The European digital permit arrives: what changes when, and how
Digital driving license: what will change for all Europeans from 2030 © Numériques
No more plastic forgotten in the pocket of old jeans. From 2030, the driving license as we know it could well join the (almost) vintage objects club. The European Union has just made a major digital turn: a dematerialized, harmonized permit, designed for all the citizens of the continent, as it was expected.
An app in the pocket, a cloud permit
Parliament and the Member States have agreed on a license accessible directly on smartphone, with the same legal value as its physical version. The driver who wishes can obviously keep a classic permit-but for the others, the era of the all-numeric opens large. This new document will take place in the European digital identity portfolio, currently in deployment.
The idea? Simplify life, reduce paperwork and improve controls. In the event of road control, no need to search the glove box: the police will scan the phone directly. All info – validity, possible sanctions, suspensions in another country – will automatically go up. What Brussels calls “Less bureaucracy, more efficiency”. And for once, difficult to contradict them.
Rules finally unified, especially for young drivers
Current driving licenses, in France, and in Europe. © Shutershock
The future license also has a flattening of the rules. From 2030, all young European drivers will go through a probationary period of at least two years. Meanwhile, zero tolerance on driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and immediate red card if the seat belt is not completed.
An accompanied driving system will also be widespread. From 17 years old, it will be possible to start driving, provided you are accompanied by an experienced driver. This system will first concern passenger cars, but states will be able to expand it to utility vehicles.
Access to the facilitated permit for mobile citizens
Another important novelty: European citizens living abroad will be able to pass their license in their country of origin, if they cannot do so in an official language of their country of residence. A concrete advance for expatriates and people living in cross -border zone.
The pink permit, more and more vintage. © Shutershock
Validity and renewal: long -term place
The new permits will have a validity of 15 years for cars and two-wheelers, 5 years for heavy goods vehicles and buses. Countries will be able to lower this duration to 10 years if the permit is used as an identity card, or even shorten the validity for drivers aged 65 and over.
A global objective: zero vision by 2050
This new permit is not an isolated reform. It is part of the wider frame of the package “road safety” of the European Commission. Objective: to reduce the dead and serious injuries by 50 % on the roads by 2030, and tend towards zero deaths by 2050. In 2023, 20,400 people still lost their lives on the roads of the EU. A modernization of the permit was more than necessary.
What to remember:
- Available from 2030, the digital permit will be valid throughout the EU and integrated into the European digital identity portfolio.
- Smartphone or physics version of your choice, both officially recognized.
- Validity carried at 15 years for cars and motorcycles, 5 years for heavy goods vehicles and bus.
- 2 -year harmonized probationary period, with reinforced sanctions for young drivers.
- Driving accompanied from 17 years old and possibility of passing the permit in his country of origin if the language poses a problem.
