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 standardized 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.

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

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

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

• Years of issue 1999-2001 until 19.01.2026
• Years of issue 2002-2004 until 19.01.2027
• Years of issue 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 until 19.01.2032
• Year of issue 2012-18.01.2013 until 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.

The validity of the new driving licenses is limited to 15 years - regardless of the underlying driving license (see also explanations 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 driver's licenses that, irrespective of the exchange of the driver's license, there have already been changes with regard to the period of validity of the driver's licenses for trucks and buses (and corresponding combinations) with the introduction of the new driver's license classes in 1999.

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").