Driver's License
If you plan to come to Germany with your own car, or to buy a car here or to drive a rented car, you had better check in advance if your driving license is valid in Germany, if it has to be changed or if you have to follow the procedure of getting a German driving license.
You can drive with international or national foreign driving licenses, if your driving license is internationally recognised and valid and equivalent to the model of the EU, or another valid driver's license exists. This entitlement might differ for various issuing countries in length of validity.
If one has not a residence (Link zu Wohnsitz – steht unter nicht EU / 1.), the valid foreign driving license can be used without any limit. The residence status in Germany comes into effect if a person lives for more than 185 days a year in Germany.
The following rules apply:
1. The legal use of vehicles in Germany is possible with driving licenses from the following European (EU/EWR) countries:
Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Great Brittain, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Slovakia, Slowenien, Spain, Czechia, Hungary, Cyprus.
The original date of validity applies.
2. If the foreign driving license has only been aquired within the last two years, the German probation rules apply.
3. If you want to get a German driving license, the 185-days condition must be fulfilled (The license must be issued within a permanent 185 day (or longer) stay in Germany).
4. If foreign (EU/EWR) driving licenses expire during the stay in Germany (type A, B, BE and subclasses), the person can apply for another licence without a driving test.
5. Preliminary driving licenses are only valid in Germany, if they do not indicate an expiry date and do not require re-issuing from the original country.
The following regulations are for driving licenses of other countries (non EU/EWR):
- In case of legal residence (Link zu oben oben ordentlicher Wohnsitz) in Germany the driving license has to be transcribed within 6 months.
- A one time renewal for 6 months is possible, if the person can prove that he/she will not exceed a 12 months’ stay in Germany.
- The validation can require in some cases an exam (theory/practical).
No exams are required if,
- the EU-minimum standards for foreign certification processes are fulfilled
- a vehicle can be driven securely and safely
- and if the documents are valid.
You can ask for a list of all co-operating countries by contacting the ADAC.
For all other countries a valid driving license can only be issued, if the person passes the theory and practical test in Germany. This regulation is valid only for the first three years at the start of legal residence in Germany.
- In general a person is obliged to carry a translation of the driving license. Exceptions: EU-countries, Andorra, Hongkong, Monaco, Newzealand, San Marino, Switzerland and Senegal.
For the validation pls. contact the local department of motor vehicles.
For an overview of the different categories of driving license types in Germany click here.