Driving license; application for exchange

Since 01.01.1999 there is the new card driving license. This is the size of a debit or credit card and is standardized throughout Europe. Since 19.01.2013, it has only been issued for a limited period of 15 years.

You can exchange your old grey or pink paper driving license for the current EU standardized card driving license at any time. You must apply for the exchange at your competent driving license authority (= district administrative authority).

All driving licenses issued before 19.01.2013 must be gradually exchanged for the new, temporary EU card driving license by 19.01.2033. For grey or pink "paper" driving licenses issued up to and including 31 December 1998, the exchange period depends on the date of birth of the driving license holder. These must therefore be exchanged as follows:

• Year of birth before 1953 until 19.01.2033
• Year of birth 1953-1958 until 19.07.2022
• Year of birth 1959-1964 until 19.01.2023
• Birth cohorts 1965-1970 until 19.01.2024
• Year of birth 1971 or later until 19.01.2025

For driving licenses that are still valid for an indefinite period, i.e. those issued from 01.01.1999 and before 19.01.2013, the exchange period does not end until 2026 to 2033, depending on the date of issue of the driving license.

The validity of the new driving licenses is limited to 15 years - regardless of the underlying driving license (see also explanations on driving licenses for trucks and buses below) - after which they must be renewed.

The exchange does not change the driving license itself. Only the driving license is exchanged as proof of the driving license. The old driving licenses are transferred to the new driving license categories.

In this context, it should be noted that, irrespective of the exchange of the driving license, the introduction of the new driving license categories in 1999 already resulted in changes to the validity period of driving licenses for trucks and buses (and corresponding combinations).

For further information, please refer to the service description "Driving license for buses and trucks; applying for an extension of the period of validity" (see "Related topics").

• Copy of the index card from the issuing authority
  Falls Ihr bisheriger Führerschein nicht in Erlangen ausgestellt wurde. Sie erhalten die Karteikartenabschrift von der Behörde, die den Führerschein ausgestellt hat, auf Anforderung.

• valid identity card or passport
• Current biometric photograph (frontal view)
• Previous driver's license

Make an online appointment with us now to exchange your driver's license:

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