Driver's license exchange: it's the turn of "baby boomers" - ADAC reminds of an important deadline in January

Created: 01/10/2023, 16:30

By: Anne Hund

By 2033, millions of older driver's licenses will have to be exchanged to make them more tamper-proof.

For some motorists, the deadline expires on January 19, 2023.

Many drivers will soon have to part with the “pink rag”: By 2033, the driving license in the EU should have a uniform, forgery-proof format.

To do this, the old driver's licenses must gradually be exchanged for a new credit card format.

The exchange takes place according to the year of birth or issue - according to the ADAC, it is now the turn of the "baby boomers".

Deadlines for the mandatory exchange of old driving licenses

For certificates (paper) issued up to and including December 31, 1998, the year of birth is decisive.

"Here the first deadline was July 19, 2022 for those born between 1953 and 1958," as the

reported.

Now the next important deadline follows: "By January 19, 2023, those affected who were born between 1959 and 1964 would have to have exchanged," said dpa.

By January 19, 2024, everyone born between 1965 and 1970 would be asked to exchange them.

The old driver's licenses are gradually being exchanged.

It is important for drivers to stick to the deadlines.

©Oliver Berg/dpa

Older owners have a lot of time

According to the dpa, anyone who has a document in credit card format issued between January 1, 1999 and including January 18, 2013 can only use the date of issue as a guide.

The deadline for the first exhibition years (1999 to 2001) does not expire until January 19, 2026, as the ADAC describes in detail on its website.

There is therefore a general exception: Anyone born before 1953 can take their time with the exchange until January 19, 2033 – regardless of the date of issue or the format of the driver’s license.

The ADAC has summarized the most important data with the various deadlines.

Here is an overview.

Deadlines for driving licenses issued up to and including December 31, 1998 (grey, pink, GDR):

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Deadlines for driving licenses issued from January 1, 1999 up to and including January 18, 2013 (credit card format):

Driving license exchange: ADAC explains what you need for this

But how does the driver's license exchange work?

"You go to your driver's license office and apply for an exchange of your driver's license for motorcycle and car classes.

Without an exam or health check,” the ADAC announced on its website last year.

The exchange is mandatory, the experts emphasized: Those who instead continue to use their old car or

If you drive with a motorcycle license and miss the deadline, you risk a fine of ten euros.

What do car or motorcyclists need for the exchange?

"Identity card or passport, biometric passport photo and current driver's license," is the current information from ADAC with a view to the January 19 deadline.

With the conversion of the "driving license classes of the old law", the classes that correspond to the previous driving license would be confirmed in the new driver's license, the automobile club explains the procedure.

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Driving license exchange costs “around 25 euros”

The exchange in the local driver's license office costs "around 25 euros", according to the ADAC;

the costs for the biometric passport photo are additional.

If the old driver's license was not issued at the current place of residence, a copy of the index card from the issuing office is also required - as the

also described - which can be requested by post, telephone or online.