Transferring a driving license from the European Economic Area or the European Union
Source: BUS Rheinland-PfalzIf you have a driving license from a country of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA) and have moved to Germany, you must have your driving license transferred in the following cases:
- the validity of your driver's license ends,
- the validity of individual driving license categories ends.
The German period of validity applies to driving license categories that are limited in Germany (categories C and D as well as corresponding subcategories and trailer categories). This also applies if no or longer periods are entered in the foreign driving license.
EU/EEA driver's license for non-harmonized categories:
If you wish to drive a motor vehicle in Germany, you must have your driving license transferred.
For EU/EEA driver's licenses for harmonized categories (categories AM, A1, A2, A, B, BE, C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D and DE):
You do not need a transfer.
Applications are currently accepted by post. The documents required for the application can either be sent to us in an envelope by post or placed in the official letterbox.
We kindly ask you to refrain from inquiring about the receipt and processing time of your documents.
The driving license office is your contact for
- Registration for driving school (driving license)
- Issuing an EU driving license in the event of theft
- Issuing a driver card, company card and workshop card
- International driving license
- Registration of key numbers 96, 196 and 197
- Initial issue and renewal of a driver qualification certificate
- First issue and renewal of a passenger transport license
- New issue of the driver's license (expiry of the driver's license)
- Transfer of a foreign driving license from an EU/EEA country
- Transfer of a service driver's license
- Exchange of driving license (old for new)
- Renewal of truck driver's license or bus driver's license
- Change of driving license