Can you drive on
your foreign licence?
Your passport does not decide whether your driving licence is recognised: the licence’s issuing country, category and history matter. Check your position soon after moving, so an exchange or expired document does not interrupt your ability to drive.
| Licence | Normal starting point |
|---|---|
| Valid EU or EEA car licence | Generally recognised until expiry; conditions and exceptions apply. |
| Recognised non-EU/EEA licence | Normally six months from establishing normal residence. An extension may be possible for a stay of no more than twelve months. |
EU or EEA licence: usually valid until expiry
A valid EU or EEA licence is generally recognised in Germany within its authorised categories. Moving here does not by itself create a six-month exchange deadline for an ordinary car licence. The EEA includes Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Licence conditions still apply, and truck and bus categories have additional validity and medical rules.
Expired documents, provisional entitlements, disqualifications and licences obtained in circumstances that breach residence rules need separate attention. If your EU licence originated from an exchange of a non-EU licence, ask the licensing authority to check the current rules and your document’s history.
Non-EU or non-EEA licence: plan around six months
A recognised, valid non-EU/EEA licence normally allows driving for six months after you establish normal residence in Germany. This includes UK licences. After that, you normally need a German licence to continue driving. Normal residence is a legal test based on your circumstances; it is not simply a fresh six-month allowance every time you cross a border.
The authority may grant an extension of up to another six months if you can prove your normal residence here will not exceed twelve months. Ask before relying on this exception. Start the exchange early: an application or booked appointment does not automatically authorise driving after recognition ends.
Will you need theory or practical tests?
Germany’s Annex 11 lists countries—and sometimes individual states or licence categories—with simplified exchange arrangements. Depending on the exact entry, both tests, one test or neither may be required. For countries outside those arrangements, theory and practical tests are generally necessary. The standard full training programme is not automatically required for an exchange, but preparation and driving lessons may still be sensible.
Check the issuing jurisdiction, category and any footnotes rather than relying on someone with a different licence. Fees for the authority, tests, translations and preparation are separate; there is no single nationwide all-in price.
What should you bring?
Apply through the Fahrerlaubnisbehörde responsible for your residence. Its list normally includes identity and, where applicable, residence documents, a suitable biometric photograph and the original valid national licence. An international driving permit does not replace that licence and is not itself exchanged.
A translation, evidence of your previous residence or licence history, an eyesight test, first-aid certificate and driving-school details may also be needed, depending on the route and category. Follow the local list. Translation requirements for driving and for the exchange process are not necessarily identical. Check recognition before driving; learner licences and an expired licence are not a safe basis for doing so.
Your practical checklist
- Identify the issuing country or state, licence category and expiry date.
- Ask the authority when your normal residence began and recognition ends.
- Check Annex 11 and the authority’s current test requirements.
- Prepare the original licence, documents and any required translation.
- Apply early and arrange alternative transport if the deadline arrives first.
A practical question about settling in?
Tell us where you live and what support you need. We can help you find a suitable relocation connection; the licensing authority decides your entitlement.
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General information checked 4 October 2026. Procedures and individual requirements can differ. Use the official sources linked above and confirm your position with the relevant authority or provider.