What changed between the draft committee report of 19 Jul 2023 and the draft committee report of 6 Oct 2025

Removed:Article 15 – paragraph 3: 3. Member States may establish additional rules applicable on their territory to novice drivers during the probationary period to improve road safety, such as a zero tolerance system for illicit psychoactive drugs using the lowest limit of quantification that takes account of passive or accidental exposure. They shall inform the Commission thereof. Member States may extend the application of the zero tolerance system for illicit psychoactive drugs to all drivers.

Removed:Article 15 – paragraph 4 a (new): 4a. Member States shall establish a compulsory feedback session for the novice driver with an instructor at the end of probationary period, as a means of certification of its conclusion, in order to enable the waiving of any related restrictions.

Removed:Article 15 – paragraph 5 a (new): 5a. For drivers obtaining a new category within their driving licence after having completed the full probationary period of category B, the probationary period for that new category may be halved.

Removed:Article 16 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2: Driving examiners already working in that capacity before the entry into force of this Directive shall be subject only to the requirements concerning quality assurance and regular periodic training measures.

Removed:Article 16 a (new): Article 16a / Instructors / 1. Driving instructors shall meet the minimum standards set out in Annex VIa. / Driving instructors already working in that capacity before the entry into force of this Directive shall be subject only to the requirements concerning quality assurance and regular periodic training measures. / 2. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 21, to amend Annex VIa where necessary in order to take account of technical, operational or scientific developments

Removed:Article 18 – paragraph 1: 1. Member States shall apply the equivalences established by Commission Decision (EU) 2016/194564 between entitlements obtained before the entry into force of this Directive and the categories set out in Article 6 of this Directive.

Removed:Article 18 – paragraph 2: 2. Any entitlement to drive granted before the entry into force of this Directive shall not be removed or in any way qualified by the provisions of this Directive.

Removed:Article 19 – paragraph 1: 1. Member States shall assist one another in the implementation of this Directive. They shall exchange information on the licences they have issued, exchanged, replaced, renewed, restricted, suspended, withdrawn, cancelled or revoked, on the demerit points and the driving disqualifications they have imposed or plan to enact and consult each other in order to verify whether an applicant for a driving licence is not subject to a driving disqualification in any Member State. They shall use the EU driving licence network set up for those purposes.

Removed:Article 19 – paragraph 2 – point c: deleted

Removed:Based on EDPS Opinion paragraph 19.Neither COM proposal, nor EP position on Prüm II (automated data exchange among police authorities) have driving licenses.

Removed:Article 19 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new): (da) to update and exchange timely data on the demerit points accumulated by drivers in the different Member States;

Removed:Directive (EU) 2022/2561

Removed:Article 23 – paragraph 1, Article 5 – paragraph 2: deleted / (deleted)

Removed:Directive (EU) 2022/2561

Removed:Article 23 – paragraph 1 a (new), Article 5 – paragraph 3 (new): Paragraph 5(3) is replaced by the following: / (i) a vehicle in driving licence categories D and D + E to carry passengers on regular services and a vehicle in driving licence categories D1 and D1 + E, provided that they hold a CPC as referred to in Article 6(1) or (2), provided that the driving speed is below 80 km/h for the whole itinerary. / Any Member State may authorise drivers of vehicles in one of those categories, under the conditions above, to drive such vehicles within its territory from the age of 20 years, provided that they hold a CPC as referred to in Article 6(1); / (deleted) / (deleted)

Removed:Annex I – Part B1 – point 4 – point 3 – paragraph 2 – point d: deleted

Removed:Annex I – Part B1 – point 4 – point 3 – paragraph 2 – point e: deleted

Removed:Annex I – Part B1 – point 6 – point 2 – paragraph 3 – point a: (a) vehicle category codes shall be presented as defined in Article 6 (such as AM, A1, A2, A, B1, B, B+, etc.);

Removed:Annex I – Part C – point 5 – paragraph 4: deleted

Removed:This would mean that the issuing authority is always aware whenever somebody verifies a driving license.Same logic of privacy as with the COVID certificate should apply.

