Driving license exchange: This is how you avoid the warning money!

Driving license exchange: This is how you avoid the warning money!

In Germany, there is a significant change for drivers: The extensive exchange of driving license, which has been underway for several years, must be completed by 2033. Numerous citizens are currently affected because many have not yet exchanged their old driver's licenses for counterfeit-proof EU guides in the practical check card format. The next important cut -off date marks the January 19, 2026, where drivers with driver's license from 1971 to 1973 had to exchange their documents. This affects around three million citizens. If you drive with an old driver's license after this date, you will be exposed to warning money of 10 euros. Older driver's licenses in check card format, which were issued before January 19, 2013, are also under the exchange requirements. Ruhr24 reports that the entire process is gradually based on a fixed schedule and exhibition data oriented.

The exchange process was launched in 2022 and will continue until January 19, 2033. A total of around 42 million driver's licenses in Germany are affected, all of which were issued before 2013. The background to this measure is the EU directive 2006/126/EC, which prescribes a uniform, falsificial norm for driver's licenses in all EU member states. In addition, all driver's licenses are recorded in a central database to prevent abuse. adac emphasizes that the exchange is made without additional exams or health examinations, which makes the process easier for citizens.

exchange deadlines in detail

The deadlines for the exchange depend on the year of birth and the date of issue of the old driver's license. The relevant deadlines for the different years and exhibitions are listed below:

New driver's license and costs:

For the exchange, drivers need some documents: a identity card or passport, a current biometric passport photo and the old driver's license. The process usually costs around 25 euros, whereby additional fees for the index card or the passport photo can be incurred. BMV It points out that the driver's license itself is unlimited, but the new driver's license is valid for 15 years. There is also the possibility to keep the old driver's license on request after it has been invalid.

For Germans living abroad, special regulations apply in order to be able to exchange the driver's license. This is particularly relevant because in some countries there can be problems renting vehicles when the old driver's license has expired. The responsible German driving license authorities are also responsible for exchange from abroad.