General Information

Driving Licence Changes
From 19 January 2013 the European Union Third Directive on driving licences (EU3D) will come into force.
There will be new rules for riding motorcycles, driving a car and towing trailers, buses and lorries.

The third European Directive will change driving licence rules in Great Britain and will introduce a single driving licence model across Europe, bringing in common regulations about the design of the licence card itself and the period for which it’s valid.

The aim is to: stop people, police forces and those responsible for the issuing of driving licences becoming confused by conflicting rules in different countries across Europe and help prevent criminals from producing fraudulent driving licences.

How will this affect you?
Existing drivers or riders: -
Will retain any entitlement granted before 19 January 2013.
However, some vehicle categories will be shown differently and the validity period will depend on the type of vehicles you are allowed to drive or ride.
New drivers or riders: -
The new rules will apply for any provisional entitlement, or driving test pass on or after 19 January 2013.

What will the new licence look like?
Different to the current licence.
All vehicle categories will be shown on the back with dates shown against those you are entitled to drive.
You won’t be entitled to drive any category of vehicle that has lines shown instead of dates.
NB: If there is a date against the higher entitlement, the holder will be entitled to drive the lesser entitlements.

The expiry date, of the licence, will be shown on the front and the expiry dates of individual entitlements on the back.
The current format photocard and paper licences will still be valid but will be replaced when you apply to renew, update or replace your current licence.

Please note - your photocard is only applicable for ten years.
Check the date that the photo needs updating, else you may be driving illegally.

For more information go to www.direct.gov.uk/newlicencerules

interesting Thanks for posting.

I had to change my details on mine and got it back the other day. with expiry date june next year. my last one i had had for 8 years. and still had 2 years left as far as i remember

I have just sent my licence back to DVLA to renew my HGV and was given the option to renew my photo as it is due to be renewed next year, does this mean I will have to send it back again in the new year to get a EU3D licence or will one be issued to me now?

Sounds like we need do nothing until we have to renew or change existing licence, it says above:
How will this affect you?
Existing drivers or riders: -
Will retain any entitlement granted before 19 January 2013.
However, some vehicle categories will be shown differently and the validity period will depend on the type of vehicles you are allowed to drive or ride.
New drivers or riders: -
The new rules will apply for any provisional entitlement, or driving test pass on or after 19 January 2013.
The expiry date, of the licence, will be shown on the front and the expiry dates of individual entitlements on the back.
The current format photocard and paper licences will still be valid but will be replaced when you apply to renew, update or replace your current licence.

I still have the old pink paper type. I want to change it to the new photo kind but it's sooo much hassle trying to do it while I live abroad. Are the old paper ones still valid or not? I tend to drive on my USA licence when I come to UK for visits, so it's not too big an issue but am I still legal if I only have the paper one?

Yes the paper one is actually more important than the paper one, if for instance you want to hire a car you must have the paper one rather than the plastic with your picture.Sounds daft but I guess this is one of the reasons for this change but we need do nothing now, only when we want to change anything.