Vehicle licences

If you would like to obtain or renew your driving license or have your non-EU driving license recognized, you will find the most important information here.

Would you like to use your boat or ship to participate in inland waterway radio communications? If so, you’ll need a VHF radio operator’s certificate (UBI). To obtain it, you must pass a written and a practical exam.

If you take part in "accompanied driving from 17", you can drive a category B and BE vehicle in Germany before your 18th birthday under certain conditions. In this case, you must always be accompanied by a previously appointed and suitable person.

If you want to drive a motor vehicle on public roads, you generally need a driving license.

You can apply for a class AM, A1, A2 or A driver's license.

Have you lost your aeronautical radio operator's certificate, or has it been damaged? If so, you can apply for a replacement from the Federal Network Agency.

Do you hold a recognized certificate of competence or a radio operator’s license that is fully equivalent to the requirements for the general radio operator’s license (LRC)? If so, you can apply for an LRC without taking an exam.

Anyone who wishes to operate a recreational or leisure craft on federal waterways must have a recreational boat operator's license. You can apply for this license and schedule an exam date with an examination board of your choice.

Have you lost your radio operator’s certificate for inland waterway radio (UBI), or has it been stolen or damaged? Or have you changed your name, meaning your certificate is no longer accurate? If so, you must apply for a replacement document.

If you have lost your recreational boat operator's license or need a replacement for any other reason, you can apply for a replacement.

Do you hold a recognized certificate of competence or a radio operator’s license that is fully equivalent to the requirements for the Limited Radio Operator’s Certificate (SRC)? If so, you can apply for an SRC without taking an exam.

Once you have passed your exam to obtain your locomotive operator's license, apply for your locomotive operator's license with the Federal Railway Authority.

If you wish to participate in the mobile maritime radio service, you must hold a valid radio operator’s license. The Limited Radio Operator’s Certificate (SRC) authorizes you to operate VHF radio. To obtain it, you must pass an exam.

If you wish to participate in the mobile maritime radio service, you must hold a valid radio operator’s license. The general radio operator’s license (LRC) authorizes you to operate on VHF, shortwave, and satellite radio. To obtain it, you must pass an exam.

Driving licenses for categories C, CE, C1, C1E, D, DE, D1 or D1E can be extended for five years at the request of the license holder.

If you have a pilot's license and certain information is out of date, you can apply for changes to be entered in the license.

If you want to operate a recreational or leisure craft on federal waterways, you need a recreational boat operator’s license. If you already hold a specific official driver’s license, it may be possible to have it converted.

If you want to drive a passenger car up to 3,500 kilograms, you must apply for a class B driver's license.

If you want to drive simple motor vehicles in agriculture, you must apply for the class L driver's license (the "small tractor driver's license").

If you want to drive more powerful motor vehicles in agriculture, you must apply for the class T driver's license, the "large tractor driver's license".

As a professional driver, you will need a Driver Qualification Certificate (FQN) in addition to your driver's license as of May 23, 2021.

If you lose your pilot's license or fill out the back of it completely, you can apply for a new one.

If your driving license for categories C, CE, C1, C1E, D, DE, D1 or D1E is about to expire, you can apply for a five-year extension.

To obtain an aeronautical radio operator's certificate, you must pass an aeronautical radio exam. You must apply to the Federal Network Agency for permission to take the exam.

If you violate regulations with your vehicle, you may receive points that are entered in the driving aptitude register. If you have a certain number of points, your driving license will be revoked. You have the option of checking your current points status.

Are you a driver of a truck or bus and need a driver card for the first time? Then you must apply for it at the office responsible for you.

If your driver's license has been stolen, defaced or destroyed, you must have a new driver's license issued.

If you have acquired a service driver's license as part of your work for the police, armed forces or federal police, you can have this converted into a general driver's license.

If you have been living in Germany for more than 6 months, you must apply for a German driving license.

If you want to drive a motor vehicle on public roads, you need a driving license that entitles you to drive this vehicle. The driving license is proof of your driving license.

If your driving license becomes invalid, you must apply for a new driving license. You will then receive a European Union (EU) card driving license.

Anyone wishing to provide first aid training for the acquisition of a driver's licenserequires official recognition.

Do you have a driving license from a third country outside the European Union or the European Economic Area and have moved to Germany? Then you need to have your driving license transferred.

Holders of a driving license can apply to extend it by a further driving license (category).

If you have passed an aeronautical radio exam in Germany, you can have it recognized as an aeronautical radio certificate. To do so, you must submit an application to the Federal Network Agency.

If the validity of your driving license is about to expire or has expired, you must apply for a new driving license.

If you hold a foreign aeronautical radio operator's certificate, you can have it recognized in Germany under certain conditions. To do so, you must submit an application to the Federal Network Agency.

In certain countries, you need an international driving license in addition to your national driving license in order to prove your driving license.

If you want to transport passengers for a fee, you need a passenger transport license (FzF) in advance.

Anyone aged 15 or over may ride a moped on public roads. To do so, you need a test certificate for driving mopeds and two- and three-wheeled motor vehicles up to 25 km/h.

If your driver's license has been revoked, you can apply for a new one after the expiry of any period of suspension.

You are a driver of a truck or bus and the validity of your driver card is about to expire? Then you can have it renewed.

You are a driver of a truck or bus and your driver card has been lost? Then you need to apply for a replacement card.

You are a driver of a truck or bus and your driver card was stolen? Then you need to apply for a replacement card.

Have you lost your general radio operator's license (LRC), or has it been stolen or damaged? Or have you changed your name, meaning your license is no longer accurate? If so, you must apply for a replacement.

Have you lost your limited-validity radio operator's certificate (SRC), or has it been stolen or damaged? Or have you changed your name, making your certificate no longer accurate? If so, you must apply for a replacement document.

You can request information about yourself from the Central Driver's License Registry at the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) online or by mail.

If you are exchanging your old paper driver's license or need a replacement and no longer live in your original place of issue, an index card transcript is required.

Would you like to carry out practical training and testing of remote pilots for standard scenarios as a body or as a registered operator of unmanned aircraft? Then you need recognition from the Federal Aviation Office.

Would you like to operate an unmanned aircraft (UAS) across borders under standard scenarios in the "special" operating category? Then please submit your existing operating declaration and the confirmation of receipt and completeness to the Federal Office of Civil Aviation.

Do you have a driving license from a country of the European Union or the European Economic Area and have moved to Germany? Then you must have your driver's license transferred if it is due for renewal.

As the holder of a foreign driving license, you can obtain a German driving license more easily under certain conditions.