When must I renew my driving licence?
Conditional on age: validity shrinks as you get older. Categories B (car) and A (motorcycle) are valid 15 years, but never beyond age 65; professional (C, D) ~5 years. At 65–80: renewal every 3 years, with a medical exam (GP + ophthalmologist) each time. At 80+: every 2 years, with a medical exam. From 74 a re-examination rule applies. Under 65: no medical exam for an ordinary B/A renewal, and you can apply up to 2 months before expiry. Core e-fee €50. In short: renew before the card expires.
📋 The rules
- B/A: valid 15 years, never beyond 65
- 65–80: renew every 3 years + medical exam
- 80+: every 2 years + medical exam
- From 74: a re-examination rule
- Core e-fee €50 (+ card print ~€30)
🔓 Exceptions
- Under 65: no medical exam for an ordinary renewal
- Apply up to 2 months before expiry
- Professional C/D: validity ~5 years
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Driving on an expired licence is fined €200 with a possible 30-day removal — different from driving with no licence ever obtained (a crime, Law 4663/2020, 1 month–1 year imprisonment + fine). Beware myths: "renew every 15 years for everyone" — wrong after 65/80; the widely-cited "€108 fee" is an aggregate, not the core fee (which is €50). To stay compliant: renew before expiry (up to 2 months early), do the medical exam if you're 65+, and pay the e-fee. Check the expiry date on the card, since it varies with your age.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
How long is a driving licence valid?
For categories B (car) and A (motorcycle), validity is 15 years, but never beyond age 65. After 65 validity shrinks: renewal every 3 years up to 80 and every 2 years after. Professional categories are valid about 5 years.
Do I need a medical exam to renew?
Under 65, for an ordinary B or A renewal, no medical exam is required. From 65 a medical exam by a GP and an ophthalmologist is needed at each renewal. From 74 an additional re-examination rule applies at renewal.
How much does renewal cost?
The core renewal e-fee is €50. To it are added a separate card-printing fee of about €30 and doctors' fees when a medical exam is required. The often-cited "€108" is an aggregate, not the core fee.
What if I drive on an expired licence?
Driving on an expired licence is fined €200 with a possible 30-day removal. It's different from driving with a licence never obtained, which is a criminal offence with a prison sentence. Renew before the expiry date to avoid this.
When can I renew?
You can apply to renew up to 2 months before the licence's expiry date. It's best to check the expiry date on the card, since it depends on your age, and renew in good time so you don't drive on an expired licence.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “licence renewal validity”
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