Council Directive 91/439/EEC of 29 July 1991 on driving licences
Modified by
Actconcerning the conditions of accession of the Kingdom of Norway, the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the European Union is founded(94/C 241/08)
Decision of the Council of the European Unionof 1 January 1995adjusting the instruments concerning the accession of new Member States to the European Union(95/1/EC, Euratom, ECSC), 11994N31995D0001, August 29, 1994
Decision of the Council of the European Unionof 1 January 1995adjusting the instruments concerning the accession of new Member States to the European Union(95/1/EC, Euratom, ECSC), 31995D0001, January 1, 1995
Council Directive 94/72/ECof 19 December 1994amending Directive 91/439/EEC on driving licences, 31994L0072, December 24, 1994
Council Directive 96/47/ECof 23 July 1996amending Directive 91/439/EEC on driving licences, 31996L0047, September 17, 1996
Council Directive 97/26/ECof 2 June 1997amending Directive 91/439/EEC on driving licences, 31997L0026, June 7, 1997
Commission Directive 2000/56/ECof 14 September 2000amending Council Directive 91/439/EEC on driving licences(Text with EEA relevance), 32000L0056, September 21, 2000
Directive 2003/59/EC of the European Parliament and of the Councilof 15 July 2003on the initial qualification and periodic training of drivers of certain road vehicles for the carriage of goods or passengers, amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 3820/85 and Council Directive 91/439/EEC and repealing Council Directive 76/914/EEC, 32003L0059, September 10, 2003
Actconcerning the conditions of accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the European Union is founded, 12003T, September 23, 2003
Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Councilof 29 September 2003adapting to Council Decision 1999/468/EC the provisions relating to committees which assist the Commission in the exercise of its implementing powers laid down in instruments subject to the procedure referred to in Article 251 of the EC Treaty, 32003R1882, October 31, 2003
Council Directive 2006/103/ECof 20 November 2006adapting certain Directives in the field of transport policy, by reason of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania, 32006L0103, December 20, 2006
Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Councilof 20 December 2006on driving licences (Recast)(Text with EEA relevance), 32006L0126, December 30, 2006
Commission Directive 2008/65/ECof 27 June 2008amending Directive 91/439/EEC on driving licences, 32008L0065, June 28, 2008
Commission Directive 2009/112/ECof 25 August 2009amending Council Directive 91/439/EEC on driving licences, 32009L0112, August 26, 2009
Corrected by
Corrigendum to Council Directive 91/439/EEC of 29 july 1991 on driving licences, 31991L0439R(01), November 12, 1991
Council Directiveof 29 July 1991on driving licences(91/439/EEC)THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 75 thereof,Having regard to the proposal from the CommissionOJ No C 48, 27.2.1989, p. 1.,Having regard to the opinion of the European ParliamentOJ No C 175, 16.7.1990, p. 40.,Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social CommitteeOJ No C 159, 26.6.1989, p. 21.,Whereas, for the purpose of the common transport policy, and as a contribution to improving road traffic safety, as well as to facilitate the movement of persons settling in a Member State other than that in which they have passed a driving test, it is desirable that there should be a Community model national driving licence mutually recognized by the Member States without any obligation to exchange licences;Whereas the first step in this direction was taken with the First Council Directive 80/1263/EEC, of 4 December 1980 on the introduction of a Community driving licenceOJ No L 375, 31.12.1980, p. 1., which established a Community model national licence and the mutual recognition by Member States of national licences as well as the exchange of licences by holders transferring their place of normal residence or place of employment from one Member State to another; whereas the progress made must be continued;Whereas the Community model national licence established by Directive 80/1263/EEC should be adapted to take account, inter alia, of the harmonization of categories and subcategories of vehicles and to make licences more readily comprehensible both inside and outside the Community;Whereas, on road safety grounds, the minimum requirements for the issue of a driving licence should be laid down;Whereas Article 3 of Directive 80/1263/EEC stipulates that final provisions generalizing in the Community the categories of vehicles mentioned in that Article should be adopted without the possibility of derogation, as should the conditions of validity of driving licences;Whereas provision should be made for the possibility of subdividing the said categories of vehicles in order to promote, in particular, access in gradual stages to driving such vehicles in the interests of road safety and to take account of existing national situations;Whereas specific provisions should be adopted to make it easier for physically handicapped persons to drive vehicles;Whereas Article 10 of Directive 80/1263/EEC provides for more detailed harmonization of the standards for driving tests and licensing; whereas to this end the knowledge, skills and behaviour connected with driving motor vehicles should be defined and the driving test based on these concepts; whereas the minimum standards of physical and mental fitness for driving such vehicles should be redefined;Whereas the provisions set out in Article 8 of Directive 80/1263/EEC, and in particular the obligation to exchange driving licences within a period of one year of changing normal residence, constitute an obstacle to the free movement of persons; whereas this is inadmissible in the light of the progress made towards European integration;Whereas, in addition, for reasons connected with road safety and traffic, Member States should be able to apply their national provisions on the withdrawal, suspension and cancellation of driving licences to all licence holders having acquired normal residence in their territory,HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: