EU Driving License: The significance of field 4a

On European Union standard credit card-format driving licenses, the code '4a' refers to the date the card was ordered. This specific date is critical for determining exchange deadlines for older license formats.

According to the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) and the ADAC, approximately 43 million driving licenses must be exchanged for forgery-proof, EU-wide uniform versions by January 2033. While paper licenses generally must be exchanged by January 19, 2025, individuals born before 1953 are granted an extension until January 19, 2033, regardless of the document type.