physical driving licence. A person may however hold severalstore a mobile driving licences, provided that these are issued by the same Member Statelicence on several devices. [Am. 102]

RemovedNo person may hold driving licences issued by more than one Member State.

RemovedA Member State shall refuse to issue a driving licence where it establishes that the applicant already holds a driving licence issued by another Member State.

RemovedMember States shall take the necessary measures for the purpose of applying the third subparagraph. The necessary measures as regards the issue, replacement, renewal or exchange of a driving licence shall be to verify with other Member States where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the applicant is already the holder of another driving licence. To that end, Member States shall use the EU driving licence network referred to in Article 19.

RemovedWithout prejudice to Article 3(6), a Member State issuing a driving licence shall apply due diligence to ensure that a person fulfils the requirements set out in paragraph 1 of this Article, and shall apply its national provisions on the cancellation or withdrawal of the driving licence or of the right to drive if it is established that a licence has been issued without those requirements having been met.

Removed8. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 21, to amend Annexes II, III, V and VI where necessary in order to take account of technical, operational or scientific developments.

Removed8a. The Commission shall, based on expert advice, develop an online training course for general practitioners allowing them to assess all aspects of an applicant's fitness to drive. [Am. 103]

RemovedArticle 11 Exchange and replacement of driving licences issued by Member States

Removed1. Where the holder of a valid driving licence issued by a Member State has taken up normal residence in another Member State, he or she may request that his or her driving licence be exchanged for an equivalent licence. The Member State performing the exchange shall check for which category the licence submitted is in fact still valid.

Removed2. Subject to observance of the principle of territoriality of criminal and police laws, the Member State of normal residence may apply its national provisions on the restriction, suspension, withdrawal or cancellation of the right to drive to the holder of a driving licence issued by another Member State and, if necessary, exchange the licence for that purpose.

Removed3. The Member State performing the exchange of a physical driving licence shall return the old licence to the authorities of the Member State which issued it and give the reasons for doing so. The Member State exchanging the driving licence shall inform the authorities of the issuing Member State, specifying the reasons for such exchange. The Member States which originally issued the driving licence shall ensure that the former mobile driving licence can no longer be viewed. For the purposes of communication, Member States shall make use of the EU driving licence network referred to in Article 19(1). [Am. 104]

Removed4. A replacement for a driving licence which has been lost or stolen may only be obtained from the competent authorities of the Member State in which the holder has his or her normal residence. Those authorities shall provide the replacement on the basis of the information in their possession or, where appropriate, proof from the competent authorities of the Member State which issued the original licence.

RemovedArticle 11a Interim driving licence

Removed1. During the replacement, renewal or exchange of a driving licence, the Member State performing the replacement, renewal or exchange shall issue an interim driving licence in a form of a certificate, even if is the same Member State which has issued the previous licence. The Commission is empowered to adopt by 31 December 2025 a delegated acts in accordance with Article 21 to supplement this Directive by laying down a model standardised form for such a certificate. When adopting those delegated acts the Commission shall have due regard to any risk of forgery of such forms.

Removed2. The certificate issued by a Member State under this Article shall be valid for a maximum period of 1 month. Such certificates shall be mutually recognised by Member States. Where the replacement, renewal or exchange of the driving licence is taking longer Member States may renew that certificate twice, each for the period not exceeding 1 month. The validity of such a certificate shall automatically cease once the holder comes into the possession of a physical or mobile licence in accordance with Article 3. [Am. 105]

RemovedArticle 12 Exchange of driving licences issued by third countries

Removed1. Where a Member State provides for the exchange of a driving licence issued by a third country to a holder that has taken up normal residence in its territory, that Member State shall exchange the driving licence in accordance with the provisions of this Article.

Removed2. Where a Member State exchanges a driving licence issued by a third country that has not been the object of an implementing decision referred to in paragraph 7, such exchange shall be recorded on the driving licence issued by that member State by way of marking the relevant code from Annex I, Part E, as shall any subsequent renewal or replacement. If the holder of that licence transfers his or her normal residence to another Member State, the latter need not apply the principle of mutual recognition set out in Article 3(6).

RemovedMember States shall apply, for such exchanges, the provisions of their national legislation, in accordance with the conditions provided for in this paragraph.

Removed3. Where the driving licence is issued in a category and by a third country that has been the object of an implementing decision referred to in paragraph 7, such exchange shall not be recorded on the driving licence issued by the Member State concerned. In those cases, Member States shall exchange the driving licence in accordance with the conditions set out in the relevant implementing decision.

Removed4. Where a driving licence issued by a Member State was exchanged for a driving licence issued by a third country, Member States shall not require the fulfilment of any additional conditions other than those set out in point (a) of Article 10(3) or record any additional information for exchanging that driving licence for a driving licence issued by them, as regards the categories of the initial driving licence.

RemovedIn the situation referred to in the first subparagraph, where an applicant requests to exchange a driving licence that is also valid for categories concerning which he or she acquired the right to drive in a third country, the following rules shall apply:

Removed(a) if the driving licence was issued in a category and by a third country that has been the object of an implementing decision referred to in paragraph 7, paragraph 3 shall apply;

Removed(b) in the absence of such implementing decision, paragraph 2 shall apply.

Removed5. The exchanges referred to in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 shall only occur if the driving licence issued by the third country has been surrendered to the competent authorities of the Member State making the exchange.

Removed6. The Commission may identify that a third country has a road transport framework guaranteeing, wholly or partially, a level of road safety that is comparable to the Union one, which allows for the driving licences issued by this third country to be exchanged without recording such exchange on the driving licences issued by Member States, if necessary after complying with certain pre-defined conditions.

RemovedWhere the Commission identifies such a third country, it may assess the third country’s road transport framework in cooperation with the Member States. Member States shall have six months to provide their opinion on the road transport framework in place in the identified third country. The Commission shall proceed with the assessment once it has received an opinion from all Member States or once the time limit for sending the opinions has passed, whichever is laterearlier. [Am. 106]

RemovedWhen assessing the road transport framework in place in a third country the Commission shall take into account at least the following elements:

Removed(a) the driver licensing requirements in place, such as the classification of driving licence categories, minimum age requirements, training and driving tests’ requirements and conditions, and medical standards for issuing the licence;

Removed(b) whether the third country issues mobile driving licences and if so, the applicable technical and structural details for operating the system;

Removed(c) the extent to which there are forged driving licences in circulation and what measures are taken to prevent forgery of driving licences;