German Driving License Information 2019

Driving Licenses in Germany

Below please find some information on the acceptance of non-German driving licenses in Germany:

+ Driving licenses from EU countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway do not have to be transferred if they have been issued before arrival in Germany and if the holder can prove that he/she has stayed in the issuing country for at least 185 days. They are valid within the EU without translation (exception: licences from Greece). If a foreign driver’s license has expired, it is not valid in Germany either. In this case it needs to be extended in the issuing country. In case a holder of an EU driving license wants to change it into a German driving license, this is possible at the “Führerscheinstelle” of your German place of residence. Costs are about € 50. Please also pay attention to the regulations in the issuing country + Non-EU driving licenses are valid for a maximum of six months , counting from the date of arrival in Germany. A translation will have to be done, however, right from the start by the Automobile club or an approved translator and needs to be carried with your driving license + Drivers caught by the police without a valid driving license will be fined and can be banned from driving for a period of approx. 3-4 months. The car might be confiscated on the spot. Please note that, depending on the circumstances, driving without a valid license can be a criminal offense (and not only an administrative one), thus resulting in more than just a monetary penalty + Holders of Non-EU driving licenses will have to obtain a German license when driving for a period exceeding six months. Depending on the country of origin of your driving license, a simple transfer might be sufficient. In many cases, however, you will have to take both theoretical and practical driving lessons and tests. Please check below which procedure is relevant for you + Please note: Any driver’s license that needs to be transferred must have a date of issue on it, otherwise we advise you to obtain confirmation by the driver’s license office in your home country about the date of issue + Holders of driving licenses issued by any other than the below mentioned states need to take both theoretical and practical driving tests in order to obtain a German driving license. The inter-state agreements upon which the below mentioned list is based change continuously. We will check in each individual case which procedure applies to your license + Any damage caused by a driver holding an invalid license will not be covered by the liability insurance + A preliminary license, as used in some states, is not valid

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+ Please note: It is not possible to avoid this procedure by getting a new driving license from a state in the US which agreed on easier rules with Germany. The acceptance of a driving license issued after first entry into Germany is tied to a stay of at least 6 months (185 days) in the country of origin of the license before re-entering Germany + Driving licenses obtained less than two years before arrival will always be considered to be “beginner’s licenses” which will lead to a probationary period of 24 months at maximum. This applies also to EU-driving licenses. In order to avoid receiving a provisional license the transferee can provide a letter of the original issuing authority confirming the date of issue of his first driver’s license + Holders of US driving licenses with a certain expiry date need to transfer their US driving license into a German license before it expires. Otherwise, they will be considered beginners and have to take both theoretical and practical lessons and tests + For short-term stays of up to 12 months max. , authorities might apply an exceptional regulation in order to keep the foreign license. This needs to be checked individually with the authority in charge and is not applicable to longer or extended stays + Time schedule: A transfer of driving license without any test takes about four weeks . When tests are required, the procedure may take up to three months . Therefore, we highly recommend starting the application procedure well in time + Current BREXIT status: Current BREXIT status: At this stage, most local authorities do not provide special instructions on British license transfers. Depending on further political developments, getting a German driving license will be advisable/required at the given time. UK licenses might then be considered being Non-EU licenses – including requirements as stated in this document. + International driving licenses are valid only in combination with the valid original driving license – they cannot be transferred into a German license .

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Requirements: Driving license must be issued at least 185 days before taking residence in Germany

Requirements: Translation & transfer :

Requirements: Translation, transfer & theoretical test :

Requirements: Translation, transfer & practical test:

Requirements: Translation, transfer, theoretical & practical test:

All others not mentioned here

All EU states Gibraltar, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway

(These states do not fully acknowledge German driving licenses) Car classes: Connecticut

Andorra, Australia, Bosnia & Herzegovina (class A1, A, B), Japan, Korean Republic (classes 1, 2), Guernsey, Isle of Man, Israel (class B), Jersey, Monaco, Namibia (A1, A, B, BE, C1, C1E, C, CE), New Caledonia, New Zealand (classes 1, 6), Polynesia (France), San Marino, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland (translation only if not also in German), Serbia Car class only: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas (*vision test required), Utah, Virginia, Washington State, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon

Taiwan (class B/BE)

District of Columbia Indiana Florida

Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Nebraska North Carolina Oregon Tennessee

Documents to provide for the “Führerscheinstelle”: When a transfer is sufficient: + Application form for new license + Passport + One passport sized photo + Translation of the original driving license

+ Original and copy of national driving license (international driving license is not sufficient) + Confirmation of registration at place of residence (not requested in Frankfurt and Wiesbaden)

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When theoretical and/or practical tests are required: + Application form for new license + Passport + One passport sized photo + Translation of the original driving license + Vision test + Original and copy of national driving license (international driving license is not sufficient) + Certified participation of first aid course + Registration at a driving school + Confirmation of registration at place of residence (not requested in Frankfurt and Wiesbaden) + Police certificate – might be required for some local authorities ( application can be done in Germany, and takes approx. 2 weeks ) + After application for the German license: Driving lessons, theoretical and/or practical tests at driving school Estimated Costs* + Translation of original driver’s license at the ADAC Fee: € 35 to € 80 (depending on the language) + Application for new license Fee: around € 50 + Current confirmation of registration at place of residence by registration office Fee: € 10 (in some cities free of costs) + Vision tes t: Fee around € 10 (at any optician) + First Aid Course, usually at the Red Cross or “Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund” Fee: around € 30 (in German), around € 40 (in English) at a driving school + Registration at driving school Fee: € 150 (transfer of license without lessons) to € 350 (incl. theoretical lessons) + Driving lessons (45 min) Fee: Around € 55 (in German or English/foreign language, if available); Fee: Around € 65 (in German or English/foreign language, if available) for motorway, overland or night lessons Total number of required lessons depends on driver’s ability, generally 4-6 lessons are needed + Theoretical test + Fee: around € 90 for the test, plus approx. € 40-80 for German or foreign language study material (English, French, and other major languages). Fees and material for other languages upon request. + Practical test Fee: around € 150 (in German), English / foreign language, if available, might be slightly more expensive The total costs for obtaining a German driving license amount to a minimum of approx. 1,000 € if you have to pass both theoretical and practical tests. The costs can be higher, depending on location and individual situation. Please note that by German law we are not authorized to give legal advice. This information is based on our previous experience in this regard. However, we must point out that we cannot accept any liability for it.

* November 2019 (Stated costs are average amounts, as they can regionally vary. So can the local responsible authorities.)

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