EU Standardization Brings Major Changes to Driving Licences
Across the European Union, a sweeping effort to standardize driving licences is now underway. By 2033, any driver who obtained a licence before January 2013 must replace it with the unified EU format. As this transition progresses, millions of motorists will need to plan ahead to meet the required deadlines.
The process for securing the new licence remains relatively simple. Applicants visit their local licensing authority and file an application that includes a passport or ID card, a biometric photograph and their current licence. Depending on the region, the fee sits at around 30 euros.
Several digital steps are also necessary during the application. These include:
using Taxisnet login details in the relevant GOV.GR service
uploading a photograph and signature through myphoto
paying the required electronic fee
providing any additional documents such as CPC certification
Once the process is complete, an email notification is sent. The new licence must then be collected either by the applicant or an authorised representative from the regional authority upon handing over the old document.
Key Deadlines for Card Format Licences
A crucial date for drivers approaches on 19 January 2026. Licences in card format issued between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2001 must be replaced by then. Other categories follow in stages until the final cutoff on 19 January 2033, which applies to licences issued between 1 January 2012 and 18 January 2013.
How Replacement Works for Paper Licences
For holders of older paper licences, replacement deadlines depend on the driver’s year of birth. Anyone born before 1 January 1953 has until 19 January 2033. Younger drivers had staggered deadlines between 2022 and 2025.
Driving rights, however, remain lifelong regardless of whether the licence is replaced on time. During police checks, an expired licence may result in a warning and a small fine of roughly 10 euros. Outside the country, the consequences can be more serious, as an outdated licence may complicate roadside checks or disrupt travel plans.
Rules for Drivers Over 65
Drivers over 65 who still hold the old paper licence must proceed with replacement immediately, as the process requires mandatory medical examinations. For motorists above this age threshold, renewals occur every 3 years. For those over 80, renewal is required every 2 years, supported by certifications from specialist doctors such as otolaryngologists, neurologists or psychiatrists.
