Driving license; application for exchange

Since 01.01.1999 there is the new card driving license. This is the size of a debit or credit card and is standardized throughout Europe. Since 19.01.2013, it has only been issued for a limited period of 15 years.

You can exchange your old grey or pink paper driving license for the current EU standard card driving license at any time. You must apply for the exchange at your competent driving license authority (= district administrative authority).

All driving licenses issued before 19.01.2013 must be gradually exchanged for the new, temporary EU card driving license by 19.01.2033.

The validity of the new driving licenses is limited to 15 years - regardless of the underlying driving license (see also the information on driving licenses for trucks and buses below) - after which they must be renewed.

The exchange does not change the driving license itself. Only the driving license is exchanged as proof of the driving license. The old driving licenses are transferred to the new driving license categories.

In this context, it should be noted with regard to the old paper driving licenses that, irrespective of the exchange of the driving license, the introduction of the new driving license categories in 1999 already resulted in changes with regard to the period of validity of driving licenses for trucks and buses (and corresponding combinations).

For further information, please refer to the service description "Driving license for buses and trucks; applying for an extension of the period of validity" (see "Related topics").

Please give priority to using the online service offered to exchange your driver's license.

Please also note the information on the use of a biometric passport photo.

You can find additional information in the "Information sheet on exchanging the old driving license" and in the linked pages: "Driving license exchange obligation" and "Driving license authority".

You have a driving license that was issued before 19.01.2013.

For gray or pink "paper" driver's licenses issued up to and including December 31, 1998, the exchange period depends on the date of birth of the driver's license holder. These must therefore be exchanged as follows:

• Year of birth before 1953 until 19.01.2033
• Birth cohorts 1953-1958 until 19.07.2022
• Birth cohorts 1959-1964 until 19.01.2023
• Birth cohorts 1965-1970 until 19.01.2024
• Born in 1971 or later until 19.01.2025

The following exchange periods* apply to driving licenses that are still valid for an unlimited period, i.e. those issued from 01.01.1999 and before 19.01.2013, depending on the date of issue of the driving license:

• Exhibition years 1999-2001 until 19.01.2026
• Exhibition years 2002-2004 until 19.01.2027
• Exhibition years 2005-2007 until 19.01.2028
• Exhibition year 2008 until 19.01.2029
• Exhibition year 2009 until 19.01.2030
• Exhibition year 2010 until 19.01.2031
• Exhibition year 2011 until19.01.2032
• Exhibition years 2012-18.01.2013 to 19.01.2033

*Driving license holders whose year of birth is before 1953 do not have to exchange their driving license until 19.01.2033, regardless of the year of issue of the driving license.

Costs for the driver's license exchange ONLINE: 31.81 euros including shipping.

• Ordinance on the admission of persons to road traffic (Driving License Ordinance - FeV)

• Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs - Overview of driving license categories
• Early exchange of driving licenses
• Information sheet - Apply online to exchange your old driving license

  Notes on the process. You fill out the form online and upload the documents. Send the printout with signature and picture as well as the required documents by post.

• Driving license exchange obligation
• Driving license authority

  Central page of the driving license authority

You must apply to exchange your driver's license.

Note: a digital passport photo is not required to apply for / transfer a driving license. As before, a conventional biometric passport photo is required.

• Driving license; application due to expiry of validity
• Driving license; application for a copy of a file card