If you hold a driver's license from another country in the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA, including Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) and live in Germany, you do not necessarily need to convert your license to a German one. Your license is generally valid in Germany.
You only need to exchange your driving license when it is due to be renewed.
In particular, converting class C and D driving licenses may be necessary, as these are only valid for a limited period in Germany. In this case, the German validity period applies, even if your foreign driving license has no expiration date or a longer expiration date. Therefore, inquire well in advance of your entry into the Federal Republic of Germany whether and when you need to convert your driving license. Further information on the validity of driving licenses can be found under "Links."
More Information
Publisher
Hamburg
Last update or date of publication
Contact
The government service telephone number 115 – your point of contact for questions related to the federal, state and local.
Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 18:00 (and beyond these times in some regions).
Call 115 nowGovernment service telephone number calls are charged at local rates.
- valid identity card, electronic residence permit (eAT) or passport with current registration certificate
- valid foreign driver's license
- Biometric passport photo (35x45 millimeters) - not older than 1 year
- Proof of previous residence for at least 6 months in an EU or EEA country (for example, employer certificates, rental agreement)
- If applicable, a certificate of no objection from the issuing authority (required if the foreign driving licence expired before entry into Germany)
- Appointment confirmation
Additionally, for driving licenses of classes C and D:
- Ophthalmological report in accordance with Annex 6 of the Driving Licence Regulations (FeV), not older than 2 years
- medical certificate in accordance with Annex 5.1 of the Driving Licence Regulations (FeV), not older than 1 year
- For category D: medical certificate in accordance with Annex 5.2 of the Driving Licence Regulations (FeV), not older than 1 year.
- For class D: Certificate of good conduct, not older than 3 months, applied for at the relevant residents' registration office
- For commercial goods and passenger transport: proof of professional driver qualification
You only need the medical reports if you want to extend your driver's license at the same time as the conversion.
Preconditions
- Her main residence is in Hamburg
- You have a driving license from an EU or EEA country.
- You have resided in the state that issued your current driver's license for at least 6 months (185 days).
Hints
The LBV-Mitte and LBV-Nord driving license offices are responsible for issuing driving licenses.
You can find information about exchanging your driver's license in other languages on the website of the Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV). Further information can be found in the "Links" section.
If you originally held a driver's license from a third country outside the EU and exchanged it without taking a test in another EU country (not Germany), please make an appointment with the LBV immediately after moving to Germany. If this applies to you, you will find the code number 70 and the country code of the third country on line 12 of your driver's license. You are not permitted to drive any vehicles in Germany with this license. You must first take a theoretical and practical driving test and exchange your driver's license for a German one.
37.50 EUR - 74.40 EUR.
The exact costs depend on the driver's license class and can only be determined on-site based on the complete documents. The basis for this is the fee schedule for measures in road traffic (GebOSt).
Basis for legal action
Section 28 Driving Licence Regulation (FeV)
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/fev_2010/__28.html
Section 30 Driving Licence Regulation (FeV)
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/fev_2010/__30.html
Legal Remedies
Contradiction
Related Links
- BMV - Validity of foreign driving licences in the Federal Republic of GermanyCurrently this link is only available in german
- Decision of the EU Commission on equivalences between driving license classesCurrently this link is only available in german
- LBV appointment bookingsCurrently this link is only available in german
- List of EU countriesCurrently this link is only available in german
- State Transport Authority - ContactCurrently this link is only available in german
Procedure
- You book an appointment online.
- On our website for booking appointments, select the category "Driver's License"
- Book the appointment "Conversion of foreign driving licence or service driving licence into temporary EU card driving licence"
- You will receive an email. Confirm your reservation using the link in the email.
- Bring all necessary documents and the appointment confirmation with you to your appointment at the LBV.
- Scan the QR code on your appointment confirmation using the scanner on site.
- Take a seat in the waiting area. You will be called by your call number.
- Your request is being processed.
Deadlines
No
Processing time
The production of the new driver’s license takes approximately 3-4 weeks.