Driver's license conversion, U.S. to German

Has anyone converted a U.S. license into a German license? I just registered to convert my license, and found out that I must give up my U.S. Pennsylvania license in order to receive the German one. Does anyone know if there is a way to bypass this requirement?

Many thanks for any information!
Sarah

There's info on driver's license conversion here: Drivers license information for U.S. citizens

www.amcham.de has a good deal of other useful information as well.

I have a Pennsylvania drivers license, but i acquired it just recently (just after I moved to Germany and registered as a resident). Prior to that I had a Maryland license. You can swap PA licenses but not MD licenses, so I figured I'd swap my MD license for a PA license last time I was home. I've had it translated and I was about to go to the local DMV here when a friend told me that they require the issue date on the license to be at least a year prior to your moving to Germany. Does anyone know if this is true? If so, is there anyway to get around it? (like providing some evidence that i've been a licensed driver for the last 20 yrs!)

I got my IL license about 2 weeks before I moved here. I had NO problems at all. very simple...easy...fairly cheap...no hassles at all.

Just in case they do throw up a problem with the issue date perhaps the DMV would accept a sworn statement to that effect - if you come up with nothing better ask 'em. Then you'll have to swear an Eidestaatlicheversicherung (forgive my spelling - I hated doing these things so I never learnt how to spell them properly) before a Notar (or anybody else authorised to swear affidavits). No experience of this myself though, and it does sound as if you'll pull it off without a problem anyway.

PA is good but VA is best: it's the only state's motorcycle endorsement that the Germans will accept. Also, if you can, go to the DMV/BMV/MVA and get them to write a note on letterhead stating that the class D automobile you have includes automobiles with (articulated) trailers up to (usually 12,500 lbs) -- that's a separate license class. The Germans may or may not accept it but it's worth a shot.

woof.

Hi

In 1999, I had to do the entire driving school procedure and it cost lots. Look into any option possible. Then, California was not recognized. Good luck...

I had an Ohio DL (less than a year old) and prior to that held an Illinois DL for 5 yrs. OH and IL both happen to be states that have a sort of reciprocity agreement with Germany for drivers license conversions. I was not asked to surrender my Ohio licenses in order to get the German drivers license.

The way I udnerstand it, as long as you are from one of the approved states, and
1) You begin the process of conversion within 6 months of your arrival
2) Your US DL is valid at the time of application
3) You come armed with a Drivers Record/Abstract (different states call it by different names) which helps establish that you have been driving for at least 5 years in the US

getting a German DL based on US DL is a simple process.

The abstracts or driving records are easily available at DMV offices in all US cities; some even have the forms available on the internet.

KVR on Poccistr. should be worth a visit if you want to confirm whether PA licenses need to be surrendered. But if your German is a bit iffy like mine is, then it is probably better to do some homework here and take all necessary docs with you before you make the trip there: American Driver's License

still isn't.

Do those "special" states require a local address? Can I just fly to a state like Arizona and get one? That seems kind of weird, but if it can be done, then awesome!

You have to provide a translation of the license including the date it was issued. If you fly to AZ and get one, they will probably notice that it was just issued.

@mvs
Most states require some form of local address.. But most people usually
either give their Hotel's address or the address of a local friend. I know
a person who drove from CA to AZ to get a License changed.. Left in the morning, got license in the afternoon and drove back to CA...

If you want to keep your old state license, then go to the DMV and get a replacement one, telling them you lost your old one. The price is usually between 2-20 USD...

@anwalt
If the person is new to germany (Hasn't registered) then it doesn't matter how long/short they had the license before coming to Germany. It only matters if you are ALREADY REGISTERED then try to fly back to the US and get a License, only to have in converted when you get back to germany.

OK, I know this topic has been beaten to the ground, so I would just like to have somebody who has done a "license swap" in Oregon, Colorado or Arizona please PM me so I can ask questions? Thanks!

You can't just necessarily drive across the border to get a drivers license in a "good" state. I was going to get one in WV, changing from MN, since WV is on the good list, MN is on the start from scratch list. To get a drivers license in WV you have to show proof of residence, (morgage payments, rent payments) and proof of work (W-4's), as well as birth certificate, blah blah blah. Make sure you check with the DMV of the state before you rush off and cross the border.

T.

@DarkKnight

I didn't mean that you had to prove it was issued before you came to Germany or registered here. They want to make sure that the license was issued in whatever state (e.g., AZ) for a minimum number of years.

