The Bundestag unanimously approved the government bill (21/2375), bringing German rules in line with a 2021 European Court of Justice ruling. Under the reform, Germany will no longer record driving bans into EU or EEA licences held by drivers without permanent residence in the country.
Instead:
- Driving bans will be recorded exclusively in the digital Fahreignungsregister (FAER).
- Police will verify a driver’s status directly in the FAER rather than relying on physical markings.
- Once a ban expires, the system will update automatically, removing previous bureaucratic steps.
- The Bundesrat raised no objections during its review.
What this means for drivers and carriers from Central and Eastern Europe
The reform eliminates the previous loophole whereby drivers could bypass a German driving-ban entry by simply requesting a new physical licence.
Key effects include:
- Major offences committed in Germany will be logged immediately in the FAER.
- Checks will be faster, as officers rely solely on the digital register.
- German authorities will have full visibility of a driver’s violation history during international transport operations.
For transport companies from Poland, Lithuania, Romania and other CEE countries, this represents another step in the ongoing digitalisation of EU road enforcement — alongside second-generation smart tachographs, e-CMR and electronic transport licences.
Licence rules updated as part of wider Mobility Package implementation
At the same time, the Bundestag passed amendments to the GüKG and PBefG to bring national legislation in line with the EU Mobility Package. The reforms include:
- Introduction of a single European Community licence replacing the current national licence for both domestic and international transport.
- Extension of licensing requirements to vehicles from 2.5 tonnes, not only from 3.5 tonnes.
- Establishment of a central risk-assessment system for transport undertakings, replacing the fragmented systems used by individual federal states.
- Permission to present documents and certificates digitally during roadside checks.
- Reduction of administrative burdens, including the removal of mandatory national permits for commercial transport operations.
According to the federal government, these changes will strengthen competition, improve enforcement, and simplify operating conditions within the Single Market.
Next legislative steps
The law has passed all stages in the Bundestag, including review by the transport and financial committees, and went through the Bundesrat without objections.
The next steps are:
- signature by the German President,
- publication in the Bundesgesetzblatt, and
- entry into force, expected early 2026, barring procedural delays.
Implementation will then require updates to the FAER database, police systems and new regulations covering licences, registers and digital procedures.
