What makes up the cost
The price of a licence is not a single number but a sum of several items. Knowing which ones lets you judge where you can save.
Learn more – What makes up the cost
Guide
Converting a foreign licence
People new to Berlin ask us this almost daily. The answer comes down to three points – here they are in order.
Point one: where is your licence from?
Licences from the EU and the European Economic Area generally remain valid in Germany. You do not have to do anything. Conversion is still possible, for example if your document is expiring or you would like a German card format.
For licences from other countries it gets more complicated – and time-critical.
Point two: the six-month deadline
When you register a residence in Germany you may usually keep driving on a licence from a non-EU country for six months. After that you need a German licence.
This is where it gets serious
Driving after the deadline without a valid licence is a criminal offence – with all the consequences for insurance cover and your record. Better to deal with it too early than too late.
The deadline starts with the registration of your residence, not with your entry into the country. Under certain conditions it can be extended, for example if it is clear from the outset that your stay will be shorter than a year.
Point three: test or no test?
For licences from certain countries conversion alone is enough – no theory and no practical test. For others a theory test, a practical test or both are required. Which rule applies is set out in an official list and in some cases even differs by region within a country.
Important to know: even if a test is required you do not have to go through full driving school training. You take the test; the compulsory lessons do not apply. How much preparation makes sense is something we look at together – sometimes a few lessons are enough to get used to German traffic rules.
Which documents you need
The exact list depends on the individual case. In the vast majority of cases it is:
- The original foreign driving licence
- A certified translation, where required
- A valid ID or passport with proof of registration
- A biometric passport photo
- An eye test certificate
- Proof of a first aid course
On conversion the foreign document is usually withdrawn and returned to the issuing country. In exchange you receive the German card licence.
Why you do not have to work this out alone
The hardest part is not the test but finding out what applies to you at all. That is exactly where we help – in German, English or Turkish, whichever comes easier.
Just bring your licence in. We will tell you which category it falls into, how much time you have left and what to do next.
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In ten minutes you will know what applies in your case and how much time you have left.