Removed:Annex I – Part C – point 5 – paragraph 5: The information transmitted directly from the application shall allow competent authorities to determine the driving rights of the holder of the mobile driving licence (verification), including any restrictions applicable in the Union or in the territory of a Member State. Member States shall not consider data valid when the number of the driving licence is included in the revocation list managed by the Member State which issued the mobile driving licence. A revocation list shall contain information on all driving licences which no longer entitle their holders to exercise the right to drive.

Removed:Same functionality as for the Digital COVID Certificate, in a privacy-friendly logic.

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point A – point 2 – paragraph 1 – point b – indent 2 a (new): - impacts on the risk of distraction due to the use of GSM or other electronic devices while driving and safety consequences;

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point A – point 2 – paragraph 1 – point d – indent 2: – risks involved in the movement and driving of various types of vehicles and of the different fields of view of their drivers, including vehicles with advanced driving assistance systems and other automation features and large passenger cars such as SUVs;

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point A – point 2 – paragraph 1 – point d – indent 2 a (new): - blind spots and gradient changes;

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point A – point 2 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new): (da) proper and timely use of direction indicators;

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point A – point 2 – paragraph 1 – point e – indent 2 a (new): - rules on how to behave if an emergency vehicle is approaching and what to do at the site of a collision;

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point A – point 2 – paragraph 1 – point f: (f) precautions necessary when alighting from the vehicle, including ensuring that it is safe to open the vehicle door and that this will not create a hazard for other road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and micro-mobility users;

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point A – point 2 – paragraph 1 – point i: (i) rules and aspects regarding vehicle use in relation to the environment, including as regards electrical vehicles: appropriate use of audible warning devices, moderate fuel/energy consumption, limitation of emissions (greenhouse gas emissions, air pollutants, noise and microplastics from tyre, brake and road wear etc.).

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point A – point 2 – paragraph 1 – point i a (new): (ia) basic knowledge and being capable of using first aid equipment and being capable to provide first aid.

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point A – point 2 – paragraph 1 – point i b (new): (ib) risks involved in the interaction between different vehicle types due to different scale and driving dynamics.

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point A – point 2 – paragraph 1 – point i c (new): (ic) safe interaction with advanced driver assistance systems functions and their associated advantages, limitations and risks;

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point A – point 2 – paragraph 1 – point i d (new): (id) basic regulatory framework on urban vehicle access restrictions, including low emission zones;

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point A – point 2 – paragraph 1 – point i e (new): (ie) modal alternatives and optimal choice in relation to the nature of the journey, with special emphasis on the active mobility benefits for short distances;

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point A – point 4 – point 1 – point f a (new): (fa) purpose and use of retarders/exhaust and brakes;

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point A – point 4 – point 1 – point g: (g) obstruction of the field of view caused by the characteristics of their vehicles, particularly regarding pedestrians at the front of the vehicle and cyclists at the side and front of the vehicle;

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point A – point 4 – point 1 – point h a (new): (ha) defensive and eco-driving: distance to the vehicle in front; curve overtaking, change of lane, priority rules, speed limits;

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point A – point 4 – point 1 – point i a (new): (ia) safety measures, procedures and protocoles regarding safe parking areas;

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point A – point 4 – point 1 – point j: (j) the driver’s responsibility in respect to the carriage of passengers; comfort and safety of passengers, and in particular persons with disabilities and reduced mobility, as well as gender-based harassment and violence; transport of children; necessary checks before driving away; all sorts of buses shall be part of the theory test (public service buses and coaches, buses with special dimensions, …) (categories D, DE, D1, D1E only).

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point B – point 5 – point 1 – point c – paragraph 1: The Union code marked on a driving licence of category A1, A2, A, B1, B, B+ and BE issued on the basis of a test of skills and behaviour taken on a vehicle with automatic transmission shall not be imposed or shall be removed if the holder passes a dedicated test of skills and behaviour or completes a dedicated training.

