Deadline Approaches for Mandatory EU Driver’s License Exchange

Drivers born in or after 1971 with licenses issued before 1999 must switch to the new EU-compliant format by January 19, 2025, or face fines.

The EU mandate requires all pre-2013 driver’s licenses to be replaced with a standardized, fraud-resistant format as part of the third EU Driver’s License Directive.
The current deadline applies to drivers born in or after 1971 whose licenses were issued before December 31, 1998; future deadlines will cover other groups in stages.
Failure to meet the deadline results in a €10 fine for an expired license, though some regions may offer leniency if proof of a pending application is shown.
The replacement process requires a government ID, a biometric photo, the current license, and a fee of approximately €25, with no additional tests or health checks needed.
Authorities are urging drivers to act quickly as appointment slots at licensing offices are filling up, with some regions reporting significant backlogs.