Is it still possible to get a driving license in Germany 2023?

[Pesar 26]

Hi folks. Is it still possible to get a driving license in this country? I share my experience from Berlin. 3 to 6 months waiting time for the exam. If you fail, go and come back 3 to six months later. How is your experience in your city? How long is waiting time there? For those who are living in large cities like Berlin and do not have a previous driving license from another country to convert, do you have any idea how to solve this puzzle? If you could try the exam again after three weeks of failing your exam, then you would finally get your driving license. But with current situation of waiting times... . I see most posts are from around 2010. Let's brain storm here to see if anyone has any idea how to get a driving license in Germany in 2023.

[snowingagain 5,441]

So, you have been here a long time? And you have a licence that is not a simple switch? So that would involve an instructor? They should know how long it takes.

[Krieg 15,074]

There is no short term solution, last time I saw in the newspaper there were more than 10k people waiting for appointments in Berlin. TÜV said they are training more testers but it will take time. It does not help that almost half of the people fail the test the first time in Berlin, not sure why, but I have the feeling testers like to have a quote of fails to make them look "serious".

[fraufruit 42,493]

Looks like not failing the exam is the key component to getting one faster.

[dstanners 1,555]

According to a youth, cancellations are may be your best chance to avoid the wait. If you have time on your hands, call up your local test centre and see if someone has cancelled at short notice. Alternatively, use the 3-6 month wait to prepare, so that you don't need a resit.

[murphaph 9,843]

You can do the lessons/test in another smaller city, at least in theory (pardon the pun). AFAIK though you must seek permission from the authorities where you live before you do so, because they want to be sure the conditions are at least similar to where you live (big city traffic vs tiny village with no motorway miles). I think this is slightly bonkers as once you have your licence from Kuhdorf you can still drive anywhere with it, but them's the rulez.

[MikeMelga 7,325]

Slightly different topic. I might have to request a new version of my Portuguese driving license. Alternatively, can I request a German one?

[keith2011 2,678]

Mike Melga said Quote:-
"Alternatively, can I request a German one?"

If you are resident in Germany you should have surrendered your Portuguese driving license after living here for a max of 6 months in exchange for a German one (no translation required afaik these days).

0

[snowingagain 5,441]

You do not have to exchange a EU licence for a German one.

[Krieg 15,074]

@keith2011 : That's only for non-EUs. Portugal is in the EU. @Mike : Yes, you can swap it for a German one, provided your current license is not expired. And the issue date should be prior to when you first registered in Germany, if you renewed in the past while in Germany and now it has a newer issue date then you have to get proof you had your driving license before you came to Germany.

[keith2011 2,678]

The the rules must have changed then!!! When I first came here the UK was most definitely in the EU and I had to exchange my driving license for a German one not least because the local car hire company, that I used regularly, warned me several times and ultimately refused to accept my British one as the 6 month deadline approached.
OK not 6 months any more but:

Qute:- Obligatory exchange of your driving licence in another EU country
You have to exchange your driving licence if:

Your licence is lost, stolen or damaged
After 2 years of usual residence, if you have a driving licence with an indefinite validity period (only if this is required by the national authorities in the country where you live)
You commit a traffic offence in the country where you live

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/vehicles/driving-licence/driving-licence-exchange-recognition/index_en.htm

[snowingagain 5,441]

I lost my UK licence and the UK replaced it. Replacement was still valid here. I only swapped for German after Brexit, while I still had time.

[snowingagain 5,441]

I lost my UK licence and the UK replaced it. Replacement was still valid here. I only swapped for German after Brexit, while I still had time. And I got to keep my UK one for driving in the UK as I had driving classes there that would not work here without a medical test or whatever.

[murphaph 9,843]

The general obligation to exchange a licence issued in an EU member state when moving residence to another EU member state was abolished through an EU directive in 1991:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A31991L0439

It would have taken a while after this for it to have been incorporated into German law.

[fraufruit 42,493]

To be fair, that was only 33 years ago.

[murphaph 9,843]

Yeah I guess Keith is here longer than that as many on here probably are.

[keith2011 2,678]

murphaph said Quote:-
"Yeah I guess Keith is here longer than that as many on here probably are."

Yep I have been here since before 1991 so that explains it, that was before UK (except the north of Ireland) driving licences had photos. On the other hand swapping it gave me a pink one that was valid for life, although I believe that has now been reduced to age 80!

[MikeMelga 7,325]

Where would I go to change my driving license?

[fraufruit 42,493]

Driving licence place or Führerscheinstelle.

[Janx Spirit 11,331]

Umschreibung eines ausländischen Führerscheins

Wenn Sie einen ausländischen Führerschein haben, dürfen Sie sechs Monate nach der ersten Anmeldung in Deutschland fahren. Danach müssen Sie Ihren Führerschein umschreiben.

Wichtig:

Wenn Sie einen Führerschein besitzen, der in einem EU- oder EWR-Staat (Island, Liechtenstein, Norwegen) ausgestellt wurde, gelten andere Vorgaben, die ausführlich beim Thema "Umschreibung EU/ EWR-Führerschein beantragen" beschrieben sind.

Hinweise zur Aushändigung/ Abholung:

Der ausländische Führerschein muss durch das Landeskriminalamt auf Echtheit überprüft werden. Diese Überprüfung dauert zwei bis drei Wochen. Während dieser Zeit müssen Sie Ihren Führerschein abgeben.

Ihren ausländischen Führerschein müssen Sie abgeben, wenn Sie den deutschen Kartenführerschein bekommen.

Falls eine theoretische oder praktische Prüfung erforderlich ist, informieren wir Ihre Fahrschule, sobald uns der Kartenführerschein vorliegt. Die Fahrschule kann Sie dann zur Prüfung anmelden. Nach erfolgreicher Prüfung können Sie den neuen Führerschein bei uns abholen.

Den Antrag können Sie persönlich oder online stellen.

Transferring a foreign driving license

If you have a foreign driving license, you are allowed to drive in Germany six months after you first registered. You will then have to rewrite your driving license.

Important:

If you have a driving license issued in an EU or EEA country (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), other requirements apply, which can be found in detail under the topic “Applying for an EU/EEA driving license conversion”. are described.

Information on handing over/collection:

The foreign driving license must be checked for authenticity by the State Criminal Police Office . This review takes two to three weeks. During this time you must hand in your driving license.

You must hand in your foreign driving license when you get the German card driving license.

If a theoretical or practical test is required, we will inform your driving school as soon as we have the card driving license. The driving school can then register you for the test. After successful testing, you can pick up your new driving license from us.

You can submit the application in person or online.

Here's a link (German)

Umschreibung eines ausländischen Führerscheins - Hauptabteilung II Fahrzeugzulassungs- und Fahrerlaubnisbehörde – Landeshauptstadt München (muenchen.de)