I just went through this. Fortunately, I'm from a "good" state, so I just had to hand over my license, translation and proof of issue date.

@Anwalt

I did not have this problem when I changed mine over, and I didn't have to give it up to the Germans either... They also gave me the truck classes
during the conversion, so if I really wanted to I can drive big semi type truck (Lorries for the Brits)..

There ware only 2 classes they wouldn't convert. Motorcycle and Bus.

Bugger! I lived in Colorado for 4 years and never changed it from Nevada..
What the f*ck does Colorado have over Nevada to make the German list? Those bastards drive about 10 mph under the speed limit in the left lane of the highway and pass each other on the right.

There's probably a much larger population of German expats in CO than in NV. Germany has the agreements with certain states so the German expats in those states don't have to go through all the hastle of driving school, etc. in that state.

i have done a "license swap" with an oregon d.l. mind you, i had to take the german theoretical test.

@Anwalt
Correct... NV,NM and TX have German Airforce training units stationed at some of the US AFB's in these states... Funny though that TX is not on the Double exempt list... Perhaps they don't like GWB Either, and said no to TX

Yeah. I come from MI. Thank god for DaimlerChrysler and all of the other German companies there. Otherwise, I'd be screwed a bunch of the others here.

DL swap depends on the state. VA is well accepted. I got a letter from my company stating that "The US drivers' license is the standard ID, and this employee will be moving back there in several years. Therefore he should keep his US drivers' license in addition to the German one."

Aside from scowling and making me pay 50 euro (for what!?)... they did let me keep the US DL along with the super-high-tech-security German one.

(how's that for the hyphenation grammar na*i's)

In case anyone is interested, I just found out that you actually have up to 3 years from the first Einreisen (sp?) to swap out your license without having to take the tests (if you are from one on the good states). My 6 months had expired so I was dreading going to swap out b/c I was afraid I would have to go through all the stupid tests. When I arrived, the lady explained that you can drive with you US license legally for up to 6 months, after that, in order to drive legally you must have a German license which you can apply for up to 3 years from the first time you apply for residency in Germany. In the time between 6 months and receiving your German license, you simply are barred from driving legally. If they catch you, then bad news (i.e. they will likely not let you have a German license since it would be considering 'driving on a suspended license') Anyway, all this is good news for me. All is well and good and I should have my German license in a few weeks...no problems. Happy happy joy joy. Just thought I'd share in case any others were sweating the '6 month rule'.

I have another bit of info. I went in to get my Arizona license converted, and it went with only one hitch. Oddly enough, I got my Arizona license only a few months ago, so the TÜV needs to see that I have been a driver for more than two years, otherwise I'll be on probation.

I'm a little vague on how to prove that (I have been driving for 18 years), but probably a note from an insurance company or an old license if I can dig one up will do.

Some people have talked about having to take a first aid class or get an eye exam. I didn't have to.

If I had a time machine, I'd go back to college, exchange my Nevada license for a Colorado one, THEN come here and do the swaparoo. But I don't have a time machine, and I've surpassed the 3 year rule. I'm sure no one cares, but I'm pretty angry about that.

Why 3 years anyways? After 3 years you forget how to drive? The whole things is completely senseless to me

It's German regulations...it's not supposed to make sense

For US citzens whose cant do 1:1 drivers license swap...

http://www.amcham.de/index.php?id=581#22 FAQ #12

While looking for info on amcham.de I found this model letter that you can add your details to and send to your gov. They list the address and email address of the person to contact for each state that doesnt have the swap agreement yet. I have sent one to mine. If enough people did this, it might help.

Thanks.

I am off to the KVR on Mon with hopes of trying something. I had a German friend ask when he went to get his car registered to ask about the possibility of showing proof of "learning" to drive in one of the "good" states. He said they (person at the Passing drivers place) said it should work since theoretically it is based on how each state "trains" you to drive.

So, I will be armed with my driving record from Indiana (which clearly states "original license Sept 1987") and my birth cert (which clearly states born in Indiana and would show I was 16 in 1987" and just to help out, my Uni diploma (Purdue). Please keep fingers crossed for me. I will report back if it works so others can also try.

I have a question though, Does the driving record and my MN license need to be translated into German???

Thanks,
Babs

GREAT NEWS FOR SOME!!!

Important update for those who are in similar situation (have read of a few in this post already)

I hope this will make sense as is kinda hard to explain.

