European Union driver’s license reforms: Caravaning industry calls for swift and consumer-friendly implementation in Germany

Stuttgart / Frankfurt am Main , 19 January 2026

Caravanning is one of the most popular forms of holiday in Germany and is becoming increasingly popular, especially among young people. The 4th EU Driving Licence Directive now fulfils a long-standing demand from the industry: in future, holders of a Class B driving licence will be allowed to drive motor caravans with a total weight of up to 4.25 tonnes under certain conditions. The new regulation lays the foundation for making motor caravan holidays accessible to even more people.

While holders of the old Class 3 driving licence are permitted to drive motor caravans with a gross vehicle weight of up to 7.5 tonnes, the Class B driving licence is currently limited to vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tonnes. The 3.5-tonne limit is quickly reached for a variety of reasons: modern motor caravans are safer and more environmentally friendly than ever before. However, they have also become heavier, not least due to the safety and environmental requirements largely prescribed by EU law. With the long- term goal of switching to alternative drives, vehicle weight is expected to increase further. For this reason, the CIVD and the European Caravan Federation (ECF) have been campaigning for decades to raise the weight limit to 4.25 tonnes. Raising the weight limit to 4.25 tonnes gives manufacturers more freedom in designing their vehicle range, offers customers greater scope in configuring their motor caravans and, at the same time, ensures that the advantages of mobile holidays will remain available for future generations.

What rules will apply in the future?

The new driving licence regulation is included in the directive under the designation B.96.02 and allows motor caravans with a total weight of up to 4.25 tonnes and motor caravan-trailer combinations of up to 5 tonnes to be driven with a category B driving licence. This requires an additional qualification, such as a one-day training course or a test. The specific details are left to the Member States to decide. National regulations must be enacted by the end of November 2028, and practical application must be ensured by the end of November 2029.

Recommendation for implementation in Germany

In view of the long preparation period, the CIVD is calling for swift and pragmatic implementation in Germany. ‘Based on representative surveys and internal analyses, we assume that many motor caravan owners will want to obtain a driving licence extension as soon as possible when the new regulation comes into effect,‘ explains Daniel Onggowinarso, Managing Director of the CIVD. ‘In addition, future new drivers and people who are new to caravanning will also want to actively take advantage of the option to upgrade their driving licence. In order to cater to this broad target group, lean, scalable procedures without additional bureaucratic hurdles are required.’

Specifically, the CIVD advocates a pragmatic and flexible application model based on existing, proven regulations. Digital services can make an important contribution to reducing administrative costs and easing the burden on existing systems. Easy access for consumers and efficient use of costs and resources should be key guidelines for implementation.