Driving in Germany with a Foreign Licence

This guide is for internationals who have just moved to Germany and want to keep driving with a licence issued abroad. By the end, you will know how long that licence stays valid, how EU and non-EU licences differ, and how the exchange and the driving tests work.

• EU and non-EU licences: how long you can drive
• What to carry when you drive
• Exchanging a non-EU licence
• Documents for the exchange
• The theory and practical tests
• FAQ

EU and non-EU licences: how long you can drive

According to Handbook Germany, you need a licence issued in Germany or another EU country to drive in Germany, in principle. The page gives no further rules for people with EU licences. Questions about a specific EU licence go to the local driving licence authority.

Licences from non-EU countries are valid in Germany for six months only. The six months begin with your first Anmeldung (address registration) in Germany, not on the day you arrive. After that, anyone who wants to keep driving has to convert their non-EU licence. This process is called Umschreibung (licence conversion).

Questions about your residence status go to the foreigners’ authority (Ausländerbehörde) or a migration advice service.

What to carry when you drive

You must carry your driving licence whenever you drive. With a non-EU licence, you also need a German translation of it. The translation must come from one of the following:

• a German or internationally recognised automobile club
• an authority in the country that issued the licence
• a sworn translator, for example one found through bdue.de

Licences issued in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Andorra, Hong Kong, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, Switzerland and Senegal do not need a translation. International driving licences do not need one either.

Exchanging a non-EU licence

A licence that was not issued in Germany or another EU country must be converted no later than six months after your first address registration. You apply at the local driving licence office, called the Fahrerlaubnisbehörde or Führerscheinstelle. Handbook Germany recommends the search engine meldebox.de for finding your office.

Processing times depend on where you live and how many people have applied, so they differ from office to office. Handbook Germany notes that starting before the six months run out helps avoid lost time. You have to go to the office in person.

The office decides whether your licence can be converted without a test or whether you must first pass the theory and practical exams. The decision depends on the country that issued your licence. A list of national licences that can be converted without further tests is published on gesetze-im-internet.de. If your country is on that list, conversion without a test is possible in principle. For other countries, a test is often required.

Documents for the exchange

Handbook Germany lists these documents for the application:

• ID card or passport
• certificate of registration of your address
• a biometric passport photo
• eye test results (Sehtest) from an optician or ophthalmologist
• proof that you took part in a first aid course (Erste Hilfe), for example with ASB or the Johanniter
• your original licence from your country of origin (an international licence is not accepted instead)
• a German translation of the licence, in principle by a sworn translator
• a statement confirming that the licence from your home country is still valid

Some offices also ask for a polizeiliches Führungszeugnis (certificate of good conduct). You can get one from the local administration office or apply online at fuehrungszeugnis.bund.de. Each office decides whether it asks for one. If you apply for classes other than A (motorcycles and similar) and B (cars), you need additional documents, which are listed on the Federal Ministry of Transport’s website.

The theory and practical tests

If the office requires the tests, you must pass the theory test before you can take the practical test. People who already hold a foreign licence do not need driving lessons. Handbook Germany still says that a visit to a driving school (Fahrschule) before the exam makes sense, because Germany has many traffic rules and road signs.

The theory test is offered in German, English, French, Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Croatian, Spanish, Turkish and Standard Arabic. For class B, there are 30 multiple-choice questions, each worth 2 to 5 demerit points, and some questions have more than one correct answer. You fail if you collect more than 10 demerit points, and you may answer only one 5-point question incorrectly. To sit the test, you need your ID or passport and an appointment letter. A pass stays valid for one year. If you fail, you can repeat the test after 2 weeks.

The practical test often takes 50 to 60 minutes and includes set tasks such as roundabouts and motorways. The examiner usually sits in the back. A driving instructor sits next to you and takes control in an emergency. You get the result at the end. If you fail, you can repeat the test after 2 weeks, with no limit on the number of attempts. If you try again after 12 months, you have to take the theory test again.

Handbook Germany gives sample fees from TÜV SÜD for Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg: around €25 for the theory test and around €120 for the practical test. An eye test costs around €7, and some opticians and first aid courses offer it for free. Fees in other federal states may differ.

FAQ

Can visitors drive with their home licence?

Yes. Visitors may drive with the licence from their home country or with an international driving licence, and they must carry it whenever they drive. The six-month limit and the duty to convert apply once someone registers an address in Germany.

Is an international driving licence enough?

An international driving licence does not need a German translation while you drive. For the conversion, though, the driving licence office needs your original licence from your country of origin. An international licence is not accepted in its place.

Can I drive during my asylum procedure?

During the asylum procedure, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) keeps your documents and often returns them only at the end. You may not drive while BAMF holds your licence. People with a Duldung (tolerated stay) or an Aufenthaltsgestattung (permission to stay during the asylum procedure) can apply for and get a German licence. Individual questions go to the Ausländerbehörde or a migration advice service.

What are the alcohol rules for new drivers?

Drivers in their probationary period (the first 2 years after getting their licence) and drivers under 21 may not drink any alcohol before driving. If they drive under the influence, their probationary period is extended, they pay a fine of at least €250, they get a penalty point and they must attend a refresher course. Drivers over 21 who have finished their probationary period may drive with a low alcohol level, up to a legal limit.

Sources: handbookgermany.de

Last verified: 17 October 2026 against the pages linked above. Rules and fees change; the responsible authority always has the final word.

This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. For your own situation, ask the foreigners’ authority (Ausländerbehörde) of your city, a recognised migration advice service or a lawyer (Rechtsanwalt).