So, I went to the KVR only to realize I wasnt suppose to be at the KVR but the place near Westendstr for license - opps

So, finally after getting to the right place was very surprised to have such a wonderful and friendly English speaking person help me there.

My situation - Had first license in Indiana (1:1 swap state) but currently have Minnesota (must take written and road test state).

I went armed with my MN license, my birthcert (proving IN birth and age), official license record from IN (a report you can get from any state that shows your record) listing that I had my origianl license at 16 in IN and had it up to mid 90's.

I was told by an official from this office before that this may work for a 1:1 swap, but they wouldnt be sure until they saw what I had. They took a look and told me the following (and I DID have them verify this with both immediate boss and top boss there before I left).

- Normally, if you fly back and get a license from a state that is 1:1 AFTER you have registered here in Germany - you can NOT do the swap as they look at your register date.

HOWEVER!!! If you do this **AND** you had previuosly held a license from that same state before (and can prove it) then you **CAN** do the 1:1 swap as long as you bring

current license from State A (which would now be a 1:1 swap state) got after you moved to Germany
copy of old licence from State B (which was not 1:1) that you had when originally moved to Germany
copy of driving record from State A - that you had before you moved to State B and to Germany that shows you had license there before State B.
all the other doc (passport, pix, anmeldung etc...)

So, it is possible to avoid the cost and stress of a road and written test if you previously held a 1:1 swap state and can prove it.

I have another year and half before the 3 yr deadline, so I am hoping maybe MN will change and I wont have to deal with swapping MN for IN again, but if they dont, at least it is now possible.

Hope this helps others!

Babs

okay so..
i'm in the process of getting a license here. since WI is supposed to be a good ol' 1:1 swap i think i'm set, but confused on the whole process.
i went and had ADAC get a certified translation of my license. then got the stupid photo they need (not ADAC, but the Fuhrerschein people). Today I went to the Rathaus in Grunwald (where my boss person told me to go). i filled out some form and paid 5,10euro. (while giving them the certified translation, one photo, a copy of my current WI license, and them looking at my passport/visa).
then i left. so now i'm not quite sure what happens. most people go elsewhere for this stuff, but who knows. so now i have no clue if i have more to do, if they'll send it to me, or if i have to go somewhere else.
hmm... oh well i guess... but thought i'd share that so far it's been super easy (although i have no clue at present what's going on).

I would assume that you should return in four weeks and pick it up. They may notify you. What happened with me is that they notified the driving school where I needed my written exam that my licence was ready and that I could take the test. So wait a few weeks and return to where you had it done.

Sounds like your finished.. Now comes the waiting part... You may need to pay another fee when it's ready and you go to pick it up.

Just picked up my license this morning in Freising (a 1:1 swap for my SC license). I dropped my completed application and paid a fee of €40,40 on Jan 17. They mailed me a little postcard saying that the license was ready and that I should come back to the office and bring my passport for identification purposes. Took about 5 minutes to sign for it. The longest part is the waiting for the notification to come in the mail. Not sure if Munich is quicker, but I waited over 3 months! And €5,10 seems awfully cheap. I think you may end up paying another fee, but maybe Munich is cheaper than Freising...who knows.

Nope, the 40 yoyos is a standard fee from the Govt. not something the cities can change. Mere will be paying again once the DL place starts processing the paperwork.. The 5.10 Eur sounds like a local mailing/processing fee.

Thanks to writers on this topic for the help.
We successfully got Arizona licenses before coming here, and now
are proud holders of Führerschein. This advice saved us a lot of money and time!

A note for US drivers. My Husbands Illinois licence ran out three months ago, He is going there on business next month and called the DMV to ask what he needed to do to renew it. Apparently because he has no Illinois proof of address, as all the family moved away, no official letters with his old address and no voter registration card with an Illinois address on he cannot get a new one because of the Homeland security laws passed in 2001. He has got a UK licence so all is not lost. What really gets me is we have to pay $3000 a year in Illinois State taxes.
The lesson being, don't let your US driving licence expire.

I'd say stop paying the tax... What do you pay it for anyway if you live in Germany.. Your hubby can also give'm the address of a hotel he's staying at, I dought highly they'll actually check.

Now you have to have proof of an address with an official form or printed utility company letter. Wish we could stop paying the State tax but he is a Govt. contractor here and is paid in US$

One of the reasons I switched "residency" to my High School state (where my parents lived) when I left the country by registering to vote there (no state taxes) after I switched my drivers license from my reciprical agreement university state. Dumb luck that it worked out that way.
Why can't you use your state tax returns as proof of residency?

