Driver's license exchange: the deadline expires for many in July - then there is a risk of a fine
Created: 07/01/2022 04:58
By: Stella Henrich
According to a current EU regulation, driving licenses must be forgery-proof throughout Europe.
Older copies must be exchanged.
This deadline expires in July for certain vintages.
Munich - Basically it's just a formality - the exchange of your own driver's license.
Most are pink, older ones are gray cardboard.
More recent specimens are made of white plastic.
But who would have thought that more than 40 million driver's licenses would have to be renewed?
For the municipal administrations a huge act that will drag on for years.
The exchange therefore takes place in stages, depending on the year of birth of the driver and the date of issue of the driver's license.
First things first: the exchange is mandatory.
German citizens who were born between 1953 and 1958 and have a driver's license issued before 1999 must now exchange it.
The driving license office of the registered place of residence is responsible for this.
Depending on where you live, this can also be the Citizens’ Registration Office.
In some municipalities, the application for the exchange can also be submitted online.
These exchange periods apply to citizens in this country for the new driver's licenses.
© Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Transport
Driver's license: Don't forget your ID, biometric photo and old license when exchanging it
Anyone applying for a new EU flap must bring a valid identity card, their old certificate and a biometric passport photo.
The good news: A driving and health check is not carried out.
However, the authority can also have concerns about fitness to drive in individual cases, for example in the case of obvious physical limitations such as a walker or crutches, reports
t-online.de
.
According to the catalog of fines, anyone who does not comply with the exchange obligation faces a warning fine of ten euros.
If you are traveling abroad with an expired license, you can also have problems.
The cost of the exchange is 25.50 euros.
An overview of what now applies when exchanging:
If the driver's license was issued
before December 31, 1998
, the year of birth of the driver's license holder is decisive
If you received your driver's license
after January 1, 1999
, the year in which the license was issued is decisive
Drivers
born between 1953 and 1958
must
exchange their driving license by
July 19, 2022 .
Everyone else has a little more time
Driver's licenses
issued by January 18, 2013
must be exchanged by January 19, 2033
All category B driving licenses
issued
after 19 January 2013
are valid for 15 years
and must be renewed regularly from then on
Source:
Chip.de
also read
Pension, Hartz IV, sick leave: These innovations will come in July
Whatsapp status: There are legal consequences in the event of an error
Driving license exchange: Which deadlines apply now and in the future
The end of the exchange is dated January 19, 2033 by the federal government.
By then, the approximately 40 million bills must be exchanged.
For the exchange deadlines, the year of birth of the driver and the date of issue of the license must be taken into account.
For licenses issued before December 31, 1998, the holder's year of birth determines the deadline.
Year of birth | Date of Exchange |
Before 1953 | 01/19/2033 |
1953 - 1958 | 07/19/2022 |
1959 - 1964 | 01/19/2023 |
1965 - 1970 | 01/19/2024 |
From 1971 | 01/19/2025 |
For driving licenses from January 1, 1999, the year of issue determines the deadline for the exchange.
year of issue | Date of Exchange |
1999 - 2001 | 01/19/2026 |
2002 - 2004 | 01/19/2027 |
2005 - 2007 | 01/19/2028 |
2008 | 01/19/2029 |
2009 | 01/19/2030 |
2010 | 01/10/2031 |
2011 | 01/19/2032 |
2012 - 01/18/2013 | 01/19/2033 |
These deadlines only apply to Germany.
The ADAC traffic club advises anyone who spends a lot of time in another EU country to find out what rules that country has in place for exchanging their driving licence.
The Ministry for Digital Affairs and Transport has agreed on procedural instructions for the exchange of German driving licenses with the Federal Foreign Office.
However, all EU citizens must have their old driving license by January 19, 2033 at the latest
exchange in any case.
Since many cities are already expecting an onslaught, it is advisable to take care of exchanging the note for a counterfeit-proof credit card format at the appropriate time.
What do these traffic signs mean?
View photo gallery
Stay up to date on consumer information and product recalls with our brand new consumer newsletter.