Legal Insight · Risk & Resilience
Accompanied driving from 17 to become EU standard by 2028
What the 4th EU Driving Licence Directive changes
Text: Peter Schnitzler, Motor Insurance Expert
7 October 2026 · 5 min read
With the 4th EU Driving Licence Directive, the model of accompanied driving from age 17 (BF17), which has been firmly established in Germany for many years, will gradually become a recognised standard across the EU. This article outlines the legal framework being put in place by legislators, the key deadlines, and the implications for road safety and liability.
- The 4th EU Driving Licence Directive (EU 2025/2205) has been in force since 25 November 2025; it must be transposed into national law by 26 November 2028 and will largely apply from 26 November 2029.
- The German model of accompanied driving from age 17 (BF17) will become the EU standard; provisional licences requiring a supervising driver will be recognised across the EU from the end of 2028.
- Studies by GDV/UDV, BASt and ADAC show that BF17 significantly reduces crash risk and traffic offences among young novice drivers.
- No “BF16”: the minimum age for a Category B car driving licence will remain 17 throughout Europe, with a probationary period of at least two years.
From when do the new rules apply?
The formal legal basis is the 4th EU Driving Licence Directive. This Directive (EU) 2025/2205 entered into force on 25 November 2025. In practice, however, the new rules will not be applied immediately in everyday traffic across all European countries.
The Member States must first transpose the provisions into their national law. The European Union has set a clear deadline for this step: by 26 November 2028, all states must have implemented the Directive in national law. It will then generally apply from 26 November 2029 – with certain elements, including BF17 itself, taking effect earlier, from 26 November 2028.
Legal basis: Directive (EU) 2025/2205 (Official Journal OJ L, 2025/2205) | Entry into force: 25 November 2025
Why Germany’s accompanied driving scheme is successful – and is becoming the EU blueprint
Under the “accompanied driving from 17” (BF17) scheme, an experienced supervising driver sits in the car with the young motorist. This builds routine and confidence precisely at the stage when the risk of accidents would otherwise be highest. The impact is clear in the figures: according to the German Insurance Association (GDV) and the Insurance Industry’s Accident Research (UDV), insurers see 23 per cent fewer accident‑related claims for these young drivers thanks to the accompanied driving phase. An evaluation by the Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt) confirms this trend and additionally records a 22 to 23 per cent reduction in entries in the driving aptitude register in Flensburg, where points for traffic offences are stored.
The share of young drivers in all accidents fell from around one third in 2008 to about one fifth in 2019 – with BF17 being just one of several contributing factors, alongside improved vehicle technology and the zero‑alcohol rule for novice drivers.
The success of BF17 in Germany has been a key factor in its adoption across the EU. ACE (Auto Club Europa) welcomes the roll‑out of these proven German rules throughout Europe. The club emphasises that the EU‑wide introduction of BF17 will enhance road safety and open up new travel opportunities for young people, particularly in border regions. Up to now, accompanied driving with the German BF17 certificate has only been permitted within Germany, with Austria as the sole exception.
Benefits for young drivers across Europe
By the end of the implementation period on 26 November 2028 at the latest, all EU Member States will be required to mutually recognise national BF17 certificates for accompanied driving from age 17, including the registered accompanying person. Cross‑border journeys by 17‑year‑olds will thus be legally permitted and legally secure throughout the Union. This will make it easier for young drivers to gain driving experience in neighbouring countries.
Young drivers can also benefit financially: because of the lower accident risk, insurers often take participation in BF17 into account when calculating premiums, for both motor third-party liability and comprehensive cover. This is not a goodwill discount, but reflects the genuinely lower risk. It is important that all drivers are registered on the insurance policy, including teenagers who take part in BF17. The accompanied phase lasts one year at most, until the driver's 18th birthday. Claim-free driving time can later be taken into account when the first own policy is classified into a no-claims discount class (special classification). The precise design varies by provider; the relevant contractual conditions are decisive.
Will accompanied driving from age 16 be introduced?
A general regime of accompanied driving from age 16 is not envisaged at EU level. The minimum age for obtaining a Category B car licence will remain fixed at 17 across Europe. A reduction of the driving licence age for passenger cars to 16 in Germany will therefore not be introduced. The EU rules also link accompanied driving from age 17 with a EU‑wide probationary period. This probationary period will apply uniformly for at least two years for all novice drivers. However, in Germany, prospective learners can already register with a driving school and begin their training up to six months before their 17th birthday under the current law.
What applies to lorries and buses?
In its European core form, accompanied driving does not apply to lorry or bus licence categories; it is primarily designed for passenger cars. Member States may, however, decide at national level to permit accompanied driving for the lorry categories C, C1 and C1E.
National certificates must then be recognised by other EU countries that have introduced comparable rules. For the bus category D, there is no option to lower the minimum licence age in this way.
Liability in the event of an accident
For insurance and traffic law purposes, novice drivers are the sole drivers of the vehicle. They bear full legal responsibility for any traffic offences. Registered accompanying persons act exclusively as advisers during the journey and must not actively intervene in the driving itself. In the event of an accident, the regular motor third‑party liability insurance of the vehicle used will pay out, provided the insurer has been informed of the accompanied driving arrangement and the policy has been amended where necessary.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Under the current proposals of the European Parliament, car and motorcycle driving licences will in future normally be valid for 15 years. EU Member States may shorten this period to ten years.
For lorry and bus categories, the European rules provide for a validity period of five years.
For drivers aged 65 and over, the European Union gives national authorities the option to further reduce these validity periods.
According to the EU Directive, a medical health check is to be carried out before a licence is issued for the first time or when an extension is applied for. However, Member States may replace the medical examination with a self‑assessment submitted on a form.
About this article
Our articles reflect the factual and legal position at the time of publication or last update and are reviewed by insurance experts.