Driving while banned will mean losing every driving licence category

The President has signed an amendment prepared by the Ministry of Infrastructure. The changes take effect at the start of 2026 and, although some concern passenger cars, the transport industry will feel them most. The aim is to make the consequences of breaking road law markedly tougher.

Key changes for professional drivers

• Harsh penalties for repeat offending: a driver caught driving during a three-month suspension of driving entitlements (for example for tampering with a tachograph or flagrant speeding) will lose their licence altogether. To get it back, they will have to retake the tests for each category they hold separately.
• Licence loss outside built-up areas: the three-month confiscation of the document for exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h will also apply on single carriageway two-way roads outside built-up areas.
• Tests on the road: the practical part of the category C and C+E tests will be allowed to take place outside town limits, which is intended to make the assessment of future drivers' skills more realistic.
• Young drivers and the industry: 17-year-olds will be allowed to drive vehicles up to 3.5 t under the supervision of an experienced driver, but until they come of age they may not work in commercial transport (for example as couriers).
• Faster agricultural tractors: they will be allowed to travel legally at 40 km/h instead of 30 km/h.

What this means for the industry

The new rules send a clear signal: no more leniency for tampering and reckless driving. In particular, the requirement to retake all tests could end many professionals' careers.

What do you make of these changes? Will such harsh penalties genuinely improve safety, or are they too restrictive?