What it is
A probationary licence (probna vozacka dozvola) is not a separate vehicle class; it is a temporary status for someone who first passes a test for A1, A2, A, B1 or B. Under Article 182 of the Road Traffic Safety Law, it lasts two years for a person who passed at 19 or older, or until the 21st birthday for someone who passed before turning 19. The law has a separate one-year B-category rule for vocational-school students who passed C and CE.
Why it became important again
Two separate fatal crashes occurred in Surcin and Banja Koviljaca on the morning of 5 July 2026. In the MUP statement carried by N1, 021 and Kurir, two 18-year-olds died in Banja Koviljaca: a probationary-licence driver and a passenger. The MUP's first information linked both crashes to speed not adapted to conditions and loss of control; that is not a final finding on their causes. The ministry then urged all drivers, especially young ones, to obey traffic rules and probationary-licence restrictions.
Main restrictions
A probationary-licence driver must not drive with alcohol or psychoactive substances in their system, between 23:00 and 06:00, or use a phone or hands-free calling equipment while driving. The limits are 110 km/h on a motorway, 90 km/h on a motor road and 90% of the posted limit on other roads. A category-B vehicle may not exceed 80 kW, except when a family member with a valid B licence for at least five years is in the vehicle. The vehicle must also display a visible "P" sign at the front and rear.
Why it matters
These restrictions are legal duties in their own right, not a conclusion about the cause of any one crash. In its 5 July statement, the MUP referred both to adapting speed to road conditions and driver ability, and to complying with probationary-licence rules. Mentioning probationary-licence restrictions does not by itself mean that a breach caused a particular crash.
What to check before a trip
Check the expiry date and category on your own probationary licence first: the term depends on your age at the first test. Then check the route and departure time, limits on each stretch, the vehicle's power in kW and the "P" sign. A category-B probationary driver under 18 must also have a supervisor with a B licence held for at least five years; there may be no more than three people in the car including that supervisor. If the rule changes or your situation is unusual, use the current legal text and MUP guidance.