Bundesportal | Converting a foreign driving license (listed country)

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The Federal Republic of Germany has agreements with some states on the recognition of driving licenses, which simplify the conversion into a German driving license.

Appendix 11 of the Driving License Ordinance (FeV) contains a list of countries whose driving licenses entitle you to drive a motor vehicle for a maximum of six months after entering Germany. If you want to continue to drive motor vehicles in Germany afterwards, you must have your driver's license converted into a German one. As a citizen of a listed state, however, you often do not have to take a new exam, just submit an application. Corresponding links can be found under "Forms, Services and Links".

Danger
Provisional driving licenses or learner's driving licenses do not entitle you to drive a vehicle in Germany and therefore cannot be converted into a German driving license. You need a full driver's license from the list state to rewrite.

Attention: This service is only available in the Hamburg-Mitte and Hamburg-Nord locations!

Please bring the following documents with you to the appointment:

a valid identity card or an electronic residence permit (eAT) or passport with current registration confirmation
the valid foreign driving licence in its original form (if necessary with an official translation)
a biometric passport photo 35 x 45 millimeters - not older than 1 year
If necessary, a translation and/or classification of the driver's license by an officially sworn interpreter (the necessity of which can only be decided after a consultation)
the appointment confirmation
Depending on the issuing country, further documents may be required.

For driving licenses of classes C and D you also need:

an ophthalmological report that is not older than two years
a medical certificate not older than one year
a medical certificate not older than one year (only class D)
A certificate of good conduct (only class D), which must be applied for at the relevant residents' registration office and is not older than three months.
If applicable, proof of professional driver qualification for commercial goods and/or passenger transport.

Attention: You only need the medical reports if you want to extend your driver's license at the same time as the conversion.

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Preconditions

In order to have the driver's license rewritten by the Landesbetrieb Verkehr (LBV), the applicant's main place of residence must be in Hamburg. In addition, the foreign driving license must be valid at the time the application is submitted.

The transfer is also only possible if the foreign driver's license was obtained at a time when the applicant had had a normal residence for at least 185 days (six months) in the issuing country. This means that you must have lived abroad for at least six months in order to be able to have the driving license you acquired there converted into a German one. For example, if the driver's license was obtained during a four-week vacation, it cannot be converted into a German driver's license.

Information is also available in other languages on the BMDV website (see link below).

Hints

In Hamburg, only the LBV-Mitte and LBV-Nord driver's license offices are responsible for converting driver's licenses. The application must be submitted in person, and you will need an appointment.
Application by proxy is not possible.

The conversion of a foreign driving license costs between EUR 37.50 and EUR 74.40. This is based on the fee schedule for measures in road traffic (GebOSt). The exact costs depend on the driving license class and can only be determined on site based on the complete documents.

Procedure

You complete the preparation at a driving school and, if necessary, take the theoretical and practical driving test.
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

You must exchange your foreign driving licence for a German driving licence no later than 6 months (185 days) after entering Germany.

Processing time

The transfer takes about four to six weeks from the application.