Hand over your driving license and drive through NRW for free – get it now!

Hand over your driving license and drive through NRW for free – get it now!

A new offer for seniors in North Rhine-Westphalia is causing a stir: Anyone who voluntarily gives up their driving license can use local public transport for free in several cities. The initiative aims to make it easier for older people to use buses and trains while increasing road safety. This is particularly beneficial for those who feel unsafe while driving or prefer to live in the city. In Dortmund, for example, all citizens can receive the Deutschlandticket free of charge for two months if they have their driver's license stamped invalid at the citizen services. This regulation does not only apply to seniors, but was extended to all driving license holders after the Corona pandemic in order to promote road safety and environmental protection, as ms-aktuell.de reports.

In Bonn, people aged 60 and over have the chance to use local transport for free for six months. The so-called Aktiv60Ticket or the Deutschlandticket makes this possible. In the Kleve district, citizens of all age groups can also travel by bus and train free of charge for a year, while in the Oberbergischer district the regulation only applies to seniors aged 60 and over. Leverkusen stands out with a special offer: Seniors aged 75 and over also have the opportunity to enjoy free local transport for a year. In addition, there will be a pilot project in the Rhein-Erft district from September 2025 that will allow people aged 60 and over to drive free for six months. The Unna district offers seniors aged 65 and over a ticket that is valid for three months and which they can choose flexibly.

Important information about participation

Registration for these programs takes place in person at the city administration or citizen services. A driver's license, a valid ID card or passport and possibly proof of residence are required. After the free period expires, the offer ends automatically. Those interested can then subscribe to the Deutschlandticket for 58 euros per month, but are not obliged to do so. The aim of the offers is to motivate older people to use local public transport and thus both secure their mobility and make a contribution to environmental protection.

Road safety in focus

But why is this initiative particularly important for our older citizens? The accident statistics show: In 2023, over 59% of cyclists and pedestrians who were fatally injured were at least 65 years old. As many as one in three car occupants belonged to this age group. These figures illustrate the vulnerability of older road users. According to the Federal Ministry of Transport, education about the dangers and promoting mindfulness among younger road users is therefore essential. Campaigns such as road safety days and seminars that address age-related dangers are important measures to support seniors and ensure their safety on the roads. Those interested can find information about these programs on the [Federal Ministry of Transport] website (https://www.bmv.de/SharedDocs/DE/artikel/StV/Verkehrssicherheit/verkehrssicherheit-seniorinnen-und-senioren.html).

These offers are a real benefit: seniors not only have the opportunity to remain independent and mobile, but also make a valuable contribution to safety and environmental protection. In everyday life, it often makes a big difference whether you can easily use public transport or not.