'Driver’s Licenses in Germany: Obtaining, Exchanging, and Retaking the

To drive a car in Germany after moving there, you need a valid driver’s license recognized under German regulations. Licenses from EU and EEA countries usually remain valid until they expire. Licenses from third countries—that is, countries outside the EU/EEA—can only be used for a limited time after establishing your habitual residence in Germany: generally, six months. After that, you’ll need a German Führerschein to drive.

First, determine your scenario

Almost everything depends on the country that issued the license: whether you can exchange it without taking exams, whether you need to pass a written test, whether a road test is required, and what documents the Führerscheinstelle—the driver’s license office—will request.

Situation	What Usually Happens
Licenses issued in the EU or EEA	In most cases, they are recognized in Germany until they expire. An exchange may be necessary upon expiration, loss, changes to personal information, or for certain categories.
Licenses issued in a country listed in Annex 11 to the FeV	A simplified Umschreibung (conversion) is possible—with full or partial exemption from exams. Conditions depend on the specific country and category.
Licenses issued in another third country	After the first six months, you usually need to obtain a German driver’s license by passing a written and practical exam. The mandatory theory hours and special practical hours required for beginners may not be necessary, but a driving school is still involved in the practical exam process.
No foreign driver’s licenses accepted	You must complete standard driver’s education at a driving school and take the exams from scratch.

For CIS countries, there is no single rule that applies across the board: you must check the requirements in the current Anlage 11 of the Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung and at your local Führerscheinstelle. If your country is not on the list of countries eligible for exemptions, you will usually have to take both the written and driving tests.

How long are foreign driver’s licenses valid after moving to Germany?

If your driver’s license was issued outside the EU/EEA, it is generally valid in Germany for six months after you have established your habitual residence here. For most newcomers, this is linked to registering your residence (Anmeldung), but the authorities assess your habitual residence specifically.

In certain cases, you can request an extension of up to 12 months if your stay in Germany is not expected to exceed 12 months. This exception must be approved in advance by the local Fahrerlaubnisbehörde/Führerscheinstelle.

Once the permitted period has expired, you cannot simply continue driving with a foreign license. German authorities consider this to be driving without a valid license.

Getting a Driver’s License from Scratch

If you do not have a driver’s license or your foreign license does not grant any exemptions, you’ll need to attend a driving school (Fahrschule):

You choose a driving school and sign a contract.
Take a first aid course (Erste-Hilfe-Kurs).
Take an eye exam (Sehtest) and have your photo taken for the document.
Submit your application to the Führerscheinstelle.
Take the theory course and prepare for the written exam.
Complete the practical training, including the mandatory special driving sessions for Category B.
Take the written test first, then the road test.

For Category B, when starting from scratch, there are usually mandatory theory classes and special practice drives. The number of standard driving lessons is not fixed by law for everyone: the instructor will allow you to take the exam when they believe you are ready.

Exchanging or Reissuing Foreign Driver’s Licenses

The conversion procedure is called Umschreibung einer ausländischen Fahrerlaubnis. For licenses from third countries, the process usually begins not at a driving school, but at the Führerscheinstelle.

Typical procedure:

Check whether the issuing country is listed in Annex 11 of the FeV and what exams are required for your license category.
Find your local Führerscheinstelle and make an appointment to submit your application.
Prepare the documents and a translation, if required.
Specify a driving school if you need to take the practical exam.
Wait for approval from the authorities.
Pass the written and/or driving tests, if required.
Obtain a German Führerschein after successfully completing the procedure.

If you only need to retake the exams, a full training course from scratch is usually not necessary. However, the practical exam is administered through a driving school: the instructor schedules the exam, and the driving school typically provides the vehicle for the test as well. Therefore, although there may be no formal minimum requirement for practical driving hours, at least a few lessons are often necessary to qualify for the exam and adapt to German requirements.

Documents for the Führerscheinstelle

The exact list varies by city and license category, but the following are most commonly required:

a passport or a German Ausweis;
proof of residence registration, such as a Meldebescheinigung;
a valid foreign driver’s license;
an official translation of the driver’s license, if the license does not meet the requirements of the German authorities;
a biometric photo;
Eye exam for a driver’s license;
proof of completion of a first aid course;
an application for the issuance or exchange of a German driver’s license;
the name of the driving school, if exams are required;
Proof that the foreign driver’s license is valid and has not been revoked.

Translations can be done, for example, by certified translators, German automobile associations, or other organizations recognized under German regulations. Before paying for the translation, it’s best to check with your Führerscheinstelle to see which format they accept.

Exams

The written exam is administered by authorized organizations, usually TÜV or DEKRA, depending on the region. You can prepare using apps and study materials from driving schools; be sure to check in advance which languages are available for the exam.

The practical exam is taken with an examiner and an instructor in a driving school training vehicle. Even experienced drivers would benefit from taking lessons before the exam: examiners assess not only your ability to drive but also habits that are considered critical in Germany—observation, right-of-way, behavior in 30 zones, bicycle infrastructure, autobahns, and parking.

How much does it cost?

Costs vary significantly depending on the state, city, driving school, number of attempts, and number of practical driving hours. Therefore, it is not possible to specify an exact amount in advance.

Typically, the budget consists of:

the driving school’s registration fee;
study materials or apps for the written test;
Vision test;
First aid course;
a biometric photo;
translation and classification of foreign driver’s licenses, if necessary;
fees charged by the Führerscheinstelle;
TÜV/DEKRA fees for the exams;
practical training;
driving school fees for exam supervision.

Starting from scratch often costs several thousand euros, because the main expense is the practical driving lessons. A conversion course with a retake is usually cheaper, but can become significantly more expensive if many lessons are needed or if you have to retake the exam multiple times.

What to Check Before Applying

Whether or not the country of issuance is listed in Annex 11 to the FeV.
Do you need to take the written, the road test, or both exams?
Is a translation required specifically for your document?
Can I apply online, or do I need to make an in-person appointment?
What are the processing times at your Führerscheinstelle?
Does the driving school you’ve chosen accept applicants for a license transfer (Umschreibung)?
In which languages can you take the written test?

Common Mistakes

Wait until the six months are up and only then begin the process: registering with the authorities and taking the exams may take longer.
Assuming that an international driver’s license replaces a German driver’s license after moving to Germany. It usually only supplements the national license and does not override the six-month rule.
Have the license translated before checking the requirements of the specific Führerscheinstelle.
Choosing a driving school based solely on the price per lesson, without taking into account fees for the exam, supervised driving, and retakes.
Relying on the experiences of acquaintances from another state or city: practices vary by agency.

Brief Conclusion

If you’ve moved to Germany with a driver’s license from a non-EU/EEA country, start by checking Anlage 11 and consulting with the Führerscheinstelle. In the first few months after your Anmeldung, you usually have a limited time to drive with your foreign license while simultaneously initiating the exchange or retest process. For licenses from the EU/EEA, the rules are simpler, but you still need to check the license’s expiration date, categories, and any special endorsements.