Driving licences to change next year
Changes to driving licences targeting improved security will come into force in January 2013.
The revamped driving licence will look slightly different and contain some new security features. The most obvious of those will be a changeable laser image (CLI), which, depending on the viewing angle, will show the licence holder’s photo and date of birth.
The new cards will no longer feature a barcode with the holder’s identity number, but their size and colour is to stay the same.
All old-style cards will remain valid, and as such the current licence holders don’t need to take any steps ahead of the changes.
The new permits will be valid for fixed terms of 2-15 years, depending on the category of the licence and the holder’s age. The licence for a passenger car will have to be renewed every 15 years, while the one for a truck or a bus—every five years.
The changes stem from an EU directive. Finland is adopting the longest endorsed validity periods for licences.
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