Exchanging an English driving licence for a German one

[LostManAbroad 9]

Does anyone know where I would have to go to exchange my English driving license for a German one? I live right by Konstablerwache so if there are multiple places then where is my nearest one? Also, what do I need to do the exchange? I am assuming something with my address on it.

[snowingagain 5,361]

Link to details for Frankfurt am Main

 

https://www.frankfurt.de/sixcms/detail.php?id=2778&_ffmpar[_id_inhalt]=58349

[fosking 2]

I exchanged my British license for a German one a few months ago due to it becoming expired. I took what is in the link above. They made a photocopy of my British    license and stamped it so I could present the photocopied version to the police if needed (you hand over your British license). It took 3 months for the German license to arrive so if you are exchanging because your British one is up for renewal, it may be best to do it a little before the expiration date. 

[i-jalapeno 5]

HI, my british British driving licence has expired some time ago. Can I now get a German one to replace my UK driving as I am now living here in Germany. I have no residential address in UK anymore..

[Smaug 5,849]

8 minutes ago, i-jalapeno said:

HI, my british British driving licence has expired some time ago. Can I now get a German one to replace my UK driving as I am now living here in Germany. I have no residential address in UK anymore..

 

I'd think that although you cannot drive on it, you can exchange it for a German one. See § 30 Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung

 

Quote

(1) Beantragt der Inhaber einer EU- oder EWR-Fahrerlaubnis, die zum Führen von Kraftfahrzeugen im Inland berechtigt oder berechtigt hat, die Erteilung einer Fahrerlaubnis für die entsprechende Klasse von Kraftfahrzeugen, sind folgende Vorschriften nicht anzuwenden:
1.
§ 11 Absatz 9 über die ärztliche Untersuchung und § 12 Absatz 6 über die Untersuchung des Sehvermögens, es sei denn, dass in entsprechender Anwendung der Regelungen in den §§ 23 und 24 eine Untersuchung erforderlich ist, [...]

 

5.
die Vorschriften über die Ausbildung.

 

 

Not the past tense of the berechtigt hat. I interpret this to mean that if you possess a EU driving license that entitles or has entitled you to drive in Germany you don't need to go through requirements 1 to 5 of obtaining a German driving license. I presume that number 5 above means driving lessons and exams.

 

 

[Mackle 802]

I read a while ago on another forum that whilst the DVLA won't send you a licence to a non-UK address, they will send some sort of letter or certificate of entitlement that can be used to get a licence issued in another EU country.

 

How true this is I don't know though.

 

I was thinking about going through this process, but if it takes around three months, that could be problematic as I moving out of my current address at the end of June.

[marbe166 32]

When I exchanged my Swedish license to a German one they took a copy of my Swedish license when I applied and then handed the Swedish license back. I only had to turn my Swedish license in when I came back after 6 weeks to get the new German one. This was in Leverkusen. The procedure should be the same for all EU licenses.

[dj_jay_smith 3,449]

dasdas

On 2/18/2018, 6:44:30, i-jalapeno said:

HI, my british British driving licence has expired some time ago. Can I now get a German one to replace my UK driving as I am now living here in Germany. I have no residential address in UK anymore..

 

I hope that you have not been driving around, as if the license is expired then you are committing an offence could be fined, imprisoned for up to one year and have your car taken away,

This is true for the UK and Germany, and I don't think they will care who issued the license.  

I would also assume that your insurance company would not pay in the event on an accident.

 

There could also be issues here.  If your UK licence has been expired for more than 2 years then technically they could insist that you retake your test!  Although that is probably unlikely without there being another reason (such as medical, or reaching 70 years old).

 

I suggest that you use the UK address of a friend or relative to renew this ASAP, tell them that you have not been driving in the meantime, and then get it exchanged for a German one.

 

29 minutes ago, marbe166 said:

When I exchanged my Swedish license to a German one they took a copy of my Swedish license when I applied and then handed the Swedish license back. I only had to turn my Swedish license in when I came back after 6 weeks to get the new German one. This was in Leverkusen. The procedure should be the same for all EU licenses.

 

That's exactly how it also worked for my UK -> German license replacement.

[More tea, Vicar? 1,128]

The Brits will let you convert back to a UK one if you want to beat the Brexit deadline and there's no deal on this (ie. swap your UK one now for a DEU one).

 

I will leave it to February 2019 and see if a deal has been reached.  If not, then I will swap my Uk one for a DEU one.

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/driving-in-the-eu-if-theres-no-brexit-deal/driving-in-the-eu-if-theres-no-brexit-deal

 

Moving to or living in the EU

If, after exit day, you become resident in an EU country you would not have the automatic right under EU law to exchange your UK licence for a driving licence from the EU country you’re living in. Depending on the laws of the EU country you move to, you may need to take a new driving test in that country.

