Deadlines for exchanging driving licences: Until when is my old driving licence valid?

Many driver's licenses in Germany are still paper documents and credit card driver's licenses – and these are not forgery-proof. Therefore, these driving licenses must be exchanged gradually until 2033. Which year of birth must exchange the driver's license and when? You can find out everything about the deadlines and other details about the driver's license exchange here!

The exchange of old paper driver's licenses depends on the year of birth of the driver's license holder, as the date of issue may not be listed on the document. For paper driving licences issued before 31 December 1998, the year of birth of the licence holder is decisive. The year of issue, on the other hand, is taken into account for the exchange of driving licences in credit card format with a date of issue between 1 January 1999 and 18 January 2013.

Do you have the deadlines in mind or are you not affected by the driver's license exchange - but want to buy a new car? Then we have put together our best new car offers for you here:

In 2025, there will be some changes for motorists and these include, among other things, the exchange of old driving licences. If you are interested in a driver's license at 17 and a fresh new car for young people, then we also have all the information for you. You can also find out what the driver's license for 15/16-year-olds is all about.

Why do old driving licences have to be exchanged?

According to EU Directive 2006/126/EC, the old paper or credit card driving licences are to be forgery-proof throughout the EU in the future and standardised. From 2033, only forgery-proof driving licenses will be in circulation. In order to avoid misuse, all driving licences are also to be recorded in a database.

A second point is that the holders of old driving licenses have had their driving license for decades and the passport photo on the document is often no longer up-to-date. After all, no one looks like they did at 18 at 50.

 

Exchange your old driver's license - this is how it works

In the following paragraphs, you will learn everything you need to know about the mandatory exchange of driving licence documents.

When do you have to exchange the old driver's license?

Below we have listed all the deadlines for exchanging your driver's license for you:

All documents issued after this date are based on your year of birth.

How long is the new driver's license valid?

Once the exchange has been completed, car driving licences are no longer valid indefinitely. All documents issued from 19 January 2013 onwards – including your new EU driving licence – will then only be valid for 15 years. After that, you have to have it renewed, but of course the driving test does not have to be repeated. A health check is also not necessary for the renewal of the driver's license. When reissued, only a current photo of you is required.

By the way: If you choose a light vehicle as an e-car for seniors, you usually don't need a driver's license at all.

 

How much does it cost to exchange a driver's license?

Exchanging your old driver's license for a new, forgery-proof copy costs about 25 euros. Since you also need a biometric passport photo, the costs for this are also added.

Deadline missed: What happens then?

Anyone who misses the exchange deadline does not commit a crime. A maximum fine of 10 euros is due and you are asked to take care of the exchange of your driver's license as soon as possible.

If you show your old driver's license during a traffic check, even though you should have exchanged it, you now have six months from the time of the check to exchange it.

You only have to expect a fine if there is still no exchange after six months. And of course, if you are guilty of something, your driver's license can be lost quickly. If you drive completely without a (valid) driver's license, there can be more serious consequences.

If you had an international driver's license, it is usually only valid for three years, and then you have to apply for a new one.

 

What do you need to exchange a driver's license?

To exchange your old driver's license for a new one, you'll need your ID card or passport, a biometric passport photo, and your current driver's license. If you still have a pink or gray driver's license and it was not issued at your current place of residence, you will need an index card copy from the authority that issued the driver's license at the time for the exchange.

You can apply for this transcript by phone, post or online – it's usually free of charge for you. This proof is then sent directly to the driver's license office, which carries out the exchange. This procedure applies to the exchange of car and motorcycle driving licences. A second theory test, driving lessons or even an MPU are not necessary. It is only a matter of exchanging the document.

 

Apply for a driver's license exchange online

Save yourself the hassle of going to the authorities and simply exchange your driver's license digitally? That sounds like a dream, doesn't it? In fact, the exchange of the driver's license can be done online - but now the big but: Whether you can make use of this online service depends on whether your responsible driver's license office offers one. You can ask your driver's license authority whether an online application can be submitted.

Can you exchange your driver's license earlier?

If you still have an old driver's license and would like to have a new driver's license now, you can of course exchange it before the scheduled deadline. Incidentally, a change of address on the driver's license as a result of a move is not necessary - and not even possible.

 

What will happen to truck driver's licenses?

Anyone who has a truck driver's license has had to live with a time limit on their driving license for some time now. If the truck driver's license was issued before 2013, it is valid until the age of 50. After that, you need a health examination and an eye test for an extension. After the first extension, it is only valid for five years.

If you received your truck driver's license after 2013, it is generally only valid for five years. If you add up fees and examinations, the renewal of the truck driver's license costs a good 200 euros.

Unlike the car driver's license, penalties are due for driving with an expired driver's license. If you forgot to apply for the extension, that's no problem – you just can't drive a truck until the official extension. However, if the driver's license has expired for several years, you will most likely have to take a new driving test.