Monaco began issuing a new driving licence in a credit-card format on 4th July, a smaller and more secure document that will gradually replace the current model over the coming years. Licences already in circulation stay valid throughout that transition, and the two formats will run side by side, so holders of the existing licence need take no immediate action.
The new licence is more compact than the current version and made from a recyclable material, and has been designed to meet international standards. It carries a series of security features, among them a visual electronic certificate on the reverse that allows its authenticity to be checked quickly during roadside controls.
A 15-year renewal
The main change for drivers is that the document will now have to be renewed every 15 years, bringing it into line with the passport and the national identity card. The renewal is an administrative step to update the holder’s photograph rather than a fresh test, and no new examination is required. The fee is unchanged at €23 in 2026, whether for a first licence or a renewal.
Renewals move online
To support the change, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office has opened an online renewal service on the MonGuichet.mc portal. Available around the clock, it allows most drivers to complete the process remotely without visiting the office, and the department is encouraging users to choose the digital route to shorten processing times. The service handles the upload of the identity photograph and captures the holder’s handwritten signature, either on a touchscreen or through a QR code.
Part of a wider overhaul
The project has been led by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office alongside the Principality’s digital services and information systems departments, and comes with a rebuild of the office’s IT system intended to open the way to further online services. The Prince’s Government has presented it as part of its push towards simpler and more accessible public services.
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Photo of driver’s license provided by the Government Communications Department, image generated by Monaco Life