Have an expired driving licence reissued

Driving licences issued from 19 January 2013 are valid for 15 years. Once the validity of the driving licence has expired, you must apply for a new driving licence unless you renounce your driving licence. A driving licence issued before 19 January 2013 must be exchanged for a current driving licence model by the date shown in the following tables, unless you 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 - 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

Driving licences issued from 1 January 1999*:

Year of issue - date by which the driving licence must be exchanged

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

(*Driving licence holders whose year of birth is before 1953 must exchange their driving 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 the underlying driving licence. A medical examination or other checks are not associated with the document exchange.

The rights documented in the driving licence remain valid even if the document is exchanged. Which driving licence categories are assigned in detail when a driving licence is exchanged is determined by Annex 3 of the Driving Licence Ordinance (FeV).

Related forms and processes

Prerequisite

You have an old driving licence.

Responsible department

the driving licence office of your place of residence

Is the driving licence office,

  • if you live in an urban district: the city administration
  • if you live in a rural district: the district administration.

Procedure

The application must be submitted in writing to the driving licence office in your place of residence or, if offered by the competent authority, as an online application. If you apply in writing, you can obtain the application form from the driving licence office. You can also submit the written application including the required evidence and documents there.

For the online application, please use the link on this page. You can upload the required evidence and documents as file attachments as part of the online application.

Deadlines

The exchange of old driving licences is staggered.

Driving licences issued before 31 December 1998 are exchanged in stages according to the year of birth of the licence holder. The following deadlines apply:

  • Persons born before 1953 must exchange their driving licence by 19 January 2033.
  • Persons born between 1953 and 1958 must exchange their driving licence by 19 July 2022.
  • Persons born between 1959 and 1964 must exchange their driving licence by 19 January 2023.
  • Persons born between 1965 and 1970 must exchange their driving licence by 19 January 2024.
  • Persons born in 1971 or later must exchange their driving licence by 19 January 2025.

The exchange of driving licences issued before 19 January 2013 is based on the respective date of issue of the driving licence. The date of issue is entered on the front of the driving licence in field 4a. The following deadlines apply to holders of a card driving licence issued before 19 January 2013:

  • Driving licences issued between 1999 and 2001 must be exchanged by 19 January 2026.
  • Driving licences issued between 2002 and 2004 must be exchanged by 19 January 2027.
  • Driving licences issued between 2005 and 2007 must be exchanged by 19 January 2028.
  • Driving licences issued in 2008 must be exchanged by 19 January 2029.
  • Driving licences issued in 2009 must be exchanged by 19 January 2030.
  • Driving licences issued in 2010 must be exchanged by 19 January 2031.
  • Driving licences issued in 2011 must be exchanged by 19 January 2032.
  • Driving licences issued between 1 January 2012 and 18 January 2013 must be exchanged by 19 January 2033.

Regardless of the year of issue of the driving licence, persons born before 1953 must not exchange their driving licence until 19 January 2033.

 

Required documents

  • official proof of place and date of birth (e.g. identity card or passport)
  • current registration certificate, if applicable
  • current photograph (size 45 mm x 35 mm, portrait format, frontal view) Information and examples can be found in the Bundesdruckerei's sample photo table
  • Driving licence

Costs

The fee is based on the scale of fees for road traffic measures (GebOSt).

Miscellaneous

none

Appeal

Contradiction

Legal basis

Fahrerlaubnisverordnung (FeV)

  • § 24a Gültigkeit von Führerscheinen
  • § 25 Ausfertigung des Führerscheins
  • Anlage 3 Umstellung von Fahrerlaubnissen alten Rechts und Umtausch von Führerscheinen nach bisherigen Mustern
  • Anlage 8e Umtausch vor dem 19. Januar 2013 ausgestellter Führerscheine

Gebührenordnung für Maßnahmen im Straßenverkehr (GebOSt)

Release note

machine generated, based on the German release by: Verkehrsministerium Baden-Württemberg, 15.08.2024