You can avoid this by exchanging your UK driving licence for one from the EU country you move to or live in before 29 March 2019. UK licence holders who do this, will be able to re-exchange for a UK licence if they return to live in the UK.

Negotiations

We will be seeking to negotiate a comprehensive agreement with the EU to cover the continued recognition and exchange of UK licences after exit.

In the event that we do not achieve a comprehensive agreement, we will also pursue agreements with individual EU countries. The UK already has a number of these arrangements with non-EU countries including Australia, Canada and New Zealand. EU countries have their own similar arrangements with third countries. However, we cannot guarantee that we will have individual agreements with all EU states by exit day in the event of no deal.

[kaffeemitmilch 1,294]

I would think a UK license would continue to be accepted on a reciprocal basis in Germany, just because by now standards have probably been harmonized, and the process to get a UK license is probably quite robust. If they accept Alabama licenses, for which you need only be able to drive a few miles to the nearest Walmart and back, they would really have to accept UK licenses. It would be ridiculous not to.

[dj_jay_smith 3,449]

4 minutes ago, kaffeemitmilch said:

I would think a UK license would continue to be accepted on a reciprocal basis in Germany, just because by now standards have probably been harmonized, and the process to get a UK license is probably quite robust. If they accept Alabama licenses, for which you need only be able to drive a few miles to the nearest Walmart and back, they would really have to accept UK licenses. It would be ridiculous not to.

 

I agree.  And Germany tends to be a bit more pragmatic about such things, but I can imagine some countries saying 'non'!  So there won't be a standard approach across all of the EU.

 

But, if I was in the @More tea, Vicar? situation (I've already swapped mine a couple of years ago) then I would also not risk it and swap before the deadline.  Although I think that it should be clear if there will be a deal or not before the end of the year.

[More tea, Vicar? 1,128]

26 minutes ago, kaffeemitmilch said:

I would think a UK license would continue to be accepted on a reciprocal basis in Germany, just because by now standards have probably been harmonized, and the process to get a UK license is probably quite robust. If they accept Alabama licenses, for which you need only be able to drive a few miles to the nearest Walmart and back, they would really have to accept UK licenses. It would be ridiculous not to.

 

I would think so too, but neither you nor I are negotiating these issues and Brexit is totally f*cked up and b'tchy, as you will no doubt have gathered.

 

Its left to those us whose lives are affected to make the best decisions in the circumstances with the existing facts - as we currently know them.

 

 

[swimmer 3,707]

I don't see Germany as "more pragmatic" than other nations and that is largely because it places great value in equality.   I am not expecting "Extrawurst" for being British.  There's millions of non-EU (third party) nationals in Germany and there's no reason for one group to get special favours. 

 

Indeed, it might well put the German authorities in difficulties if they did.   There's millions of other non-EU nationals here looking very carefully at any concessions others get.   Totally understandably.  I would if I was them.  Its "pragmatism" will be firstly in not opening any door that 5-10 million non-EU nationals then expect to go through as well, if they want.   

 

And there is EU law on top of that.  Germany can't decide to give Britons continued priority access to the labour market, for instance.  EU law puts EU citizens first.

 

My current default is like the last post.  To work with the facts.  At the moment, I will become like any non-EU national (third party national) in my circumstance.  That's why I got the citizenship.   (Not why I changed the DL, did that years ago).    As above,  anything relevant to me will be determined by Germany, not UK.

[More tea, Vicar? 1,128]

15 minutes ago, dj_jay_smith said:

 

I agree.  And Germany tends to be a bit more pragmatic about such things, but I can imagine some countries saying 'non'!  So there won't be a standard approach across all of the EU.

 

But, if I was in the @More tea, Vicar? situation (I've already swapped mine a couple of years ago) then I would also not risk it and swap before the deadline.  Although I think that it should be clear if there will be a deal or not before the end of the year.

 

What risk?   You swap before Brexit (I would give it at least 5-6 weeks before the actual date - other posters say it can take up to four weeks in Munich for them to do the checking with the UK authorities), and Bob's your Onkel.

 

If you can get your dual DEU citizenship right up to Brexit, then you can swap your driving license up until Brexit.

[dj_jay_smith 3,449]

1 minute ago, swimmer said:

I don't see Germany as "more pragmatic" than other nations and that is largely because it places great value in equality.   ..

 

That is true.  

 

But here we are talking about a situation (driving licence) where there are different rules for different countries, and in some cases different rules for different states within the same country.  So it is not like there is a clear divide between EU licenses and non-EU licences.

