DRIVING LICENCE EXCHANGE AND RECOGNITION IN THE EU

​You have a driver's license and don't know if you can drive in any EU country. In the following article, we are talking about it.

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DRIVING LICENSE EXCHANGE IN THE EU
You can have only one EU driving licence at any one time. If you move to another EU country, you don't usually have to exchange your driving licence for a local one. However, you can voluntarily exchange it for an equivalent one in your new country of residence if you wish.
VOLUNTARY EXCHANGE OF YOUR DRIVING LICENSE IN ANOTHER EU COUNTRY
If you want to exchange your driving license voluntarily, you must be a resident of that country and meet the conditions for having a driving licence (e.g. you have reached the minimum age, your state of health permits you to drive, etc.).
 
Before the authorities exchange your driving license, they will contact the rules in your previous country of residence to check that your driving licence has not been restricted, suspended or withdrawn. If you exchange an old-style permit, you will be issued the new standard format (plastic, credit card-sized photocard available since 2013).
 
OBLIGATORY EXCHANGE OF YOUR DRIVING LICENCE IN ANOTHER EU COUNTRY 
You have to exchange your driving licence if:
 

• Your licence is lost, stolen or damaged.
• After two years of usual residence, if you have a driving licence with an indefinite validity period (only if the national authorities require this in the country where you live)
• You commit a traffic offence in the country where you live.

 
DRIVING LICENCE RECOGNITION IN THE EU
Is your driving license recognised across the EU if you own:
A driving license issued in a non-EU country?
Some EU countries may recognise licences issued in many non-EU countries. If you have an EU driving licence issued in exchange for a non‑EU permit and wish to move to another EU country, you should know that your new license may not be recognised there.
 
Do you need assistance to translate your driver's license? Read the below article
https://www.italiancitizenshiptranslator.com/dual-citizenship-translation-blog/how-to-get-your-drivers-license-translated-to-drive-in-europe