Bosnia and Herzegovina introduced a number of important changes in the area of vehicle registration, driver’s licenses and licensing of professional drivers, which, according to the Ministry of Communications and Transport of BiH, significantly relieves the administration, speeds up procedures and introduces solutions harmonized with European Union practices.
The amendments were published in the Official Gazette of BiH, number 66/25, and include three regulations: Regulations on vehicle registration, Regulations on driver’s licenses and Regulations on conditions for issuing drivers’ licenses and qualification cards.
“Third Table” as a solution to loss and theft
The biggest innovation comes through the Ordinance on vehicle registration, which introduces the possibility of issuing an additional license plate. This plate, already called the “third plate” in the public, is issued in cases of loss, theft or damage of one of the existing ones, which enables carriers to continue their work without interruption. “In case of loss, theft or damage, one license plate can be additionally issued” for heavier categories of vehicles and their trailers”, the rulebook states.
This solution eliminates multi-day downtime that was previously unavoidable, and procedures are now more strictly defined in terms of time. An additional table is issued within eight working days, while in urgent cases it can be obtained in three days. This significantly reduces the number of situations in which the vehicle remains out of order due to a purely administrative problem.
It is particularly significant that the long-standing obligation to report the loss or theft of a license plate in the Official Gazette is abolished, saving both time and money. The new forms, certificates and records, which the Ministry has simplified, also introduce greater transparency into the procedure.
Standardization of plates and special rules for motorcycles
The changes also affected the appearance of license plates for motorcycles, which now come in two standardized dimensions and with a blue field marked BIH, similar to solutions for passenger vehicles. The goal is to unify the visual identity and facilitate international recognition, which is a special requirement of European regulations.
Two types of tables are introduced:
240 × 130 mm for motorcycles stronger than 101 cm³
170 × 130 mm for smaller displacement motorcycles
Both versions now have a blue field marked BIH, aligned with EU standards.
The reforms also bring practical relief for owners of certain categories of vehicles. The registration of old-timers, tractors, working machines and cultivators, as well as vehicles up to 50 cubic meters, no longer has a time limit. Although the registration does not expire, the owners are still obliged to have a regular technical inspection and to have a valid insurance policy.
The solution for professional drivers
One of the most significant steps forward was made in the Driver’s License Rulebook, which brings a long-awaited solution for professional drivers faced with a partial driving ban. Instead of confiscating a complete driver’s license, it is now possible to issue a replacement one that carries a written ban only for a certain category.
The Rulebook specifies that, “when receiving the request, the date of the beginning of the implementation of the ban is determined, taking into account the time required for the preparation of the document”. This avoids the situation in which the driver, although only one category is prohibited, cannot work for days because the administration has not yet issued a replacement license.
New forms have also been introduced, from invitations to deposit to confirmations of takeover and notices of deadlines, so that the entire procedure is carried out uniformly in all parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The handling of foreign driver’s licenses is also more clearly defined, especially when it comes to persons without residence in BiH, for whom the ban occurs immediately after the decision is made.
The third set of changes refers to the rulebook that defines the conditions for issuing licenses and qualification cards. The biggest innovation is the introduction of the Center of Excellence model. Carriers with a large fleet and many years of experience will be able to complete or partially train their drivers within the company. Minister Edin Forto previously pointed out that these are the most extensive changes because they enable companies to train drivers faster and more efficiently, while exams are still taken before registered professional institutions.
All the adopted changes represent a clear step forward towards a more modern and functional system of managing driving and registration procedures in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the context of European integration, this is an important step towards harmonizing regulations with practices that are already standard throughout Europe and another attempt to adapt the administration to the needs of the economy, and not the other way around. Acts.
