Status: 16.01.2024, 12:35 p.m.
By: Natascha Heidenreich
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Attention motorists: By Friday (19 January), millions of old driving licences will have to be exchanged for the new EU credit card. Who's on it?
Munich – Piece by piece, the pink rags that used to be issued as driver's licenses are disappearing from the nation's wallets. One thing is certain: the old driver's licenses were always a bit too big for wallets anyway. However, that is not the reason why they are being abolished.
By January 19, 2033, millions of old driver's licenses are to be replaced for good. As reported by Bayerischer Rundfunk, the Bundesrat justifies the decision with the desire for a uniform and forgery-proof driver's license document.
Staggered driver's license exchange: Next deadline is January 19, 2024
In order to prevent all affected driving licences from having to be replaced at once, a step-by-step plan has been developed. Every year, January 19 is the deadline by which the next group must have exchanged their rag for the new EU driving licence cheque card. Now it's that time again.
The national documents must be replaced by the EU credit card driving licence exchanged. © IMAGO/Zoonar.com/stockfotos-mg
On Friday, January 19, 2024, the next generation of driver's licenses is due. The year of birth is always decisive for the deadlines. An exchange calculator is available, for example, on the website of the ADAC.
Attention: The deadline for a certain vintage is Friday
This time it's the turn of those born between 1965 and 1970. You must have exchanged all car and motorcycle driving licences by Friday. If you were born between 1954 and 1964, you must have already completed the exchange, because after the deadlines, the driving licences lose their validity. Anyone who has missed the deadline and is caught driving without the new EU cheque card in their wallet commits an administrative offence and must expect a warning fine of 10 euros.
No health check-ups when exchanging at the driver's license office
Those who have put off the exchange out of fear can rest assured. Anyone who wants to can keep their beloved rag. It is only important to bring it to the driver's license office so that it can be validated beforehand. Then it can be taken home again.
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And other worries are also unfounded. There is no health check, nor does a driving licence class have to be forfeited when exchanging. If you show up at the driver's license office in time with an identity card or passport, a biometric passport photo and, of course, your old driver's license, you can apply without additional checks.
Exchange is only possible in person – in many places, it is not possible to apply for a new driver's license online
However, it is important for the application to be made in person at most authorities. There are only a few driver's license offices where it can be obtained online – for example, in the district of Munich. But it's worth a try: If you call once beforehand to be on the safe side, you may be able to save yourself a trip.
Depending on the county, the period between applying for and issuing the new driver's license may be a few weeks. For those who have not yet been to the driver's license office, this means that it is high time now. The exchange costs between 25 and 30 euros.
Those born in 1971 or later can already get ready, because for them January 19, 2025 is the deadline for exchange. (NHF
)