Article 7 — Minimum ages

1. The minimum age of an applicant to whom a driving licence can be issued shall be as follows: (a) 16 years for categories AM, A1 and B1; (b) 18 years for categories A2, B, BE, C1 and C1E; (c) with regard to category A: (i) 20 years for motorcycles. However, the driving of motorcycles of this category shall be subject to a minimum of two years’ prior experience driving motorcycles under a category A2 driving licence. Such requirement of having two years’ prior experience may be waived if the applicant is at least 24 years old; (ii) 21 years for powered tricycles exceeding 15 kW; (d) 21 years for categories C, CE, D1 and D1E; (e) 18 years for categories C and CE provided that the driver holds a certificate of professional competence (CPC) as referred to in Article 6(1) of Directive (EU) 2022/2561; (f) 24 years for categories D and DE; (g) 21 years for categories D and DE provided that the driver holds a CPC as referred to in Article 6(1) or 6(2) of Directive (EU) 2022/2561. 2. Member States may raise or lower the minimum age for issuing a driving licence: (a) for category AM, down to 14 years or up to 18 years; (b) for category B1, up to 18 years; For category B1, Member States may, subject to the prior agreement of the Commission, nevertheless lower the minimum age to 15 years for issuing a driving licence limited to their territory, for the vehicles referred to in Article 9(4), point (c), and under the conditions specified in Article 6(1), point (c)(i) and in Article 9(4), point (c); (c) for category A1, up to 18 years, provided that both of the following conditions are fulfilled: (i) there is a difference of at least two years between the minimum age for category A1 and the minimum age for category A2; (ii) there is a requirement of a minimum of two years’ experience on motorcycles of category A2, before allowing the driving of motorcycles of category A, as referred to in paragraph 1, point (c)(i); (d) for categories B and BE, down to 17 years; (e) for categories D1, D1E, D and DE, down to 18 years, provided that the following conditions are fulfilled: (i) the driver holds a CPC as referred to in Article 6(1) of Directive (EU) 2022/2561; (ii) for categories D and DE only, the driver is subject to the restrictions set out in Article 5(3), third subparagraph, of Directive (EU) 2022/2561; (f) for categories D and DE down to 20 years, provided that the driver holds a CPC as referred to in Article 6(1) of Directive (EU) 2022/2561. 3. Member States may lower the minimum age for category C to 18 years, and for category D to 21 years with regard to: (a) power-driven emergency vehicles used for the purpose of maintaining public safety and order, including by providing immediate assistance during natural or man-made emergencies, such as police vehicles, ambulances, civil protection and rescue vehicles, or fire brigade vehicles; (b) vehicles undergoing road tests for repair or maintenance purposes. 4. Driving licences issued in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3 shall be valid only on the territory of the issuing Member State until the driving licence holder has reached the minimum age set out in paragraph 1, after which they shall be valid throughout the Union. Member States may recognise the validity on their territory of driving licences issued to drivers under the minimum ages set out in paragraph 1. However they shall not recognise the validity of driving licences issued under paragraph 2, points (b), (e) and (f). Member States may recognise mutually on their respective territories the validity of driving licences issued to drivers under the minimum ages as set out in paragraph 3, point (a).