German Driving Licence Renewal for Expats: When and How
If you have a German driving licence, there will come a day when you have to renew it — and for expats, the rules are not the same as at home. The German driving licence renewal for expats is not a test and it is not a re-examination: for most people it is an administrative exchange of the old card for a new one. But the deadlines are strict, the documents matter, and if you hold a foreign licence that you have not yet exchanged, the renewal may be your first real deadline. This guide explains when and how to renew, who needs a new eye test, what it costs and what happens if you miss the date.
The key fact is that a German EU card licence is valid for fifteen years, and the exchange is called the Umtausch — it is not a new test, and it is not a renewal of your driving permission: it is the replacement of a card. That sounds simple, and for most people it is, but there are two deadlines that catch people out: the fifteen-year validity of the card itself, and the staggered deadline for exchanging older licences that were issued before 2013. Below you will find both, and the steps for each.
Do German licences expire?
Yes, but not in the way most expats expect. A German driving licence issued after 19 January 2013 is valid for fifteen years. After fifteen years the card stops being valid: the licence itself — your permission to drive — does not expire, but the card does, and you must exchange it for a new one. The exchange is administrative: you do not retake the theory or the practical test, and you do not normally need a new eye test for a car licence. You apply at the Führerscheinstelle, pay the fee of about 25 euros, and receive a new card valid for another fifteen years.
For lorry and bus licences (classes C and D) the rules are stricter: the licence itself is valid for five years, and the renewal requires new medical examinations — an ophthalmological examination and a general medical examination — each time. If you hold a foreign licence that is still valid, its own expiry date applies, and if it expires you need to exchange it for a German one before it runs out.
The 15-year rule: which licences need to be exchanged
All German EU card licences issued since 2013 are valid for fifteen years. When the fifteen years are up, you exchange the card. The exchange is easy: an application, a photo and the fee, and a new card is issued. You do not need a new eye test for class B, and in most cities you can apply a few weeks before the card expires.
Older licences — the paper licences issued before 1999, and the earlier card licences issued between 1999 and 2013 — have their own deadlines, set out in the staggered timetable below. The last of those deadlines is 19 January 2033, which is the date by which the oldest paper licences must have been exchanged. If you still hold a paper or an early card licence, your deadline depends on your birth year or on the year your licence was issued.
The exchange timetable by birth year and issue year
For paper licences issued before 1 January 1999, the deadline depends on your year of birth: born before 1953 — 19 January 2033; 1953 to 1958 — 19 January 2022; 1959 to 1964 — 19 January 2023; 1965 to 1970 — 19 January 2024; 1971 or later — 19 January 2025. If your birth year is 1965 to 1970, your deadline has already passed: you should exchange your licence now.
For card licences issued from 1 January 1999 to 18 January 2013, the deadline depends on the year of issue: issued 1999 to 2001 — 19 January 2026; 2002 to 2004 — 19 January 2027; 2005 to 2007 — 19 January 2028; 2008 — 19 January 2029; 2009 — 19 January 2030; 2010 — 19 January 2031; 2011 — 19 January 2032; 2012 to 18 January 2013 — 19 January 2033. If your card was issued in 1999 to 2001, your deadline is 19 January 2026 — which is why this article is timely. After the deadline, driving with the old licence can mean a fine, because the document is no longer valid, even though your driving permission is intact.
When do expats have to renew?
Expats have the same deadlines as everyone else, but their situation is often different, because many hold a foreign licence that they have not yet exchanged. If you hold a foreign licence and you are resident in Germany, the six-month rule applies: after six months you must have a German licence. That is not a renewal, it is a conversion, and it is the deadline that matters for most expats — more than the fifteen-year rule.
For expats who already hold a German licence, the fifteen-year rule applies just like for any German: the card is exchanged, usually without a new test, and the cost is about 25 euros. The only extra step is that you need to keep your address registration up to date, because the authority will ask whether your circumstances have changed.
What you need for the renewal
For the routine exchange of a German card licence, you need: your current licence, a biometric passport photo, your identity card or passport, and the application form. The fee is about 25 euros. No eye test, no first aid course and no test are needed for a standard car licence (class B). If your licence has a restriction, such as the glasses code 01, the new card will show the same restriction.
For lorry and bus licences, you also need the medical examinations: the ophthalmological examination and the general medical examination, each repeated every five years. And if you are exchanging a foreign licence rather than renewing a German one, you need the usual conversion documents: the eye test certificate, the first aid certificate, a translation where required and your foreign licence.
Do you need a new eye test for the renewal?
For a standard car licence, no: the administrative exchange of the card does not require a new eye test. Your vision does not have to be re-checked, because you are not being re-licensed. The only exception is if a medical condition has been reported to the authority, or if the authority has a reason to check your fitness to drive.
For lorry and bus licences, a new eye examination is part of the five-yearly medical check, and the certificate must be submitted with the renewal application. Our guide to the validity of the eye test certificate explains the two-year rule for the simple eye test, and why it matters for a conversion rather than for a renewal.
