If you have a driver's license from a country in the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA) and have moved to Germany, you must have your driver's license reissued in the following cases:
- the validity of your driver's license expires,
- the validity of individual driving license categories expires.
For driving license categories that are limited in Germany (categories C and D as well as corresponding subcategories and trailer categories), the German period of validity applies. This also applies if no or longer periods are entered on the foreign driver's license.
EU/EEA driver's license for non-harmonized classes:
If you want to drive a motor vehicle in Germany, you must have your driving license reissued.
For EU/EEA driving licenses for harmonized categories (categories AM, A1, A2, A, B, BE, C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D, and DE):
You do not need to have your license converted.
We convert driving licenses from EU and EEA countries without requiring a new driving test.
You must present the original EU or EEA driver's license at the time of issuance of the German driver's license. We will only issue the German driver's license upon surrender of the EU or EEA driver's license. We will return this to the issuing country.
We generally recognize foreign EU driver's licenses (national foreign driver's licenses from an EU member state). Please note the validity period of the respective driver's license.
A conversion of an EU driver's license (including a foreign EU card driver's license) is required if you apply for an international driver's license (e.g., for travel to countries outside Europe, such as the USA).
Further information on the validity of foreign driver's licenses in the Federal Republic of Germany can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure.
Application
- You must submit the application in person (for identification and signature purposes).
We do not convert international driver's licenses. You always need a valid national driver's license.
approximately 6 to 8 weeks
Please contact your local driver's license authority.