If you move to Germany with a driving licence from outside the EU, you may drive with it for six months from the date you register your residence. After that, driving on it is an offence – driving without a valid licence is a criminal matter, not just a fine. On request the authority can extend the period by up to six more months if you can show you will not stay longer than 12 months in total.
How hard the exchange is depends entirely on the issuing country. For some it is paperwork; for most it means a theory test and a practical test – but without the mandatory training that makes a German licence so expensive.
Three groups of countries
- EU and EEA: your licence remains valid. Exchange is voluntary.
- Full exemption under Annex 11 FeV – for example Switzerland, Japan, South Korea, Israel, Singapore, Taiwan and many US states, Canadian provinces and Australian states: exchange without any test.
- Partial exemption – some US states: either the theory or the practical test is required.
- All other countries – including India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Turkey and most of Africa, South and South-East Asia and Latin America: theory and practical test, but no compulsory lessons.
The process step by step
- 1Apply at the driving licence office (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde / Führerscheinstelle) of your town – ideally well before the six months run out.
- 2Bring your licence, a certified translation if required, passport, registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) and a biometric photo. Your authority may ask for an eye test and first-aid certificate – check its list.
- 3If tests are required: register with a driving school. The school books your tests and provides the test car.
- 4Study for the theory test – it is available in English and eleven other foreign languages.
- 5Take a few lessons to learn local test routes and what the examiner expects, then pass both tests and collect your German licence.
What usually goes wrong
- Right of way. Right-before-left, priority roads, roundabouts and trams work differently from many countries, and habits beat knowledge under pressure.
- Shoulder checks. The examiner expects to see them at every turn and lane change.
- Speed. 55 in a 50 zone is a test fault.
- The deadline. Apply late and you may not drive at all until you pass – not even to practise.
Costs
With both tests passed first time, an exchange typically costs a few hundred euros up to around €900, depending on the city, the school and how many lessons you take. A full German licence from scratch usually costs several times that.
Train German right-of-way before your test
- 1
Learn the system
Police, lights, signs, then right-before-left.
- 2
Practise in 3D
Decide who goes first at realistic German junctions.
- 3
Repeat your mistakes
The app brings back the scenarios you got wrong.
Free to download on iPhone & iPad
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
When does the six-month period start?
On the date you register your residence in Germany (Anmeldung), not on your arrival date.
Do I need driving lessons to exchange my licence?
No minimum number is required. In practice a few lessons help you prepare for the practical test.
Can I take the theory test in English?
Yes. English is one of the permitted test languages.
What happens if I drive after six months?
Driving without a valid licence is a criminal offence in Germany. Apply for the exchange in time.
Is there an app to learn German right-of-way rules in English?
Yes. Fahrschule 3D: Vorfahrt üben for iPhone trains German junctions in 3D and is available in English: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6794609450