Acquire or extend your driver's license

Driver training and driving test

To obtain a driving license, you must:

• conclude a contract with an officially recognized driving school. The scope of the training varies greatly depending on the category. For example, it comprises at least 14 hours of theoretical training for category B (cars) and 16 hours for category A (motorcycles). For practical training, a minimum number of hours is only prescribed for the C classes (trucks) and D classes (buses). In Germany, there are also minimum requirements for special practical training. The driving instructor must be convinced that you are able to pass the test;
• a theoretical test as well as a practical driving test held by an authorized expert. pass a practical driving test .

Minimum age

Minimum age for obtaining a driving license:

• 16 years for category A1 (up to 125 cm3)
• 18 years for category A2 (up to 35 kW)
• 24 years for category A (over 35 kW)
• 18 years for category B (passenger cars)

Driving licenses issued up to and including December 31, 1998 :

• If you were born before 1953, you must exchange your driver's license by 19.01.2033
• If you were born between 1965 and 1970, you must exchange your driver's license by 19.01.2024
• If you were born up to 1971 or later, you must exchange your driver's license by 19.01.2025

Driving licenses issued after January 1, 1999 :

• Driving licenses issued between 1999 and 2001 must be valid until January 19, 2026 be exchanged.
• Driving licenses issued between 2002 and 2004 must be exchanged by January 19, 2027 be exchanged.
• 2005 to 2007 January 19, 2028
• Driving licenses issued between 2005 and 2007 must be exchanged by January 19, 2028.
• 2008 January 19, 2029
• Driving licenses issued in 2008 must be exchanged by January 19, 2029.
• 2009 January 19, 2030
• Driving licenses issued in 2009 must be exchanged by January 19, 2030.
• 2010 January 19, 2031
• Driving licenses issued in 2010 must be exchanged by January 19, 2031.
• 2011 January 19, 2032
• Driving licenses issued in 2011 must be exchanged by January 19, 2032

*Driving license holders whose year of birth is before 1953 must exchange their driving license by January 19, 2033 regardless of the year of issue of the license.

If you are from another EU country is valid for life (i.e. does not have an expiration date), you must at the latest on January 19, 2033 at the latest if you have changed your usual place of residence.

Please note The legal situation may still change.

Non-EU driving licenses - exchange and recognition

You must your non-EU driver's license within 6 months after your move exchange it .

Where and how?

At your responsible local authority .

Please submit the following documents present:

• Official identification document of the applicant (identity card or passport)
• Registration certificate from the residents' registration office
• Current photo that meets the requirements of the Passport Ordinance
• When applying for a driver's license for categories A, A2, A1, B or BE: Certificate of an eye test from an officially recognized body.
• When applying for a category C1, C1E, C, CE (truck), D1, D1E, D or DE (bus) driving license: medical certificate of sufficient visual acuity
• When applying for a category C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D or DE driving license: medical certificate Applicants for a category D, D1, DE orD1E driving license who are at least 50 years old: additional medical certificate from a company doctor or medical-psychological certificate confirming that their ability to cope with stress and their orientation, concentration, attention and reaction speed are adequate
• When applying for a driver's license: proof of a completed first aid course
• Your original driver's license issued in the other country ( an international driving license is not enough ) with a translation into German - unless the driving license authority makes an exception and waives the need for a translation
• Declaration that your foreign driver's license is still valid

If you have your non-EU driving license previously exchanged for an EU driving license in another EU country in another EU country you can use it in Germany, unless,

• your EU or EEA driving license was issued on the basis of a driving license issued by a country outside the EU or outside the EEA (not listed in Annex 11 of the Driving Licence Regulation)
• and without taking a driving test or
• issued on the basis of a forged non-EU or non-EEA driving license

Driving license renewal

If you are a citizen or national of an EU country living in Germany and wish to extend your driving license issued in another EU country driving license issued in another EU country country, you can do this at the local driving license authority to do so. The costs depend on the individual case. The fees to be paid are between EUR 35 and EUR 40. Additional fees for medical examinations may also be incurred for bus and truck drivers. If you live in Germany, you must undergo additional examinations to renew a category C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D or DE driving license. These examinations do not depend on your age, but on the driving license category driving license category.

• The address directory of the Federal Motor Transport Authority