Transferring a Foreign Driver’s Licence in Germany

Whether a driving licence can be converted without a test is governed by Annex 11 of the Driving Licence Ordinance (Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung, FeV). Depending on the country of issuance, a theoretical or practical test may be required. When converting a foreign driving licence under German law, the Driving Licence Ordinance distinguishes between three groups of countries:

Countries and US States with Full Recognition (Annex 11 FeV):

Driving licences from these states are generally converted without a new theoretical or practical test. In certain cases, however, an eye test may be required. There may be different regulations for individual driving licence categories.

For certain types of licence categories these states include Israel, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and certain US states, such as Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Texas.

Certain US States and Territories (also Annex 11 FeV):

Only a theoretical test is necessary here. A practical driving test is not required.

Included states are Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oregon and Tennessee.

All Other Countries & US States (not listed in Annex 11 FeV):

For driving licences from these states, both a theory test and a practical driving test must be passed before the licence is transferred.

The following documents cannot be recognised:

• learner’s licences,
• provisional driving licences and
• driving licences obtained during a temporary stay abroad (less than 185 days).

These documents do not entitle their holders to drive motor vehicles in Germany and therefore cannot be recognised. Affected US States include California, New Jersey, and the State of New York.

The following documents are required to have a foreign driving licence converted:

• Identity card or passport (in the case of a passport, also a certificate of registration),
• Current photograph,
• Photocopy of the foreign driving licence, including translation,
• Proof of residence abroad for German nationals (at least 185 days).

It should be noted that the individual driving licence categories, as for cars, motorbikes and tractors, also have different requirements with regard to the documents to be submitted. This may include, for example, an eye test or a first aid certificate. For a comprehensive overview of the individual requirements, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our lawyers for administrative law.

For driving licences from the countries of the European Union and the European Economic Area, the German provisions of the Driving Licence Ordinance must be observed.

The following documents are required for these types of driving licences as well as for those from countries listed in Annex 11 of the FeV:

• Identity card or passport,
• Driving licence, incl. certified translation,
• a biometric photograph.

In particular, it must be ensured that the driving licence for categories C or D is renewed in good time and that the respective restrictions for category A1 are taken into account.

The road traffic office/driving licence authority at your main place of residence in Germany is responsible for the transfer. Processing time for a transfer usually takes up 4 to 6 weeks, though this may vary depending on the complexity of your case and the current workload of the office. . Costs for the transfer of a foreign driver’s licence in Germany vary between 37.50 and 45.10 euros. It’s advisable to start this process well before the end of the six-month grace period after establishing residency in Germany.

The legal situation regarding the transfer of driving licences is often challenging. First of all, it is necessary to determine which rules apply to the country in which the driving licence was obtained and subsequently what type of driving licence category is involved and what other requirements are necessary as a result. Our German lawyers are experienced in having driving licences transferred by German traffic authorities for clients from all over the world.