Exchanging driving licenses is slow

Will there soon be over 6000 predominantly elderly people in the district without a valid driver's license?

This could happen if the exchange campaign for the old driver's license continues to run so slowly.

But 63 to 68 year olds still have until January 19 to apply for their new document at the district office.

District -

A first call by the authority in May did not bring the desired success. Since 2019, just under 1000 of the old gray or pink papers have been exchanged for the new digital and forgery-proof EU driving licenses. Around 6,200 driving licenses are still missing. The press office could not say how many driving licenses are in circulation in the district.

In the neighboring district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen, things look much better: So far, around a third of the around 7,000 old driver's licenses from 1953 to '58 have been exchanged.

In Garmisch-Partenkirchen, “relatively few” driver's licenses have been exchanged so far.

This is also due to a computer changeover, according to the district office's press office.

Around 88,000 people live in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, around 61,000 of whom have a driver's license.

There are different reference dates for different years

"The rag goes - the card comes" is what the district office calls the campaign, which is to be completed by the end of 2025. For those born between 1959 and '64, January 19, 2023 is the deadline for exchange, for those born between 1965 and '70 January 19, 2024, for all born in 1971 and later it is January 19, 2025 Other - usually longer - deadlines apply until a maximum of 2033.

"Presumably, many citizens do not even have an eye on the mandatory exchange," said the district office in a press release. But if you already take care of it now - no matter what age group you are - you will save yourself long waiting times. Because the closer the deadline comes, the greater the rush in the registration offices in Weilheim and Schongau, according to experience. "We recommend all driving license holders concerned to make an appointment as soon as possible and preferably online," said Sabrina Loy, head of the "Driving Licensing" department in the press release. In Weilheim (Stainhartstrasse 7) there is even a dedicated counter for exchanges, which takes around 25 minutes. You must bring your current driver's license, ID card or passport, and a current biometric passport photo (35 by 45 millimeters, not older than a year).The exchange fee is 30.30 euros. If you have a driver's license that does not come from the local district office, you also need a copy of the index card - free of charge - from the authority where the document was issued.

In the event of a police check, there is a threat of a fine with an “old rag”

By the way, if you hang on to your old rag, you can take it back with you after it has been exchanged - canceled of course.

Nevertheless, the paper version is still valid for two months, because the new ticket in credit card format will only be sent by post after a few weeks.

So whoever comes into a police check has nothing to fear - in contrast to those who missed the exchange date.

You commit an administrative offense that can be punished with ten euros.

BY JOHANNES THOMA

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