Driving license exchange: Don't miss the deadline until January 2025!

Driving license exchange: Don't miss the deadline until January 2025!

Time is running out! Millions of drivers in Germany have to...January 19, 2025exchange their old driving licenses. This obligation to exchange mainly applies to driving licenses that were issued beforeDecember 31, 1998were issued. The EU Directive 2006/126/EC forces countries within the EU to make driving licenses uniform and forgery-proof. A staggered exchange plan has been introduced in Germany to avoid long waiting times and overcrowded authorities. According to ADAC, about43 million driving licensescan be exchanged, including approx15 millionold paper driving licenses and so on28 millionCredit card driving licenses issued between 1999 and 2013, such as suedwest24.de reported.

Alternatives and consequences of failure

Participation in the exchange is mandatory for everyone1971 or laterwere born and have a paper driving license. Anyone who misses this deadline will be fined10 eurosif he continues to use his old driver's license after the deadline. However, this is not considered a criminal offense, but it is still problematic, especially when renting vehicles abroad. Anyone who does not exchange their document in time must therefore expect massive restrictions rtl.de shows.

The exchange can usually be carried out without a health check and without additional checks. The exchange fee is approx25 euros, although costs for a biometric passport photo may also be added. There are ways to exchange your driver's license online, but requirements vary by region and county.