German Driving Licence for Expats: Exchange, Convert or Start From Scratch

Whether you can exchange your foreign licence for a German one (or whether you’ll need to sit theory and practical tests) depends entirely on which country issued it. Get this wrong and you waste months and hundreds of euros on tests you didn’t need to take, or worse, you drive illegally without realising it.

EU and EEA Licence Holders: You’re Already Done

If your driving licence was issued by an EU or EEA country (including Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein), it is valid in Germany indefinitely. No exchange required, no tests, no office visits.

If your licence has an expiry date, renew it through your home country’s process as normal, German authorities honour the renewal. Just carry your licence when driving.

The 6-Month Rule for Non-EU Holders

If you have a non-EU licence and have completed your Anmeldung (address registration), you can drive on your foreign licence for 6 months from your registration date. After that, it is no longer valid for driving in Germany.

Do not wait until month 5 to start the exchange process. Some Führerscheinstellen (licence offices) have appointment waiting times of 6-10 weeks, especially in larger cities.

Countries With Direct Exchange Agreements

Germany has bilateral agreements with certain countries that allow a direct exchange, paperwork and a fee, no tests required.

Full exchange, no tests: Australia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, Taiwan, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Faroe Islands.

Partial agreements (check your specific province or state):

• Canada: most major provinces qualify (British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and others). Some smaller provinces do not.
• USA: only a small number of US states have an agreement: currently Nevada, South Carolina, and a handful of others. Most US states do not have an exchange agreement. Check your specific state before assuming you qualify.

No agreement, tests required: India, Pakistan, Philippines, most African countries, most South American countries, most of the Middle East, most US states, and several others.

Always verify your specific country at the ADAC website or ask your local Führerscheinstelle directly, agreements are updated periodically.

If Your Country Has No Agreement

The good news: you do not have to redo the full German Fahrschule with all the mandatory lesson hours that first-time German licence applicants must complete. For most foreign licence holders, you only need:

• Pass the German theory test (available in English)
• Pass the practical driving test
• Complete a first aid course (Erste-Hilfe-Kurs, 9 hours, around €30)
• Get an eye test (any optician, 5 minutes, €5-10)

Most experienced drivers pass the practical test after 2-5 refresher lessons with a German instructor to get used to local rules and the test format.

The Exchange Process Step by Step

1. Gather your documents: original foreign licence, certified German translation if required (you can obtain an officially recognized translation online from lingoking), passport or eAT, Anmeldung confirmation, biometric passport photo, first aid certificate, eye test certificate.
2. Book an appointment at your local Führerscheinstelle (part of the Straßenverkehrsamt or Bürgeramt depending on the city). Book early, waiting times range from 2 weeks to 3 months.
3. Attend the appointment, submit documents, pay the exchange fee (€35-45), and hand over your foreign licence. They keep the original.
4. Wait for processing: typically 4-8 weeks. Your German licence arrives by post.
5. Ask for a temporary driving permit (Vorläufiger Nachweis) if you need to drive during the waiting period.

The Theory Test in English

Yes, the German theory test is available in English (and around 10 other languages). Book it at a TÜV or DEKRA test centre, find your nearest one at tuev.de or dekra.de.

The test has 30 questions and requires a score of at least 90% to pass. Study using the official app “Führerschein 2026” which has the full question bank in English. Most people pass within a week of regular study.

Cost Overview

• Licence exchange fee: €35-45
• Official translation (if needed): €30-60 (e.g. from an online service like lingoking)
• First aid course: ~€30
• Eye test: €5-10
• Theory test (if required): ~€22
• Practical test (if required): ~€120
• Refresher driving lessons (if needed): €50-65 per lesson

For a simple exchange from an agreement country, budget €100-150. If you need the theory and practical tests, expect €300-600 including a few refresher lessons.

Driving a Car vs Using Public Transport

Before committing to the full exchange process, it’s worth knowing that Germany has excellent public transport. The Deutschlandticket covers all local and regional trains, buses, and trams across Germany for €58/month, which covers most daily commuting needs in any German city. Many expats find they don’t need a car at all, especially in larger cities.

Already have your German licence? Make sure you have the right car insurance. If you are relocating from abroad, check out our comprehensive Expat Car Insurance Guide to learn how to legally transfer your foreign no-claims history and slash your premiums. You can also compare options directly online:

* Affiliate disclosure: Some links in this article are marked with (*). If you sign up or purchase via these links, Expatzentrum may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep the site free. We only recommend services we have researched and consider genuinely useful for expats.

Compare Car Insurance (Kfz-Versicherung) on TarifCheck →*