Exchanging a German driving licence: every deadline and the next wave
The mandatory exchange runs in waves, one a year, always on 19 January. Which wave applies to you, which have already passed and how much notice the office needs.
Under section 24a(2) of the driving licence ordinance (FeV), every German licence issued before 19 January 2013 loses its validity on the date given in Annex 8e. For paper licences the deadline depends on the holder’s year of birth; those deadlines have all passed, except for people born before 1953, who have until 19 January 2033. For card licences the year of issue counts. The last wave hit cards issued in 1999 – 2001 on 19 January 2026. The next concerns cards from 2002 – 2004: they must be exchanged by 19 January 2027, 88 days from 23 October 2026. The exchange costs €26.50 under the fee schedule, with no test. If you are late, you keep the right to drive but carry an invalid document, for which a warning fine of €10 is set. The new card is valid for 15 years.
When must my licence be exchanged?
Exchange by
19 January 2028
| Days left | 453 days |
| Fee | €26.50 |
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The full calendar
Annex 8e of the driving licence ordinance assigns every old licence to a row. The table shows every row with its status today. The calculator below the summary, or in more detail the exchange page, works out the deadline for your own document.
| Licence | Deciding year | Exchange by | As of 23 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper | born up to 1952 | 19 January 2033 | 2,280 days left |
| Paper | born 1953 – 1958 | 19 July 2022 | passed 1,557 days ago |
| Paper | born 1959 – 1964 | 19 January 2023 | passed 1,373 days ago |
| Paper | born 1965 – 1970 | 19 January 2024 | passed 1,008 days ago |
| Paper | born 1971 or later | 19 January 2025 | passed 642 days ago |
| Card | issued 1999 – 2001 | 19 January 2026 | passed 277 days ago |
| Card | issued 2002 – 2004 | 19 January 2027 | 88 days left |
| Card | issued 2005 – 2007 | 19 January 2028 | 453 days left |
| Card | issued 2008 | 19 January 2029 | 819 days left |
| Card | issued 2009 | 19 January 2030 | 1,184 days left |
| Card | issued 2010 | 19 January 2031 | 1,549 days left |
| Card | issued 2011 | 19 January 2032 | 1,914 days left |
| Card | issued 2012 – 2013 | 19 January 2033 | 2,280 days left |
For the grey or pink paper licence, the ordinance uses the year of birth, not the year of issue. On a card licence the year of issue is in field 4a. Watch out with replacement cards: if you received a new card after a loss, use the date of the replacement.
The next wave: cards from 2002 – 2004
If you received your card in those years, you must exchange it by 19 January 2027. What counts is the date in field 4a, not the year you passed your test. From 23 October 2026, 88 days remain. Because many offices see peaks before every January, it is worth applying now.
When must my licence be exchanged?
Exchange by
19 January 2028
| Days left | 453 days |
| Fee | €26.50 |
What applies after the deadline
On the deadline the document loses its validity, says section 24a(2). The right to drive remains; you do not retake any test. But if you are stopped with the expired document, you cannot prove your entitlement with a valid licence. The fines catalogue sets a warning fine of €10 for that. No points are given. Other consequences cost more: car rental, car sharing and some employers require a valid licence, and abroad the old document no longer counts as proof.
What the exchange costs and how long it takes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Conversion to the card licence, GebOSt | €25.50 |
| Entry in the central driving licence register | €1.00 |
| Fee in total | €26.50 |
| Direct delivery in Berlin (optional, retrieved 21 October 2026) | €6.32 |
| Biometric passport photo | photographer’s price |
After you apply, the licence office sends the order to the Federal Printing Office. The card comes back to the office or, where offered, straight to you by post. You hand in the old licence only on collection, so you have proof in the meantime. Some offices issue a provisional document on request if the old licence has already been withdrawn.
A plan in four steps
First, find your row in the table and note the deadline. Second, check whether the licence office at your current address issued the old licence; if not, request the record extract (Karteikartenabschrift) from the original office, which can take weeks. Third, book an appointment, as at the registration office; many offices also accept exchange applications by post or online. Fourth, bring your ID, photo and old licence. The page on the road traffic office explains which office is responsible.
After the exchange: the 15 years
The new card shows an expiry date in field 4b, 15 years after the day the office placed the order. After that only the document is renewed, again without a test, much like an ID card. If you plan a trip, keep the date in mind; for driving outside the EU an international driving permit also helps.