Updated April 22, 2026
Driving License in Germany for Expats
Yes, for 6 months from establishing ordentlicher Wohnsitz (extendable by up to 6 more months on application — §29 FeV). After that, you must convert to a Germany license. Good news: the official test is available in English.
Key Facts: Germany Driving License for Expats
- Test Authority
- TÜV/DEKRA — Technischer Überwachungsverein
- Official Test Language
- German, English, French, Arabic, Turkish, Polish, Spanish, Russian, + up to ~12 languages in total (TÜV-DEKRA platform)
- Grace Period
- 6 months from establishing ordentlicher Wohnsitz (extendable by up to 6 more months on application — §29 FeV)
- Processing Time
- Varies by city / Führerscheinstelle
- Theory Test Required
- Not for exchange
- Practical Test Required
- Not for exchange
- Medical Exam
- Not required
- Total Cost
- GebOSt fee + certified translation (if required) + optional Fahrschule costs if you fall outside Anlage 11
Eligibility by Nationality
EU/EEA Citizens
EU/EEA licences remain valid for driving in Germany; exchange is voluntary and governed by §28 Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung (FeV). Exchange is only required when the licence itself needs to be renewed or replaced.
US/UK Citizens
UK / Northern Ireland: listed in Anlage 11 FeV List A — direct exchange without theory or practical test. USA: depends on the state. Several states (Connecticut, DC, Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee) are on List C and require the theory test; most others are on List A with no tests required. Check Anlage 11 FeV for your specific state.
Other Non-EU Citizens
Per §29 FeV, a non-EU licence is valid in Germany for 6 months from the date you establish ordentlicher Wohnsitz; the Fahrerlaubnisbehörde can extend this by up to a further 6 months on application if you can credibly show the stay will not exceed 12 months. Whether full tests are needed depends on whether your issuing country appears on Anlage 11 FeV.
Students
Students registered in Germany can drive on their foreign licence during the 6-month window under §29 FeV. After that the standard exchange / test rules apply — there is no permanent student exemption once you have ordentlicher Wohnsitz.
Required Documents
- ✓Valid passport (and residence title / visa)
- ✓Anmeldebestätigung (Meldebescheinigung) from the Einwohnermeldeamt
- ✓Original foreign driving licence
- ✓Biometric passport photo
- ✓Application form from the local Führerscheinstelle
- ✓Proof of fee payment (rate set by local Führerscheinstelle under GebOSt)
- ✓Certified German translation of the licence if it is not issued by an EU/EEA country or in a script/language covered by recognised exemptions
- ✓For full-test path only (not on Anlage 11): Sehtest (eye-test certificate under §12 FeV) and Erste-Hilfe-Kurs (first-aid course under §19 FeV)
Costs Breakdown
- Conversion/Exam Fee
- Set by the local Führerscheinstelle under GebOSt (Gebührenordnung für Maßnahmen im Straßenverkehr)
- Medical Exam
- Only required for the full-test path (Sehtest at an optician or authorised centre)
- Translation
- Certified-translator rate (only when required for your country)
- Total Estimated
- GebOSt fee + certified translation (if required) + optional Fahrschule costs if you fall outside Anlage 11
License Exchange Agreements
Direct Exchange (No Test Required) · 28
License Exchange Agreements
Direct Exchange (No Test Required) · 28
EU / EEA countries (recognised under §28 FeV; voluntary exchange)— Anlage 11 List A (no theory or practical test): —AndorraBosnia and HerzegovinaFrench PolynesiaGibraltarGuernseyIsle of ManIsraelJapanJerseyKosovoMonacoNamibiaNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNorth MacedoniaRepublic of KoreaSan MarinoSerbiaSingaporeSouth AfricaSwitzerlandTaiwanUnited Kingdommost US statesmost Canadian provincesmost Australian territories
No Agreement (Full Test Required): Countries not on Anlage 11 require the full German theory and practical tests (see §31 FeV).
Tips for Expats in Germany
- The Theorieprüfung is offered in roughly 12 languages including English — one of the biggest advantages in the EU for English-speaking expats.
- Under §31 FeV the full exchange from an Anlage 11 List A country is exempt from eye test (§12), medical exam (§11), first-aid course (§19) and practical test (§15). Do not buy the Erste-Hilfe-Kurs until your Führerscheinstelle confirms it is required for your case.