 

So I expect that Germany will say

Are they EU?  No, so we need to newly define what happens for this country.

Have the standard required to gain a UK licence dropped between 28th March 2019 and 29th March 2019?  No, so then we can accept the same level as today. (Pragmatic approach).

 

That of course does not mean that things might not change in the future.  I don't know how often officials review such things, but the UK will go onto the list of non EU countries to be monitored.

And remember, the more changes they make the more work it is for them.  If they are going to make a change then it needs to be reflected in all processes and all systems.  This takes time, especially for government.

 

 

1 minute ago, More tea, Vicar? said:

 

What risk?   You swap before Brexit (I would give it at least 5-6 weeks before the actual date - other posters say it can take up to four weeks in Munich for them to do the checking with the UK authorities), and Bob's your Onkel.

 

If you can get your dual DEU citizenship right up to Brexit, then you can swap your driving license up until Brexit.

 

I mean don't take the risk of trying to swap after the deadline, or not trying to swap at all.  Although personally I would allow more time, just in case.

[More tea, Vicar? 1,128]

"Normally", the perceived quality of your foreign licence is taken into account.

 

Authorities know that e.g. a NZL or Australian licence is a "proper" licence.  The standard required to pass the test is commensurate with a European one, hence the UK recognises a decent foreign license.

 

As I quoted above:

 

The UK already has a number of these arrangements with non-EU countries including Australia, Canada and New Zealand. 

 

I understand from a colleague that the Germans do not accept his wife's Mexican licence, for example.  I also heard that US licences are not accepted long-term here (other US posters please correct me).

 

HOWEVER, with Brexit you just don't have a frigging clue because its an abnormal and highly charged situation for reasons we all know.

[Kommentarlos 983]

1 hour ago, dj_jay_smith said:

 

But here we are talking about a situation (driving licence) where there are different rules for different countries, and in some cases different rules for different states within the same country.  So it is not like there is a clear divide between EU licenses and non-EU licences.

 

For those of us returning to the UK by car, we do not travel direct from DE to UK without crossing other countries. How will this work within Schengen?

 

And will my UK government recommended EU license be valid to travel in the UK after the deadline? Will I be able to use it to pick up a hire car at the airport and travel onwards? Will it depend on an individual reciprocal relationship with whichever EU nation I hold a license with? 

[More tea, Vicar? 1,128]

10 minutes ago, Kommentarlos said:

 

For those of us returning to the UK by car, we do not travel direct from DE to UK without crossing other countries. How will this work within Schengen?

 

And will my UK government recommended EU license be valid to travel in the UK after the deadline? Will I be able to use it to pick up a hire car at the airport and travel onwards? Will it depend on an individual reciprocal relationship with whichever EU nation I hold a license with? 

 

Read the link I posted above.  

[msam 506]

4 hours ago, More tea, Vicar? said:

we cannot guarantee that we will have individual agreements with all EU states by exit day in the event of no deal.

 

It's a sad state indeed when such a statement comes from an official gov website. They can guarantee that in the event of a no deal there will be NO individual agreements with ANY EU state. Because EU states cannot make deals individually with the UK while the UK is in the EU

 

4 hours ago, kaffeemitmilch said:

I would think a UK license would continue to be accepted on a reciprocal basis in Germany, just because by now standards have probably been harmonized, and the process to get a UK license is probably quite robust. If they accept Alabama licenses, for which you need only be able to drive a few miles to the nearest Walmart and back, they would really have to accept UK licenses. It would be ridiculous not to.

 

3 hours ago, dj_jay_smith said:

So I expect that Germany will say

Are they EU?  No, so we need to newly define what happens for this country.

Have the standard required to gain a UK licence dropped between 28th March 2019 and 29th March 2019?  No, so then we can accept the same level as today. (Pragmatic approach).

 

Best case scenario: Germany will say...OK the standards are the same, we can take a pragmatic approach, the UK will also see it the same and both countries will come to such an agreement...But the list of countries where a direct exchange is allowed is written in law. How long does it take to make an amendment to German law? (I honestly have no idea) That's the minimum time it will take between a no deal Brexit and mutual acceptance of driver's licences (assuming the UK and Germany can make a deal instantly after Brexit). 

[kaffeemitmilch 1,294]

On 9/14/2018, 11:49:21, More tea, Vicar? said:

I understand from a colleague that the Germans do not accept his wife's Mexican licence, for example.  I also heard that US licences are not accepted long-term here (other US posters please correct me).

Nah, with US licenses it's dependent on which state they're from. Some have full reciprocity, some partial, and some none. Most states with the shittiest standards (like Wisconsin, Alabama, Kentucky) seem to have full reciprocity for some reason.