Converting a driver's license to a German one

@Jules

Yes, Actually I did it a week after I got my US Lic. Came to DE Gave
them the copy/2nd one. No Probs..

Well they gave us the option to have it mailed and it never arrived. I was thinking of going there ato see if they have it.

Can anyone put their two cents into this situation:

I'm an American, been living in Munich for 8 years. I've been registered the whole time.
I had a New York drivers license that expired 3 years ago and I never renewed it. I was in Florida in January and got a Florida drivers license, brand new. Florida has a semi-deal with Germany in that I wouldn't have to take the driving part of the test, just the written, as stated here:

(From US Consulate website) Partial reciprocity agreements (exemption from the road test) have been approved for: CONNECTICUT, FLORIDA, IDAHO, MISSISSIPPI, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NORTH CAROLINA, OREGON, TENNESSEE and the DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
License holders from these states should also approach their local Stadtverwaltung (Führerscheinstelle) to submit an application for a German license and to be registered for the written test. The test can be taken in English, costs approximately EUR 40, and includes a separate test of German license-related vocabulary.

But this is what confuses me- this little paragraph I found at the end of the same document on the Consulate website:

If a German license is not acquired within three years after establishing residency in Germany, the U.S. license holder must take the same number of behind-the-wheel and theory lessons as a first time applicant in order to obtain a German license.

Does this mean that I still DO have to take both parts of the test? Even if my license was issued in January and I "technically" could claim I've never had a license before?

If you have been here over 3 years you have to do the license from scratch. When I went last summer, the License office is linked to the KVR, and they know EXACTLY when you first registered here. But I would go down and talk to them about what exactly you need, just the driving part or the written also.

How much does the driving part cost?

Has anyone done the driving part here? How tough is it? Got to brush up on that parallel parking.

i actually know an indian girl who is getting her license for the first time. so far she`s forked out EUR 2000 for her license. she has also failed the driving test twice, each time to register has costed her upwards of EUR 250 (she said EUR 500, but I think I might of misheard). if she fails a third time she has to do everything all over again. she passed theoretical with flying colors, however.

[QUOTE]How much does the driving part cost?

Has anyone done the driving part here? How tough is it? Got to brush up on that parallel parking. [QUOTE]

Well, I was forced to do BOTH the theoretical and practical driving tests here in Germany. My state is one of the ones that does NOT have a bilateral agreement with Germany (they probably ´ve never even heard of Germany). However, I didn´t have to do all of the drivers lessons.

I ended up spending about 500€ alltogether. It could not really have been done cheaper. Here´s what I did:

1.Borrow the "Bögen" from a friend who had taken the test a year previously. These Bögen are basically study sheets. There´s something like 2000 questions to practice on. The final theory exam is guaranteed to have its questions come from this set.

2.Took 3 hours of driving "lessons" from a driving school. I chose to do these (at something like 25€ or 50€ per hour!) cause it was important to get the inside info on what route would be tested, what the inspector would look for etc. It was admittedly a pain in the ***, I mean I´d driven for 15 years previously trans US and trans Europe. Just had to put up with the teacher.

I must say though, I am sort of proud of my license. It´s the first "official" European document I own, and it´s good for LIFE! And, much as I hate to admit it, the whole process did make me a little more confident driving in Europe. By that, I mean that no one can pull the wool over my eyes now. I´ve done the procedure, and I know what´s allowable on the roads here and what isn´t.

Finally, I don´t know where people are coming up with this 3 year limit. I was told it was 6 months. In other words, if you´re registered in Germany for over 6 months, you have to do the whole shebang (unless you´re blessed to come from a state with some kind of agreement.) Barring that, you could always go to another country and do the process, combined with a vacation. I.E. Gibraltar, Czech Republic (heard that they offer targeted courses for just this kind of scenario), or Holland (where I´ve heard that it´s easier than here.) I mean, the process is not "hard" here, just expensive IMO. Good luck.