- Your US state of issuance determines the test requirement — some states are full exchange (List A) and others require the Theorieprüfung (List C). Check the current Anlage 11.
- UK / NI licences are on List A — no tests needed, just the standard Umschreibung paperwork.
- §29 FeV lets you extend the 6-month driving window by up to 6 more months if you credibly show your stay will not exceed 12 months — apply to the Führerscheinstelle before the 6-month point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take the German driving test in English?
Yes — the German Theorieprüfung is available in roughly 12 languages on the TÜV-DEKRA testing platform, including German, English, French, Arabic, Turkish, Polish, Spanish and Russian (source: TÜV NORD "Theorieprüfung" page). The practical exam is conducted in German, but you can request an interpreter in some states. Confirm the currently-offered languages with your local Führerscheinstelle or TÜV / DEKRA test centre when you book.
Can I exchange my US license for a German one?
Depends on the US state. Per Anlage 11 FeV, most US states are on List A (direct exchange, no tests). Connecticut, DC, Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oregon and Tennessee are on List C and require you to pass the German theory test before exchange. States not on Anlage 11 require both theory and practical tests. Check the current Anlage 11 with your local Führerscheinstelle before assuming a direct exchange.
How long can I drive in Germany with my foreign license?
Under §29 Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung, a non-EU licence is valid in Germany for 6 months from the date you establish ordentlicher Wohnsitz (ordinary residence). The Fahrerlaubnisbehörde can extend this by up to a further 6 months on application if you credibly show your stay will not exceed 12 months in total. EU/EEA licences follow §28 FeV — valid while in force, exchange is voluntary unless the licence itself needs to be renewed or replaced.
What is the Anmeldung and why do I need it?
Anmeldung is your registration at the local Einwohnermeldeamt (residents' office). German law ties most rights — including driving-licence exchange — to your ordentlicher Wohnsitz, and the Meldebescheinigung you receive after Anmeldung is the document that proves it. You cannot lodge a Führerschein-Umschreibung without one.
Do I need a first aid course to exchange my license?
No, not if your country is on Anlage 11 List A. §31 FeV explicitly exempts exchange applicants from the first-aid training requirement of §19 FeV, the vision test of §12 FeV, the medical exam of §11 FeV and the practical test of §15 FeV. The Erste-Hilfe-Kurs is only required if you fall outside Anlage 11 and must take the full German theory + practical tests. Always confirm with your local Führerscheinstelle before paying for a course.
Can I exchange my UK / Northern Ireland licence?
Yes. The United Kingdom is on Anlage 11 FeV List A, so UK and Northern Ireland licences are exchanged without theory or practical tests. You still go through the standard Umschreibung paperwork at your local Führerscheinstelle — passport, Meldebescheinigung, original licence, biometric photo, application form and fee. Do not surrender the original UK licence until the Führerscheinstelle asks for it.
What about Swiss, Japanese, South Korean or other Anlage 11 licences?
Anlage 11 List A includes Switzerland, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Israel, South Africa, New Zealand, most US states, most Canadian provinces and more. If your issuing country is on List A, no tests are required — you just follow the Umschreibung procedure. If it is on List B (Moldova, Albania class AM) a practical test is required; if on List C (the named US states) only the theory test is required. Anyone outside Anlage 11 must take both tests.
How much does the licence exchange cost?
The DGT-equivalent fee is set by the local Führerscheinstelle under the GebOSt (Gebührenordnung für Maßnahmen im Straßenverkehr) rather than a single federal amount. Add a certified translation if your licence is in a non-EU / non-EEA language or script not covered by recognised exemptions. Ask your Führerscheinstelle for the current fee when you book your Anmeldung-to-Umschreibung appointment.
Do I need to translate my foreign licence?
EU / EEA licences never need a translation. Non-EU licences typically require a certified German translation, with exceptions for licences issued in certain scripts or agreed languages. Translations must be from a sworn (beeidigt) translator or the ADAC translation service recognised by the Führerscheinstelle. Check with your local Führerscheinstelle before paying for translation.
Can I drive with an International Driving Permit in Germany?
An IDP is a translation of your foreign licence, not a separate driving permit. During the 6-month §29 FeV window you drive on the foreign licence itself; the IDP can be required if your licence is not in a Latin script. An IDP does not extend the 6-month grace period and does not substitute for the German Umschreibung once you have established ordentlicher Wohnsitz.