🪪 Do I have to exchange my old driving licence?

Yes

Quick answer

Yes, staggered until 2033. All licences issued before 19 January 2013 must be exchanged for the forgery-proof EU card licence — step by step, by year of issue or birth. For card licences (from 1999) e.g.: issued 1999–2001 → by 19 Jan 2026, 2002–2004 → by 19 Jan 2027, 2005–2007 → by 19 Jan 2028. Paper licences (before 1999) go by year of birth; those born before 1953 have until 19 Jan 2033. The exchange is purely administrative — your driving entitlement stays, no new test, no medical.

📋 The rules

Mandatory exchange of all licences issued before 19 Jan 2013
Card licence: 1999–2001 → 2026, 2002–2004 → 2027, 2005–2007 → 2028 (etc. to 2033)
Paper licence (before 1999): deadline by year of birth
Born before 1953: exchange by 19 Jan 2033
Purely administrative — entitlement stays, no test/medical

🔓 Exceptions

The driving entitlement itself doesn't expire — only the document is renewed
If you apply for a new licence anyway (e.g. after loss), you get the new model directly
Abroad, a non-exchanged old licence may be treated more strictly

⚠️ Penalties & fines

If you drive with the old document after your deadline, in Germany it's only an administrative offence with a €10 warning fine — the entitlement stays valid, it's not driving without a licence. Still, exchange in time: in checks abroad an expired document may be deemed invalid, and waiting times at the licensing office are long just before the cut-off dates.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-06-20

❓ Frequently asked

Do I really have to exchange my licence?

Yes. All licences issued before 19 January 2013 must be exchanged for the new EU card licence by 2033 at the latest — staggered by year of issue or birth. It's required across the EU.

Which deadline applies to me?

For card licences the year of issue counts: 1999–2001 by 19 Jan 2026, 2002–2004 by 2027, 2005–2007 by 2028 and so on. For paper licences (before 1999) the year of birth counts; those born before 1953 have until 2033.

Do I have to take a new test?

No. The exchange is purely administrative. Your driving entitlement stays unchanged — neither a new driving test nor medical checks nor an MPU is required.

What if I miss the deadline?

In Germany only a €10 warning fine — the entitlement stays valid. It's not driving without a licence. Abroad, though, a non-exchanged document can be treated as invalid.

Where do I exchange the licence?

At the licensing authority of your place of residence, in many places also online via i-Kfz. You usually need a biometric photo, the old licence and your ID; processing costs about €25–30.

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