What I was told by the KFZ is that after being registered in Germany for 6 months...my license from Canada expired and it was no longer valid for driving in Germany. However, it was not a problem as I was not driving anyway. If you are driving after 3 months...and still using your US or Canadian license (not sure about other countries) you're doing it invalidly (which I know many people that do and did and are still doing)

BUT to do the swap for the German license...with the reciprocal agreements...this has to be done within 3 years of registering here...or then you have to do the whole shebang (driving test, etc.)

That was my understanding of what they told me...correct me (anyone?) if I am wrong.

The best thing is not to wait...when you know you are sticking around after 6 months...to just go down to the KFZ and exchange it if you have the full reciprocal agreement. Why not?

One thing that I was surprised with is that they only have when I registered here in Munich and that I came from another city (Erlangen), they did not know when I first registered there and had to bring my anmeldung form from Erlangen. I did this twice in Erlangen, as I moved and gave them the more recent. They took this date as the first in Germany (giving me an extra two years). So my point: if you can dereigster and reregister here in Munich, you could theoretically take the test in another town, if yxou register there (at a friends address).

Or, if you have changed jobs or contracts, do the same thing if you plan on returning to the US. i.e. vacation in the US upcoming, deregister here. Travel to the US, come back and reregister a month later. Tell them you moved back and then returned with a new position. The nice part is that you will only have a stamp from when you arrived in the US and not when you returned.

I just passed the German written driving exam today! Yippee! I already went to the Landratsamt (in Freising, the Landkreis where I live) and picked up my fancy EU card sized plastic driver's license.

They took my Oregon driver's license. They said that they are required to hold onto it for 3 years. I can get it back if I return to the U.S. before then, but then they'll take my German driver's license back. But the German one is good for life, so why would I want to give it back!? I'm just going to claim my Oregon was is lost the next time I go home and get another one.

I just studied for the test using the Fragebogen and the accompanying book. I took the test in German. Your German has to be very good though to do it in German, because the vocabulary is rather formal and a lot of the words are not the ones you use regularly. I just did an all weekend cramming session to learn the answers to the questions. You definitely need to study for the test though. I did feel like I learned a lot of good things though. For a lot of the traffic signs I wouldn't have known what they meant otherwise because they are different in the U.S. (here there are mostly symbols without words, whereas we use more words).

I'd like to get my drivers license. Im holding on to a valid MA license, which I understand from the embassy site falls under the reciprocity agreement. ...

however two questions:

1. i heard that the agreements don't apply IF your US license was issued AFTER your entry date into Germany. Can anyone confirm/refute this evil gossip?
2. is there a site to download the proper application forms, or do I have to go and fill everything out at the office.

PS: big congrats amimelli.

they want to avoid you going back to the states after having already registered in germany and getting your license from a reciprocal state (when your "real" license doesn't come from one), then just exchanging it here after you return to germany. i suppose you can always try it out, however they will validate when you registered in germany.

and the thing with 3 years is a fact, but as explained, you can legally drive with your u.s. license for 6 months only. in order to just exchange it out for a european one, you have 3 years from the date of registration in germany to do it.

@amimeli: yea! but why didn't you just do it in english? then you would learn to know what it means to be "dazzled" i didn't want to take any chances. i bought the english questionnaires and studied them too. i am also grateful for having had the oregon d.l. cause my texas one would have brought me nada!

OK, so it seems I'll have to do the whole thing. Now I'm wondering, since I've been here so long, if I am required to just take the exams or do I HAVE to take lessons too?

Lupo, I can understand what you mean about being proud of your license and feeling more confident on the roads here. I think the same thing. I know the whole issue is a real pain but I will feel much more confident knowing that I understand all the signs and everything.

So, those of you who have taken the road test, could you tell the rest of us what to expect (particularly if you took it in Munich). Although I've been driving for 13 years now, I still feel intimidated- probably because of the German super-driver stereotype. How difficult was it, what exactly did you have to do, and how long did it take?

