B100 driving licence in Luxembourg: why is it not recognised abroad?

Luxembourg has a special category of driving licence, the B100, which allows you to drive a 125cc motorbike (category A1) with a normal B licence and after special training. However, this licence remains invalid internationally, which raises questions for many holders, especially those planning to travel to neighbouring countries.

At the moment, the B100 category is considered exclusively national and is not recognised outside Luxembourg. This is because it is not provided for in the current European Directive on driving licences 2006/126. Accordingly, drivers holding a B100 licence are not authorised to drive motorbikes in other European Union countries such as France, Germany or Belgium.

The prospects for change depend on a new directive being drafted in the European Union. In December 2023, the first text of the new EU Council Directive was approved, but the document is still at the trialogue stage - negotiations between the EU Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission. These negotiations have been ongoing for more than a year and it is still unknown when a final agreement will be reached. The Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU has announced its intention to speed up the process, but the specific timeline remains uncertain.

If the new directive is adopted, it is possible that the B100 category will become a pan-European category, allowing the licence to be used to drive motorbikes in other EU countries. However, the final decision depends on the outcome of the negotiations and the harmonisation of the positions of all parties.

Thus, for the time being, the B100 driving licence remains valid only in Luxembourg. Drivers planning to travel abroad are advised to use an international A1 category licence or rent vehicles that only require a B category. It is expected that the adoption of the new directive could end the uncertainty and create uniform rules for all EU countries.

This is not the first time the issue of B100 recognition in other countries has been raised. It was already discussed in the Luxembourg Parliament in 2019, but there have been no significant developments since then. The Luxembourg government continues to follow the EU negotiations and plans to adapt national legislation depending on the outcome of the discussions at European level.