Article 9, Paragraph 4. · Directive (EU) 2025/2205

Contents

4.Member States may authorise the driving on their territory of the following categories of vehicles:

(a)vehicles of category D1 with a maximum authorised mass of 3500 kg, excluding any specialised equipment intended for the carriage of passengers with disabilities, by drivers over 21 years old holding a category B driving licence, at least two years after such a driving licence was issued to the driver for the first time and provided that the vehicles are used by non-commercial entities for social purposes and that the driver provides his or her services on a voluntary basis;

(b)vehicles of a maximum authorised mass exceeding 3500 kg by drivers aged over 21 years holding a category B driving licence, at least two years after such a driving licence was issued to the driver for the first time, provided that those vehicles fulfil all of the following conditions:

(i)they are intended to be used, when stationary, only as an instructional or recreational facility;

(ii)they are used by non-commercial entities for social purposes;

(iii)they have been modified so that they can neither be used for the transport of more than nine persons nor for the transport of any goods other than those strictly necessary for the purposes set out in points (i) and (ii);

(c)vehicles of category B with a maximum authorised mass not exceeding 2500 kg and with a maximum speed limited by technical means to 45 km/h, by drivers below 21 years old holding a category B1 driving licence, which was issued subject to the conditions set out in Article 6(1), point (c)(i), second subparagraph, and, if relevant, Article 7(2), point (b);

(d)power-driven vehicles used for the purpose of maintaining public safety and order, including by providing immediate assistance during natural or man-made emergencies, such as police vehicles, ambulances, civil protection and rescue vehicles, or fire brigade vehicles, with a maximum authorised mass exceeding 3500 kg but not exceeding 5000 kg, which may be combined with a trailer when the maximum authorised mass of this combination does not exceed 5000 kg, by drivers who have reached the age of 20 years, holding a category B driving licence, having completed the training, testing, or both, required under Article 6(1), point (c)(ii), and who are driving solely for the purpose that the emergency vehicle is intended for, including necessary maintenance and test drives.

Where Member States indicate on the driving licence that a holder is entitled to drive the vehicles referred to in the first subparagraph, points (a) and (b), they shall do so only by means of relevant national codes.Member States may, temporarily or indefinitely, mutually recognise on their respective territories the validity of driving licences issued under the first subparagraph, point (d).Member States shall inform the Commission of any authorisations granted in accordance with this paragraph.

Defined terms · 21

Show every defined term

crisis
means an exceptional, unexpected and sudden, natural or man-made event of extraordinary nature and scale that takes place inside or outside of the Union, which has significant direct or indirect impacts on the area of road transport and which also prevents or significantly impairs the possibility for the holders of driving licences or relevant national authorities from carrying out the necessary procedures for their renewal.
driving licence
means a document, be it in a physical or a digital format, or both, that certifies the right to drive power-driven vehicles and states the conditions under which the holder is authorised to drive;
epilepsy
means a medical condition in which the person concerned has had two or more epileptic seizures, less than five years apart;
heavy quadricycle
means a vehicle as referred to in Article 4(2), point (g), of Regulation (EU) No 168/2013;
light quadricycle
means a vehicle as referred to in Article 4(2), point (f), of Regulation (EU) No 168/2013;
mobile driving licence
means a driving licence that is in a digital format;
moderate obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome
means a number of apnoeas and hypopnoeas per hour (Apnoea-Hypopnoea Index) between 15 and 29;
motor caravan
means a special purpose vehicle of category M as referred to in Article 4 and point 5.1 of Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2018/858.
motor vehicle
means any power-driven vehicle which is normally used for carrying persons or goods by road or for drawing, on the road, vehicles used for the carriage of persons or goods, and includes trolleybuses;
motorcycle
means a two-wheel vehicle with or without a sidecar, as referred to in Article 4(2), points (c) and (d), of Regulation (EU) No 168/2013;
physical driving licence
means a driving licence that is in a physical format;
power-driven vehicle
means any self-propelled road vehicle, other than a rail-borne vehicle;
powered tricycle
means a vehicle with three symmetrically arranged wheels, as referred to in Article 4(2), point (e), of Regulation (EU) No 168/2013;
provoked epileptic seizure
means a seizure which has a recognisable causative factor that is avoidable.
recurrent severe hypoglycaemia
means a second episode of severe hypoglycaemia during a period of 12 months.
severe hypoglycaemia
means where the assistance of another person is needed;
severe obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome
means an Apnoea-Hypopnoea Index of 30 or more, both associated with excessive daytime sleepiness.
three-wheel vehicle
means a vehicle as referred to in Article 4(2), point (b), of Regulation (EU) No 168/2013;
trolleybus
means any vehicle that can be connected to an electric conductor and is not track-based;
two-wheel vehicle
means a vehicle as referred to in Article 4(2), point (a), of Regulation (EU) No 168/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council;
Vehicle with manual transmission
means a vehicle in which a clutch pedal (or lever operated manually for categories A, A2 and A1) is present and must be operated by the driver when starting or stopping the vehicle and changing gears.