As far as I know, when getting your licence for the first time here in Germany there is a comulsory number of lessons you have to take. You aren't allowed to practise in your own car either... but maybe there's an exception to this providing you have a licence already... don't know. What a helpful post this was

@jml
German forms online?! Where do you think we are? The U.S.? No, I really doubt they are online. But then again, I didn't bother checking.
It's good though to go to the office to get the forms, because they will also give you the instructions on what else you have to do which includes:

1) take a first aid course (pay about 25 Euros)
2) get a vision test (was done by the people that I took the first aid course from, pay about 5 Euros)
3) apply to get your background checked (called Führungszeugnis, pay about a 15 Euro fee)
4) prove how long you lived in Germany (free from foreigners office/Ausländeramt)
5) prove where you live (pay a fee of about 5 Euros at registration of address office/Einwohnermeldeamt)
6) Bring a passport picture
7) Get an official translation of your American driver's license (depending on how nice they are they may or may not require this. I had to do it. Costed about 20 Euros from ADAC, the German automobile association)
8) Pay application fee when you turn in application (about 38 Euros I think)

Then on top of all this is the fee for taking the written test and the cost of the practice tests and book (if you want it)...

@elfenstar
The forms were cheaper in German (about half as much as far as I can remember) and I think it was cheaper to take the test in German too. Plus my German is pretty darn good.

hey thanks for the info...though I was pleasantly surprised to find the change of residency form online...cant blame a body for hoping. Anyway, I'll strike it off the list...that bumps the super powers, gold house and rocket car back up the list...

I didn't read thru the whole thread but I'm wondering if anyone has gotten busted and if so, how, and what did the authorities do? Can they take away your license and forbid you to drive or just fine you and strongly request that you get your German license ASAP?

I've been here a year, still driving on my US license, and don't want to make time to get the German one. Crap, I'm still trying to improve my German, much less study for their damn driving tests...grrrrr.

Also, I still haven't traded out my Munich plates since I've moved...woohoo!

wow, yours is DEFINATELY expired, they'll probably just lob off your head.

I doubt it's just a minor thing since it's been over a year and you're STILL being lazy ;-p

Then when you do apply, you won't be able to drive for a few weeks, that should be fun for ya

Our plates say MN ...we want to keep'em cause it's the same as Minnesota

@kit I got busted after being here for 3 years, handing in my old licence and starting the procedure for applying for a german one, for driving with no license, and it costed around 450 Euros, no conviction, and I wasnt allowed to attend driving school or complete my driving tests for about the 1 month it took to sort all the paperwork out etc...

No big dramas at all, all my german colleagues were acting like I had killed something and were about to get hanged, but I was like sweet, a mere 450 euros for 2 and a half years of continual unlicensed driving, sweet! Back home it would have been a court appearance and a conviction for sure...

Just hoping someone can give me a simple clear answer to this - not enough coffee this morning and all that!

Anyway I am an Australian (on a British Passport) and have an Aussie license. From what I have read so far it seemed it was a simple case of exchanging this for a British one. However, I called the British consulate and they said no chance.

So is it possible to exchange an Aussie license for a German one (if so how??) or do I have to do the tests and pay the $$$$... sorry €€€€€

read this post from an Aussie in DE. i won't blame you for not reading the 11th post on the first page of this thread.

what is needed to get a german license..how much will it approx.cost?

Do you need to take a minimum of classes ?

thanks

it's an NJ license btw.

Topics merged by admin

The embassy's website has a nice list of what you will need from the different states as well as how long it is good for here.

So...here's the list:

http://formulare-lkr-muc.bayern.de/FORM/1/...stenstaaten.pdf

Sorry to say, NJ is not on the list of countries/US states that don't have to take any of the tests.

This means that you need to:

1) Have a copy of your first Anmeldebestätigung in Germany (If it has been more than 3 years, you are out of luck)

2) Get your Ami license translated at your local branch of the ADAC (German version of the AAA)

3) Take a day-long (some evening courses are sometimes available) Lebensrettendemassnahmen class (sort of like a first-aid course for drivers

4) Bring all of this plus cash or your EC card and a passport photo (can get it out of the booths that you find in train stations) to the Führerscheinstelle, plus the name and address of a driving school that you want to use, and apply for the Umschreibung of your Ami license.

