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Significance of German Driving License for Drivers

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Officiallegit
Significance of German Driving License for Drivers

If you are a non-EEA national who has not taken up residence in Germany, that is if you are living in Germany for less than 6 months, you may drive a car with a valid Germany Driver's license. This foreign DL cannot be a provisional or a learner license and you should be above the minimum driving age in German for that class of vehicles. In addition, an international driving permit (IDP) or a translation of the foreign DL is required if the DL is not in the German language and/or the DL doesn’t conform to the provisions of Annex 6 of the Convention on Road Traffic of 8 November 1968. Please note that the IDP or translation is not sufficient by themselves. 

 

Unfortunately, for a non-EEA national living in Germany for more than 6 months (>= 185 days a year), your foreign driving license will no more be recognized in Germany. If you want to continue driving in Germany, you will have to acquire a German driving license. In the case, if you are a U.S. citizen planning to stay less than a year, you may drive in Germany for up to 364 days with your US driver’s licenses (However, you must go to the Führerscheinstelle prior to the expiration of the six-month period after arrival and notify them that you want to continue to drive with your US license until your departure (total stay should be less than or equal to 364 days in total). If you plan to stay longer, you will need to convert your US license to a German one as well.

If you are one of the lucky ones, you can get the German license without giving a theory and/or a practical test. The following table lists the countries (and states/territories of certain countries) that are exempted from theory and/or practical tests for certain types of driving licenses (as of Sept. 2018).

 

The following documents may be needed to get Germany Driving License:

  • Passport,
  • A residency registration (Anmeldebestätigung) from the Einwohnermeldeamt,
  • The original license together with a German translation (translation can be done at ADAC for Eur 55 for non-members and Eur 45 for members),
  • A statement by the applicant that the license is still valid,
  • A recent photograph (35mm x 45 mm),
  • Documentation of a recent eye test is also often required.

Register at Official Legit Document - Find a good driving school in your neighbourhood (Fahrschule) and register there. (Before registering, make sure to ask for reviews of the driving school from family/friends or have a look online). The driving school should provide you with a letter confirming your registration.

 

Following courses, you will have to clear like - 

  • Theory lessons
  • First aid course (Erste Hilfe Kurse)
  • Eye examination (Sehtest)
  • Translation of driving license, if not in German (Übersetzung)
  • Translation to German ADAC-Mitglied
  • Nicht-Mitglied

Registering at Führerscheinstelle for license conversion 

Visit Official Legit Document with the following documents to register for license conversion:

1.   Passport

2.   Foreign driving license with translation

3.   Photocopy of the foreign DL

4.   Biometric Photo

5.   First Aid course certificate

6.   Eye test results

7.   Letter confirming registration at a driving school

8.   Required Fee Amount


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