Converting a Malaysian driver's license to German

I just got my driving license translated at ADAC, and they charged me for 47Euro! Is it normal?

I have been in Germany for less than 3 years. I heard that I could get my license switch to a german one without having to go through all the expensive test and driving classes (and I forgot how to drive manual ). Since I'm a non European, I suppost this is not going to be easy. Has any of you taken the driving test in Germany before? I need advice.

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Oh, wow. I had a sworn translator from a small town do mine ... actually I did the translation myself and just had her check it and stamp it. I think I paid her 10 marks and gave her a batch of brownies.

Where do you come from that your license is valid in Germy for longer than 6 months? I slacked off getting the paperwork done for mine and my then-H said he'd take away my keys if I drove a day over the 6-month limit. So I got it done.

LIke bumpy said, search what's already been said. I only know about U.S. license conversion.

Validity is generally 6 months, but can be extended to a maximum of 12 months if the applicant credibly argues that he will not stay in Germany for more than 12 months. Also, if you do not have your Hauptwohnsitz in Germany, there is no limit to the validity of foreign drivers licenses at all:

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

If Wen has a Malaysian licence (as the nationality on the profile suggests), and has been living here for more than 1 year, I guess he/she is currently driving without a valid licence...

As far as I know, you can drive with your own license for the 1st 6 months.
You are allowed to transfer your own license to the german one within 3 years.
After that you need to get a german license.

Haha, actually I have stopped driving ever since the first 6 months. Then I found out from this forum that perhaps within 3 years and I could still switch to a german one. It's quite confusing as it's different for each country and even which town you are staying in Germany (the lady from ADAC told me that, apparently she is confused too). If I do get to turn my license to the german one, does this mean it only lasts for 3 years of the time that I'm here, and after I have to go through the test again?

As far as i can remember the final time period is 12 months.Getting a German liscence would be easy as you have previous driving experience.However ther is the theory and you can do this in many languages.There is then however a small translation test for stuff like Umleitung = diversion and the like

My old English licence was looking really sad and old so changed for it a German one last month. Just went to the "Führerscheinstelle" (Department of Licencing). I had to show that I was registered at an address, bring two passport pics and about 25 €. It took them about 2 weeks to process it. Then when the new licence came in I had to hand in my old UK licence. Pretty simple really.

In the link I posted, there is a list of countries whose licences are accepted for conversion (i.e. can be converted to a German licence without taking a test). Malaysia does not appear to be on the list, i.e. it seems you need to go for the full driving exam if you want a German licence (for whatever reason, Singapore is on the list. Which is strange, because a friend of mine moved from Germany to Singapore some time ago, and they made him sit for an exam there instead of converting his German licence. Whatever happened to reciprocity?).

What the 3-year-period means: If you apply for a conversion within 3 years, you are allowed to take the driving exam without any preceding driving lessons (though I guess it's always advisable to take a few lessons, so that you know what to expect). If you miss the 3-year-period, then you have to take the minimum number of driving lessons stipulated for beginners, i.e. you have to fork out quite a lot of money for lessons before they even allow you to take the test.

(For all I know, this is federal law, i.e. is the same all over Germany, and presumably based on some sort of EU regulation.)

As far as I know, if you have gone over the 3 years you can still do the theory and test for the German driver's licence in Poland where it is a lot cheaper.

Thanks for all your info! I'm just going to try my luck, go with the flow and see what will happen. I will post back once I get the result. Cheers!