At the Passport guide - your reliable document service - you will receive clear, legally compliant information on the validity of international driving licenses in Germany.
1. Driving licenses from EU/EEA countries (incl. Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland)
These driving licenses are valid in Germany valid indefinitely, as long as they have not expired and you are old enough for the respective vehicle class. .
Exceptions apply to certain categories of large vehicles (e.g. C, CE, D classes), which are only valid for a maximum of five years, after which health and eye tests are required.
2. Driving licenses from non-EU/EEA countries
For driving licenses issued outside the EU/EEA, a deadline of six months from registration in Germany. After that, the driver's license is no longer recognized and you must obtain a German driver's license.
3. Countries with special exchange agreements (list of countries in accordance with Annex 11 FeV)
Some countries have agreements with Germany that Simplified driver's license exchange enable - often without a new test:
Examples include Andorra, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, USA (partial), Israel, South Africa a. o. .
In some federal states, such as Hamburg, Hesse, Saxony-Anhalt and Schleswig-Holstein, there are even Low-bureaucracy, audit-free exchange options for US driver's licenses - confirmed by the American Chamber of Commerce, for example.
4. International Driver's License (IDP)
An International Driving Permit (IDP) can be useful in conjunction with the national driving license for temporary stays. However, it does not replace the national driving license and is only valid in combination
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