Foreign licence conversion — Einfach Germany

Quick answer

An EU or EEA licence remains valid and needs no conversion. A licence from anywhere else is generally valid for six months from the date you register your address, and to keep driving after that you must convert it. Whether you need to sit tests depends on the issuing country and, in some cases, the specific state or province: some are fully exempt, some require only the practical test, and some require both.

Important

Vehicle rules, taxes and licence conversion requirements depend on your federal state, your nationality and the vehicle itself. Confirm the details with your local registration office (Zulassungsstelle) or driving licence authority before relying on them.

1. The six-month rule

If your licence was issued outside the EU and EEA, you may generally drive in Germany on it for six months. The clock starts when you establish residence, which in practice means when you register your address, not when you first arrive as a visitor.

After six months the licence stops being valid for driving in Germany. Driving on it beyond that point is treated as driving without a licence, which is a criminal offence rather than a fine, and it voids your insurance cover.

You can apply for a one-off extension to twelve months if you can show your stay will not exceed twelve months, but that has to be applied for in advance, not claimed afterwards.

The German words you will see

Umschreibung: Conversion: exchanging your foreign licence for a German one.
Führerscheinstelle: The driving licence office, usually part of your district or city administration. It handles conversions.
Fahrerlaubnis: The legal entitlement to drive, as distinct from the plastic card, which is the Führerschein.
Anlage 11: The annex to the licensing regulation listing which countries are exempt from which tests.

This deadline is more serious than it looks

Driving after the six months without converting is not an administrative oversight. It is driving without a licence: a criminal offence, and your insurer will not cover an accident. Start the conversion in month one or two, because the process itself takes weeks.

2. EU and EEA licences

A licence issued by an EU or EEA state remains valid in Germany for as long as it is valid at home, and you do not need to convert it. You may exchange it voluntarily, and some people do because a German licence is simpler to replace if lost.

Two caveats. Older licences without an expiry date have been progressively replaced across the EU, and a licence past its own expiry date is not valid anywhere. And if you commit an offence resulting in a German driving ban, German authorities can require an exchange.

3. Which tests you will need

This is the part that varies most, and where general advice is least reliable. Germany maintains a list, known as Anlage 11, setting out how licences from each country are treated. There are three broad categories.

Crucially, for some countries the treatment depends on the specific state, province or territory that issued the licence, not just the country. Several US states and Canadian provinces are treated differently from each other.

How conversion is handled, by issuing country category.
Category	What is required
EU / EEA	No conversion needed; voluntary exchange possible
Listed as fully equivalent	Conversion without any test
Listed as partly equivalent	Practical test only, or theory only, depending on the entry
Not listed	Both theory and practical tests, and usually mandatory driving lessons

For several countries the entry depends on the issuing state or province rather than the country as a whole. Check the specific entry for your licence.

Official source

The official description of the conversion procedure, including when a test is required.

Official service description for licence exchange (opens in a new tab)

Bundesportal

Good to know

Do not rely on what a friend from your country experienced. The list is amended, and treatment can differ by the state or province that issued the licence. Ask your local Führerscheinstelle, which is the body that applies the list.

4. The procedure

The application goes to the driving licence office covering your registered address. It takes weeks even in the simplest case, which is why the six-month window is tighter than it sounds.

Register your address first
The office that handles your conversion is determined by where you are registered, and the six-month clock starts from registration.
Registering a move (Anmeldung and Ummeldung) (opens in a new tab)
Check how your licence is treated
Ask the Führerscheinstelle directly, naming the issuing country and the state or province. This determines whether you need tests and therefore how long to allow.
Get an eyesight test and a first-aid course
Both are standard requirements. The eyesight test is done at an optician; the first-aid course is a short session widely offered by aid organisations.
Get a translation of your licence
Usually required unless your licence is an EU-format one. It generally has to be by a recognised translator or an approved automobile association.
Submit the application
With your licence, passport, registration certificate, photo, eyesight certificate and first-aid certificate. Fees apply and vary by authority.
Sit any required tests
The theory test is available in several languages. The practical test is with an examiner, and where lessons are required they must be with an approved driving school.
Surrender your foreign licence
It is normally retained by the authority when the German licence is issued. Some countries can have it returned to them. Keep a copy for your records.

Important

Your original licence is usually kept by the German authority. If you need it for another country, ask about this before you apply rather than after it has been taken.

5. If you have no licence, or must start over

Getting a German licence from scratch is genuinely expensive and involves a prescribed minimum of theory lessons and specific mandatory practical lessons, including motorway, night and country-road drives, before the tests.

That cost is worth knowing when weighing whether to rush a conversion. Someone with a convertible licence who lets the six months lapse can find themselves needing the full course.

A prescribed course of theory lessons at an approved driving school
Mandatory special practical lessons: motorway, country road and night driving
A theory test, available in several languages
A practical test with an official examiner
Eyesight test and first-aid course, as for a conversion
Total cost typically runs into several thousand euros

6. Frequently asked questions

How long can I drive on my foreign licence?

An EU or EEA licence stays valid with no conversion needed. A licence from elsewhere is generally valid for six months from when you register your address. A one-off extension to twelve months is possible if you apply in advance and your stay will not exceed twelve months.

What happens if I drive after six months without converting?

It counts as driving without a licence, which is a criminal offence rather than a fine, and your insurance will not cover an accident. This is not a technicality and it is treated seriously.

Will I have to take a test?

It depends on the issuing country, and for some countries on the specific state or province. Some are fully exempt, some require the practical test only, and unlisted countries require both theory and practical plus mandatory lessons. Ask your Führerscheinstelle for your own case.

Is an International Driving Permit enough?

An IDP is only a translation of a valid licence, not a licence in itself. It does not extend the six-month period and does not remove the need to convert.

Do I get my original licence back?

Usually not: the German authority normally retains it. Some countries can have it returned to them. Ask before you apply if you need it, and keep a copy either way.

When does the six months start?

From when you establish residence, which in practice means when you register your address, not when you first entered Germany as a visitor.

Can I take the theory test in English?

The official theory test is available in several languages including English. The practical test is conducted with an examiner and language arrangements vary, so ask your driving school and the testing organisation.

Official information

Rules and amounts change. Always verify current requirements using official sources.

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Amounts and legal requirements can change. We verify this information against official sources and show when each figure was last checked, but always confirm important requirements with the responsible authority before you apply.

Einfach Germany is an independent information platform and is not affiliated with the German government.

Converting a foreign driving licence