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point B – point 5 – point 1 – point c – paragraph 2 – point i: (i) approve and supervise the dedicated training, including as part of the general driver training; or,

Removed:With the increase in electric driving and its growing share of new sales (2035 EU requirement 100% zero emission) more and more new drivers are coming into touch with driving an electric vehicle. Young people increasingly want driver training in an electric vehicle for sustainability reasons or because they have access to an electric vehicle at home, and driving schools are progressively adapting their fleet to these demands.

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point B – point 5 – point 2 – point d a (new): (da) Category B+: / A four-wheeled category B vehicle, with a minimum weight of 3 000 kg, capable of a speed of at least 120 km/h;

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point B – point 6 – point 3 – paragraph 1 – point g: (g) overtaking/passing: overtaking other traffic, including cyclists, micro-mobility users, pedestrians; riding alongside obstacles, for instance parked cars; being overtaken by other traffic (if appropriate);

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point B – point 6 – point 3 – paragraph 1 – point h: (h) special road features (if available): roundabouts; railway level crossings; tram/bus stops; pedestrian crossings, bike lanes; riding up-/downhill on long slopes; tunnels;

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point B – point 6 – point 3 – paragraph 1 – point h a (new): (ha) interaction with other vehicles, including foreseeing blind spots and adequate use of direction indicators;

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point B – point 6 – point 3 – paragraph 1 – point j: (j) taking the necessary precautions when getting off the vehicle, especially regarding cyclists, such as opening the door with the hand furthest from it.

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point B – point 7 – introductory part: 7. Skills and behaviour to be tested concerning categories B, B+, B1 and BE

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point B – point 7 – point 2 – introductory part: (2) Categories B, B+, and B1: special manoeuvres to be tested with a bearing on road safety

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point B – point 7 – point 4 – paragraph 1 – point g: (g) overtaking/passing: overtaking other road users, including cyclists (if possible); driving alongside obstacles, for instance parked cars; being overtaken by other traffic (if appropriate);

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point B – point 7 – point 4 – paragraph 1 – point g a (new): (ga) independent driving towards a determined destination, beyond specific turning indications;

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point B – point 7 – point 4 – paragraph 1 – point h: (h) special road features (if available): roundabouts; railway level crossings; tram/bus stops; pedestrian crossings; bike lanes; riding up-/downhill on long slopes; gradient changes; tunnels;

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point B – point 7 – point 4 – paragraph 1 – point h a (new): (ha) interaction with other road users, including foreseeing blind spots and adequate use of direction indicators;

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point B – point 7 – point 4 – paragraph 1 – point i: (i) entering and alighting from the vehicle, including making sure that it is safe to open the vehicle door and that this will not create a hazard for other road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and micro-mobility users;

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point B – point 7 – point 4 – paragraph 1 – point j: (j) reacting and anticipating to hazardous situations, including using simulators.

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point B – point 8 – point 2 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new): (aa) various trailer to truck coupling mechanisms, taking into account the fifth wheel coupling for articulated vehicles (for semi-trailers), and drawbar hitch coupling for drawbar trailers (rigid truck), as well as the standard operating procedures and protocols for connecting and disconnecting trailers from trucks while using these coupling mechanisms;

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point B – point 8 – point 3 – paragraph 1 – point e: (e) changing direction: left and right turns; changing lanes, making a U turn;

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point B – point 8 – point 3 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new): (ea) factoring in blind spots;

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point B – point 8 – point 3 – paragraph 1 – point g: (g) overtaking/passing: overtaking other road users, including cyclists (if possible); driving alongside obstacles, for instance parked cars; being overtaken by other traffic (if appropriate);

Removed:Annex II – Part I – point B – point 8 – point 3 – paragraph 1 – point h: (h) special road features: taking roundabouts with a large vehicle; railway level crossings; tram/bus stops; pedestrian crossings, bike lanes; riding up-/downhill on long slopes; tunnels;