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Address: https://www.dresden.de/en/city/anliegen/re-registering-a-foreign-driver-s-licence.php Last revision: 05.04.2022 12:15:17 Uhr Printed on: 18.01.2025 11:20:40 Uhr

Re-registering a foreign driver's licence

If you move your primary place of residence to Germany, your existing driver's licence will still be valid for six months. Thereafter, you will require a German driver's licence to drive a vehicle. Anyone holding a valid EU/EEA driver's licence will not require a German driver's licence until their existing licence expires.

Requirements

German driver's licences can only be issued if the foreign driver's licence permits or permitted the driving of vehicles in Germany, i.e. if it was valid at the time of entry.

Process

EU/EEA driver's licences

Anyone moving to Germany from another EU member state or a member state of the European Economic Area (EEA) - the latter including Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway - does not initially require a German driver's licence. Only once the licence or licence class expires will it be re-registered as a German EU driver's licence, upon submission of an application.

Driver's licences issued by 'third-party' states (outside the EU and EEA)

Upon moving to Germany, your existing foreign driver's licence will be valid for another six months. It will need to be re-registered during this time.

This requires promptly applying for a German driver's licence based on the existing foreign licence. Applications must be submitted in person to the licensing authority. Appointments can be booked via the online booking system.

Depending on the country in which the licence was issued, the licensing authority will check whether a theory or practical test is required. In general, the process is the same as for the first-time issuing of a licence, but without any training initially required and taking into account the existing licence.

Documents required

Please bring the following to your in-person interview:

Valid official ID with passport photo (must meet domestic passport and ID requirements)
Certification of first-time or repeated residence in the Federal Republic of Germany (issued by the Foreigners' Bureau )
Original copy of the foreign driver's licence (which permits or permitted the driving of vehicles in Germany; translations need to have been performed by a worn translator publicly appointed in Germany or by a recognised automobile club)
Passport photo (current and biometric, 35 x 45 mm, no rounded corners)
Proof of first-aid training
Eye test to determine visual faculties

The following additional documents are also optional:

If re-registering classes C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D, DE
- Certificate of visual faculties as established in Appendix 6 Point 2 FeV (German Driving Licence Regulation) on form template as per Verkehrsblatt First Section Book 1/1999
- Certificate of medical examination as per Appendix 5 Point 1 FeV on form template as per Verkehrsblatt First Section Book 1/1999
If re-registering classes D1, D1E, D, DE
- Driver's licence for presentation to an authority as per Section 30 Para. 5 BZRG (German Federal Central Criminal Register), document type 'O' (to be requested from the registry office)
- Certificate confirming compliance with requirements regarding resilience, orientation skills, concentration, attentiveness and reactiveness (issued by an occupational/company physician or a roadworthiness assessment centre)

Deadline

Foreign driver's licences issued by non-EU/EEA states must be re-registered within the statutory period of six months.

N.B.: The licensing authority can extend the deadline by up to six months upon request if the applicant credibly shows they will not be residing in Germany for more than twelve months.

Costs

The minimum fee for re-registration is 36.30 euros. Further charges may apply, e.g. for the following services:

Distinguishing whether or not a probation period is required
Lodgement fees in the cases of third-party states: 15.00 euros
Provisional driver's licence (optional): 10.00 euros

The maximum fee is 62.10 euros.

Payment types: Cash, EC card

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Re-registering a foreign driver's licence

Requirements

Process

Documents required

Deadline

Costs

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