New European driving licence hits the road from Saturday

(BRUSSELS) - A new European driving licence first agreed seven years ago by EU governments, finally takes to the roads across the continent on Saturday, the European Commission said.

The new, credit-card style card, which will gradually replace about 300 million driving licences issued by national governments across the European Union, will help "fight fraud and improve road security," said a Commission spokeswoman on Thursday.

The new permit will be formally unveiled on Friday, like euro notes, standardised but with different national symbols, and should be renewed every 10-15 years, depending on the issuing state.

A new category of licence for motorised cycles is being created, with tighter rules governing motorbikes.

European driving licence - background guide