Exchanging an old driver's license for a new driver's license

If the validity of your driver's license has expired, you will need to apply for a new driver's license.

Card driving licences issued from 19.01.2013 onwards are limited to 15 years. If the validity of the driving licence has expired, a new driving licence must be applied for, unless you renounce the driving licence.

A driving licence issued before 19.01.2013 must be exchanged for a current driving licence model by the date resulting from the following information, if you do not renounce your driving licence:

Driving licences issued up to and including 31 December 1998:

Year of birth of the licence holder - date by which the licence must be exchanged

• Before 1953 - January 19, 2033
• 1953 to 1958 - January 19, 2022
• 1959 to 1964 - January 19, 2023
• 1965 to 1970 - January 19, 2024
• 1971 or later - January 19, 2025

Driving licences issued on or after 1 January 1999*:

Year of issue - the date by which the driver's license must be exchanged

• 1999 to 2001 - January 19, 2026
• 2002 to 2004 - January 19, 2027
• 2005 to 2007 - January 19, 2028
• 2008 - January 19, 2029
• 2009 - January 19, 2030
• 2010 - January 19, 2031
• 2011 - January 19, 2032
• 2012 to 18 January 2013 - 19 January 2033

(*Driving licence holders whose year of birth is before 1953 must exchange their licence by 19 January 2033, regardless of the year of issue of the driving licence)

However, the time limit only applies to the driving licence document, not to the underlying driving licence. A medical examination or other checks are not associated with the exchange of documents.

The rights documented in the driver's license remain valid even if the document is exchanged. The driving licence categories that are allocated in detail when exchanging driving licences are based on Annex 3 of the Driving Licence Ordinance (FeV).

The responsibility lies with the driving licence authority.

• official proof of place and day of birth (e.g. identity card or passport)
• If applicable, current registration certificate
• current photograph according to the PassV (size 45 x 35 mm, portrait format, frontal shot) Information and examples can be found in the photo sample board (Bundesdruckerei)
• Previous driver's license

• Forms available: Yes
• Written form required: Yes
• Informal application possible: No
• Personal appearance required: Yes
• Online services available: Yes

• Objection (For more information on how to lodge an objection, please refer to the notification of your application)
• Appeal before the Administrative Court

Contact the driving licence authority responsible for you (usually the driving licence authority of the place where you have your main residence.

• Date of birth before 1953 – exchange until 19 January 2033
• Date of birth 1953 to 1958 – exchange until 19 January 2022
• Date of birth 1959 to 1964 – exchange until January 19, 2023
• Date of birth 1965 to 1970 – exchange until 19 January 2024
• Date of birth 1971 or later – exchange until 19 January 2025

Issue of driving licence 1999 to 2001 – exchange until 19 January 2026

• Exhibition 2002 to 2004 – exchange until 19 January 2027
• Exhibition 2005 to 2007 – exchange until 19 January 2028
• Exhibition 2008 – exchange until 19 January 2029
• Exhibition 2009 – exchange until 19 January 2030
• Exhibition 2010 – Exchange until 19 January 2031
• Exhibition 2011 – Exchange until 19 January 2032
• Exhibition 2012 until 18 January 2013 – exchange until 19 January 2033

• depending on the workload of the relevant driving licence authority

The fee is based on the Fee Schedule for Road Traffic Measures (GebOSt).