5) Wait a few months. In this time you can study for the written test. If you need books I still have them. You can buy them from me for cheap if you can read German - they usually cost €60-70.

6) The driving school will inform you when you can take the tests - normally you will need to do a few actual driving lessons to get used to it so that you can pass the driving test - but you don't have to do the whole program of driving lessons and theory lessons. You can teach yourself - that's the "benefit" of already having a license.

7) Pass... or fail, and take it again!

Does anyone know how easy it is for an Aussie to get a US or Canadian Drivers License ... this could be the way around it all

good luck!

Thanks guys!


I don't get why I didn't find this thread when I did a search...am I missing something?

the germans who went to the u.s. as exchange students simply had to sign up for and take the theoretical and driving tests. i know my bf flipped through the book in an hour, passed, took the driving test, passed, and was $10 poorer.

but (1) the aussie must transport themselves to the u.s., (2), he or she must go to a state with a 100% reciprical agreement (more or likely have a temporary residence or address of some sort), (3), then he or she has to fly to germany and trade his/her license in for a d-land one. mighty expensive for a license, ya?

i also said this about an aussie getting a d-land license:aussie which in all fairness points back to an old thread about this too.

For Australians in the UK: (it is a designated country)

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers/drvingb.htm


Hmmmm. So methinks if I was Australian I would register to live with one of my mates in Earls Court and get a UK licence.

In theory you can apply any time WITHIN the 12 months, so might be that you apply 2 days after arriving in the UK 'cos you are expecting to stay for ever, then suddenly decide to change your mind and go and live in Germany.

So I would rather have a few days holiday in the UK (and fill in the forms), rather than the drama of getting a German licence from scratch.

Only catch is if you need to somehow prove "residency" etc.

p.s. Also applies to Canadians but not USA!!!

@ Johnny English

Thanks for the tip -- have friends who are aiming to get to London so might put the word on them

Cheers

I skimmed through here and didnt see an answer to this - so if it is already here - sorry

I have been official here since last Oct. If I get a license from one of the states (when go home for xmas) that qualifies for "reciprocal licenses" can I still do a one for one exchange even though I am past the 6 month period???

Also, I have heard of some sort of European Driving license (not the int'l one) - cant seem to find any info on this though. Anyone else heard of it??

thanks

I think you can ... the limit is 3 years AFAIK, before you have to go through the whole licensing procedure again. The "6 month limit" is about how long you can continue driving on your existing license, nothing to do with being allowed to swap it over.

Not quite the appropriate forum, but in this vein...I have the Englisch Pruefbogen theoretical driving test practice questions for sale since I no longer need it.

I think I paid 60 Euro a few months ago so will sell for...40? Near new and in fine condition...send me a PM if interested.

Dumb ass me waited until the last minute to exchange my US license for a german one. Now the deadline has LONG since passed. Now I have to go to driving school and take a written and a road test. Which is total bullshit. I have been driving since I was 16. I don't know if it's really worth it at this point to go through all that trouble (and expense) as it now looks like I might be leaving Germany sometime next year.

Why is it total bullshit. You have either not been driving at all for at least the last 2 1/2 years or doing so illegally. I can understand the German government wanting you to go through the whole test process.

sorry for bring this topic up again, but I have a question. I am a non-EU citzen, and I changed my driving license in Denmark some months ago (I was living there for the last year, and the police there recommended to do so after 6 months).

Now I moved to Munich last month. Is my Danish driver license acceptable in German?

Is it a "European" drivers' licence? (I would think so, since Denmark is part of the EU) If yes, then it is valid all over the EU.

Driving here in Germany is not any different than driving in Alabama. Otherwise I doubt that there would be the reciprocal agreement. Driving a car isn't rocket science.

well, it has the EU flag with a DK inside, so I guess it is an "European" license.

