Exchange or fine: When will you be affected by the new EU driving license

1. Deadlines for exchanging your driving license

2. Where does the exchange take place?

3. What documents are required?

4. Is a new driving test necessary?

5. How long is the new driving license valid?

6. Is there a penalty if the exchange request is made too late?

The German driving license comes in a variety of shapes and colors. Depending on when you passed your driving test, you will either have a gray piece of paper, a pink piece of cardboard or a white plastic card. But now you have to say goodbye to this beloved document. It is being replaced by the new EU driving license.

With the EU Driving Licence Directive The aim is to ensure that all car and motorcycle driving licenses across Europe have a uniform template. In addition, the regular updating of passport photos and personal data will make forgery more difficult. This also means that the lifelong validity of the German driving license is over.

What exactly do the new regulations mean for your driving license and by when do you have to exchange it? We will answer these and other questions to provide more clarity.

Deadlines for exchanging your driving license

To avoid overloading the relevant authorities, the driver’s licenses will be exchanged in stages. Your year of birth or year of issue determines when it is your turn. If your driver’s license was issued before December 31, 1998, the exchange period depends on your year of birth:

• before 1953: Exchange until January 19, 2033
• 1953 to 1958: Exchange until January 19, 2022
• 1959 to 1964: Exchange until January 19, 2023
• 1965 to 1970: Exchange until January 19, 2024
• 1971 or later: Exchange until January 19, 2025

If your driving license was issued after January 1, 1999, the year of issue is decisive:

• 1999 to 2001: Exchange until January 19, 2026
• 2002 to 2004: Exchange until January 19, 2027
• 2005 to 2007: Exchange until January 19, 2028
• 2008: Exchange until January 19, 2029
• 2009: Exchange until January 19, 2030
• 2010: Exchange until January 19, 2031
• 2011: Exchange until January 19, 2032
• 2012 to 18 January 2013: Exchange until 19 January 2033

Regardless of the fixed date, a voluntary exchange is also possible in advance. You can find the date of issue on the front of the card driver’s license in field 4a.

Where does the exchange take place?

You can easily exchange your driving license for the new document at the driving license authority in your current place of residence. To avoid long waiting times, you should make an appointment beforehand.

If you want, you can leave your old driving license as a souvenir ADAC The driving license authority only has to stamp it, which means it loses its validity.

What documents are required?

It is not enough to simply take your old driving license to the driving license authority to exchange it. You will need the following documents:

• a valid identity card or passport
• a biometric passport photo
• the current driving license
• a fee of 25 dollars

Is a new driving test necessary?

If you are now worried about having to take the driving test again, we can reassure you. Since the exchange is only of an administrative nature, nothing will change with regard to your driving license.

How long is the new driving license valid?

Previously, there was no expiration date for driving licenses. This changes with the new document. Similar to passports and identity cards, regular renewal is necessary. The validity is 15 years and applies to driving licenses issued from January 19, 2013.

As mentioned at the beginning, this is intended to counteract document forgery. Your passport photo and data must be updated every 15 years. However, this approach already poses a risk. Cyber ​​criminals are exploiting the new regulation to gain access to your sensitive data.

By the way, there will be no further review of your suitability to drive or a medical examination during the 15-year period of validity.

Is there a penalty if the exchange request is made too late?

If you refuse to hand in your old driving license or simply forget to exchange it, you are committing an administrative offence. You will then face a fine of ten dollars. However, the states can waive the fine in exceptional cases.

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