Fahrerlaubnis: Führerschein alten Rechts umtauschen

If the validity of your driving license has expired, you must apply for a new one. Old paper and card driving licenses have been gradually losing their validity since 2022. The European Union (EU) single card driving license will replace them.

Many holders of a driving license are still driving with the old paper license. These documents have been gradually losing their validity since 19.01.2022 - staggered according to the holder's year of birth.

If the validity of your old paper driving license has expired, you must have it replaced by the currently valid European Union (EU) standard card driving license.

As the holder of an older driving license in credit card format, you are also affected by the exchange campaign.

Card driving licenses issued from 19.01.2013 are limited to 15 years. For driving licenses issued before this date, certain deadlines apply for exchanging them.

Based on your year of birth, you can see in the following overview by when you must exchange your driving license. These deadlines apply to driving licenses issued up to and including 31.12.1998:

• before 1953 - 19.01.2033
• 1953 to 1958 - 19.07.2022
• 1959 to 1964 - 19.01.2023
• 1965 to 1970 - 19.01.2024
• 1971 or later - 19.01.2025

Based on the year of issue, you can see in the following overview by when you must exchange your driving license. These deadlines apply to driving licenses issued from 01.01.1999:

• 1999 to 2001 - 19.01.2026
• 2002 to 2004 - 19.01.2027
• 2005 to 2007 - 19.01.2028
• 2008 - 19.01.2029
• 2009 - 19.01.2030
• 2010 - 19.01.2031
• 2011 - 19.01.2032
• 2012 until 18.01.2013 - 19.01.2033

Notes:

• Holders of a driving license whose year of birth is before 1953 must also exchange their driving license by 19.01.2033, regardless of the year of issue of the driving license.
• The respective time limit only affects the driving license document, not the underlying driving license. A medical examination or other checks are not associated with the document exchange.
• The rights documented in the driving license remain in effect even if the document is exchanged.

• Proof of identity, for example identity card or passport
• Current biometric passport photo
• Original copy of old driver's license
• Transcript of record card, if applicable
• current registration certificate, if applicable

• Driving license issue: Conversion of an old law permit
• Old paper and card driving licenses will gradually lose their validity from 2022
• The EU's single card driving license replaces the old driving licenses.
• Card driving licenses issued from 19.01.2013 are limited to 15 years.
• Once the validity period has expired, a new driving license must be applied for.
• Driving licenses issued before 19.01.2013 must be exchanged for a current driving license model by a certain deadline.
• Responsible: competent driving license authority

Contact the driving license authority in the place where you have your main residence.