Not exactly true. There are different signs and different rules of the road. For example, the driver on the right always has the right of way, unless marked otherwise.

This website explains that your EU licence (no matter which EU country it was issued in) works fine in Germany, no matter if you are an EU citizen or not:

http://www.verkehrsportal.de/fuehrerschein...ehrerschein.php

To add my .02 that no one cares about: What gets me is that certain US states have agreements with Germany that allow a simple swap of their licenses. I'd argue that driving conditions and laws are fairly seamless across state boundaries in the US.

However, just because you happen to come from Colorado or Arizona or any other full agreement state sure as hell doesn't mean you automatically know some of the crazy rules here, specifically the sometimes confusing right of way rule (which I know know!)

Conversely, if you've been driving for more than five years and don't come from a full agreement state or country it's assinine to be forced into taking the full theoretical and driving tests. I can almost guarantee that knowing the maximum allowable truck tonnage on a bridge will ever do me any good.

Fortunately, I fell into a nice loophole and can drive legally here now but thinking about my previous situation just steams my grits!

That's correct, rules don't change much across state lines, but the number of German Expats do. For example, I come from Michigan, where we have a ton of Germans living due to DaimlerChrysler and the hundreds of other German companies there.

I think these special agreements between particular states reflects reciprocicty, so the German Expats don't have to jump through hoops to get licenses.

I like this arrangement, because I can swap my Michigan license for a German one pretty easily.

We drove on our Ontario DL for about 2 years untill they signed a recipicol agreement, at which time we traded it in. Chris had to give hers up, but they allowed me to keep mine as I had a straight truck license. We also didn't need an international DL or bothered having it translated.

A few months ago I lost my German one and had to do the paper work for a new one, cost me 75€ plus a 6 week wait, reason was we had moved and they had to verify I had one. While driving on my old long since expired Ontario DL I needed to rent a car and got caught talking on th phone. that one cost me 65€ but no points as I happened to have a rental car that day so they assume I was a tourist.

When I learned that my state had NO reciprocal agreement with DE, I flew home I drove to the school where I studied 15 years ago. I asked to change my license (had a friend's address there) and in an hour I had a Mass. licence (accpeted as written and road) . Flew back to TT and went to the amt and since then all has been coooool. Saved a pretty penny and a long hassel.

Hello everyone,

I tried reading most of the posts on this but it is really time consuming so if I repeat something, I apologize. I too have had quite an ordeal regarding the German license issue. So here's what I found out...please any one correct me if I am wrong:

It seems to me that the whole thing differs slightly from German state to state. All I know is that there is the paragraph in the Fahrerlaubnis Verordnung (FeV) #31 which states that if you have gone over the 3 year period to exchange your US license for a German one, you are still able to make the exchange but only under the conditions that 1. you take the theoretical exam and 2. you take the practical exam. You DO NOT, however, have to take all the theoretical lessons nor do you have to do the required driving lessons for new license takers which, in the end, saves you a bit of money.

The thing about de-registering yourself and then reregistering, I would not suggest. This is because if you have been here long enough to get an Arbeitsberechtigung and/or a unlimited residence permit, which depends on your Anmeldeformulare (i.e. how long you have been registered), you may lose these. At least the Führerscheinstelle checked back with the Meldestelle and caught me in a lie which almost cost me my permits!!

Don't know but I may try the thing with my registration in MUCH as it has only been a year.

Hope this helps and a very Merry Christmas to everyone...if you're not able to spend it with your families I hope, nevertheless, that you're among friends and enjoying,
Martha

has anyone got some new infos concerngn changing a uk driving licence to german? i have been here for the last 7 years - do i really need to take the exams in Germany??
thanx

If you have a valid UK license then you can just exchange it for a German one.

i thought that after 3 years of being registered in germany, then you have to take the driving tests before you can change it ?!? my 'uk address' is now different to the one on my license so i don't know how that effects it.

Nope. I was here for 6 years with my Irish license before I decided to change it.