How to apply: step by step
Here is the process. Step one: check the expiry date on your licence and the timetable above, and note the deadline. Step two: get a biometric passport photo taken — it costs about 8 to 12 euros at a photo booth or a photographer, and it must meet the German requirements. Step three: book an appointment at the Führerscheinstelle of your place of residence; in many cities you can apply online or by post for the simple exchange.
Step four: apply in person with your licence, photo and ID, and pay the fee of about 25 euros. Step five: the new card is produced centrally and usually takes about four to six weeks, and you will be told when to collect it. In some cities you can apply online and pick up the card in person, which saves a second visit.
How much does the renewal cost?
The exchange of a German card licence costs about 25 euros, including the production of the new card. The photo costs about 8 to 12 euros. If you need a new medical examination for a lorry or bus licence, add the cost of the examination — about 50 to 150 euros for the ophthalmological examination and a similar amount for the general medical examination. There is no test fee for the administrative exchange.
That makes the renewal one of the cheapest official transactions in Germany — and one of the most often forgotten. Set a reminder a year before your card expires, so that you have time to apply without pressure. Our article on a lost or expired eye test certificate also explains what to do if a document goes missing during the process.
What happens if you miss the deadline?
If you miss the deadline and your card has expired, your driving permission — your right to drive — is not lost, but the document is no longer valid, and driving with it can mean a fine of about 10 euros in a traffic stop. That is a warning fine rather than a criminal offence: the authority’s view is that you failed to keep your document up to date, not that you were unfit to drive.
The bigger risk is practical: an expired card can cause problems with car insurance, car rental and identification. If you have missed the deadline, apply for the exchange as soon as possible. In most cases you can still exchange the licence after the deadline, and the authority will not normally refuse an application that is a few months late, although the exact practice varies by city.
Renewing a licence that was issued abroad
If your licence was issued abroad and it is approaching its expiry date, you should exchange it for a German licence before it expires. Many foreign licences cannot be renewed from abroad while you are resident in Germany, and if a foreign licence expires while you are here, you will have to take the German theory and practical tests — which is a much longer and more expensive process. The lesson is the same as with the six months: do not let a foreign licence expire while you are resident in Germany.
Renewing from abroad: what expats outside Germany should know
The German EU card licence is valid for 15 years, and the renewal is deliberately simple: a new photo, a signature and a fee. You renew at the driving licence office (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde) of the place where you live — or the place where you last lived in Germany, if you have moved abroad. No eye test, no first aid course and no driving test are needed for a renewal of the card.
If you live abroad, the renewal is more complicated, because the office needs to see you in person and check your identity. Some offices allow a representative with a written power of attorney (Vollmacht) to hand in the application, but you will still need a new biometric photo and, in some cases, your passport. The best step is to call the office that issued your licence before you travel, and ask what they need — each office has its own practice, and the answer is different from city to city.
Remember that the licence itself does not expire, only the card does. The entitlement to drive — your class B, for example — remains valid after the card’s 15 years have passed. But you must not drive on an expired card: the card is your proof of the licence, and driving with an expired card is an offence, even though the entitlement is still there. Renew the card before it expires, and do not let the expiry date catch you by surprise.
If you deregister from Germany (Abmeldung) when you leave, the renewal goes through the office of your last German address. Keep a note of that address and of the office that issued your licence, because you will need both when you apply from abroad. And if you have moved to another EU country, you can also exchange your German licence for a licence of that country — the exchange is free, and it means you will never have to renew in Germany again.
A practical tip: set a reminder for your renewal date in your calendar, two months before the card expires. You can apply for the renewal before the expiry date in most offices, and the processing takes two to four weeks. If you wait until after the expiry date, you cannot drive until the new card arrives.
Frequently asked questions
When do I have to renew my German driving licence?
A German EU card licence is valid for fifteen years, and then the card must be exchanged. Older paper and card licences have staggered deadlines, the last of which is 19 January 2033. Lorry and bus licences are valid for five years and need new medical examinations.
Do I need an eye test to renew my licence?
No, for a standard car licence the administrative exchange does not need a new eye test. For a lorry or bus licence, a new ophthalmological examination is required as part of the five-yearly medical check.
How much does it cost to renew a German licence?
About 25 euros for the exchange, plus about 8 to 12 euros for a biometric photo. Medical examinations for lorry and bus licences cost extra.
What happens if I miss the renewal deadline?
Your driving permission remains, but the card is no longer valid and driving with it can mean a fine of about 10 euros. Apply for the exchange as soon as you can.
Do I have to retake the driving test when I renew?
No. The renewal of a German card licence is an administrative exchange — there is no theory or practical test. Only a conversion of a foreign licence may require a test, depending on the country or state.
Conclusion: put the date in your calendar
Renewing a German driving licence is one of the simplest official processes in Germany — a form, a photo and about 25 euros — but it only works if you know the date. Put the expiry date of your card and the deadline from the exchange timetable in your calendar, apply a few weeks before it, and the new card will arrive without any drama. For expats the more urgent deadline is usually the conversion of a foreign licence before it expires — and for that, the rule is the same: start early, and do not let a document run out while you are resident here.