Nicole, one possible solution is for hubby to do the following:
- rent a mailbox with The UPS Store (was Mailboxes Etc.).
- use this this as the legal address.
- direct bankstatements to this address.
- get new license issued.

important to note is that, so long as the mailbox is NOT a post office box (but a mailbox managed by a company) it can in many cases be used as a legal address.

on another note, a few months ago I was in IL and had my license re-issued / renewed (including an address change and voter registration). I did this at a DMV branch and was NOT asked to any proof of the new address - nothing, not even a bank statement or a letter from my dear mother. I did have to take a small test, but other than that it was no hassle. and that was in 2005. granted since my old license had not yet expired, it may be a different situation than what your hubby would have.

We asked that and was told by the robot that worked there that the address on our state tax returns is a PO box, we have no proof of a Street address ans our bank statements go to a PO box over here too. Apparently, just because we pay state tax doesn't mean we reside there. My Husband is really mad about this and considering writing to his congressman with a copy of his State and Federal taxes though it will probably do no good. We looked into changing our State of residence to a 'free' one but we have no house or land anywhere else and our bank account is in IL.

Thanks for the tip Chicago, I see what you are saying but the problem is if he does something not entirely legal or 'slightly shady' he will lose his job. He has a UK licence and when/if we go back to the US we will have to sort it out then I suppose. I just hate paying taxes and getting absolutely nothing for it. (nothing new there!!)

I'm sorry that you interpreted the tip as 'slightly shady' or questionably legal. using such a mailbox for such purposes is fully legal in IL. you can even legally register an IL corporation and use such a mailbox as the address of the corporate headquarters.

btw, if you wish to stop paying such a high tax bill, you could always sell the IL property. IL income tax is only 3% flat rate - so I hope that the bulk of your IL tax bill is from property tax... hubby being a government employee / contractor and being payed from tax revenues and all that.

I apologize sincerely, I didn't mean to offend you,( I am a UK citizen and completely unaware of the legalities of the US system) I just meant that my Husbands job dictates that everything he does is squeaky clean. I will tell him that your suggestion may be a viable option, He is just so fed up with the system that won't allow him to renew his licence with little hassle like it used to be. It was easier when his parents lived in Schaumburg but since they moved to AZ we have no family there at all.

Actually we own no property anwhere in the US, Our IL tax bill is based on his earnings working for the US govt.

What if I deregistered from Germany, got the proper switcheroo license, and then reregistered? Do you think they'd swap my license?

no. they still have records of how long you lived in germany. if that sums up to more than 36 months, then you B a SOL.

Are you sure about this? I read in another thread that someone got away with that..

Starting my theory classes today and I know I'll just be kicking myself the next 3 weeks that I didn't friggin switch my license in Colorado, back in the day. Grrrrr

Hi ,
I Have read Everything I Can on the Licence Change over , So I have a MA licence (Thank god ) and as far as I can see I Just need to Register In The Country , Get an Official Translation of the Licence and go to the DMV...

I Have a Class A Licence ( Tractor trailer // Artic Licence ) In MA , Do you think I Can Get it Changed also?

Also Do you get a Registration # straight avay ? I Am looking to see if I Can Accomplish this in a Few Days ?

Any Help is Greatly appreciated

Mike

Topics merged by admin

http://berlin.usembassy.gov/germany/servic...rs_license.html

I'm from MA too and it's just as you describe:

1) Get an ADAC translation
2) Get a document from MA RMV stating WHEN you got it. Cause MA doesn't (or didn't) used to put this on their driver's license. To the Germans, it's very important WHEN you got it. You can get this doc at the RMV.
3) Bring all these docs with your registration (anmeldung), passport, something to eat and read to the Verkhersamt. Oh, and a photo.

Don't be surprised if they still want documents. Germans = Bureaucrats.

Annoyingly, you will not be able to rent a car at many, if not all, German car rental agencies because they will only rent to people whom have had a German driver license for a min of one year. Maybe you can convince the Verkehrsamt to write down your date of issue in your new license from MA, but I doubt it. Otherwise, when they convert your license, they will take your mass one. So when they do, order a new MA one immediately - or have and extra one printed for you before you come to GY. You can still rent a car on your MA one...

Thank you bumpy , I am going to fly over in the new year and try and get this done

Does it take a long time to get the Registration Information ? Do I Have to get a Work contract ? I Have an address I Can use

Thanks again