The German Way: Life in Austria, Germany, Switzerland

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Applying for a Driver’s License in Germany

Okay, in Part One you learned whether you have reciprocity or not, and you’re ready to get the ball rolling to apply for your new German driver’s license (Führerschein). Where do you go? What documents do you need to have with you? Read on…

Where to go and what to bring with you

German license
If you’re lucky, this license will only cost you 35 euros plus the cost of a photo, possibly a translation, and a few hours of your time.
Photo: KBA
The following information applies to almost anyone applying for a German driver’s license, no matter from which non-EU country. (EU citizens with a license from their home country don’t need to get a German one.) Whether you come from Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, the USA, or any other Drittstaat, the procedure is the same, with only minor variations, depending on your country’s license agreements with Germany. But you do have a few options.

1. Fahrschule
If your German is minimal, even if you have a full waiver of testing (but especially if you need to take either the practical road test or the theoretical written test), going through a local Fahrschule (driving school) that has experience working with foreigners may be the best approach for you. For a fee they can take you through the bureaucracy involved in getting your license. They can also help you find a first-aid course (required). If you have tests to pass, a driving school is the only way to go. Even Germans have to do that! (In Germany, your parents don’t teach you to drive; an official, certified Fahrschule does.) If you use a driving school, you have to choose one before you submit your application for a driver’s license.

2. Do It Yourself
If you don’t have any tests required, you don’t need a Fahrschule. Using the information below, you can to go to the Bürgeramt and submit your own application. If your German is weak, you may want to bring along a German friend. Sometimes the clerks speak English, but not always.

The guidelines below have been gathered from several sources. The license requirements in Cologne may be different from those in Munich or Berlin. Small towns may do things a bit differently than in big cities, etc. Always ask about the requirements at your local Führerscheinstelle! Most also have online information.

German Driver’s License Application Guidelines
Where to go, what to bring with you
 
Umschreibung einer ausländischen Fahrerlaubnis
Conversion of a Foreign Driver’s License

Where? In most cases you will go to the driver’s license office (Führerscheinstelle) at the nearest Bürgeramt (district city hall) or Rathaus (city hall). You can find the nearest one by doing a web search for your city and “Führerscheinstelle.”

Bring the following items with you:
  • Passport or Personalausweis (German ID card)
  • 1 photo (Lichtbild, 35 x 45 mm, borderless)
  • Your valid driver’s license from your home country
  • German translation of license (from ADAC, 40 euro fee)*
  • Proof of how long you’ve had the license (if not already on the original license)
  • Recent vision test (Sehtest) certification (for class A, A1, B, BE, M, L or T license)*
  • Proof of completion of a first-aid course (only sometimes offered in English)
  • Confirmation of your first registration (Anmeldung) as a resident in Germany (if this was not done in the city where you are applying)
  • Fee of 40 euros in cash (if no tests are required)
Time: Allow three to six weeks before you actually receive your license! The Munich office sends your original license to the BKA (German FBI) to test that it is authentic! That can add 2-3 weeks. Most offices ask you to surrender your original license, but often you can talk them out of it.

*Not required by some offices; inquire locally.

NOTE: These requirements may vary from office to office and city to city. In most cases, you will be applying for a 'B' class license (normal car, trailer under 750kg).

Other EU Countries and Conditions
As we mentioned before, Austria and Belgium make it much easier to convert your U.S. driver’s license. It will be nice if Germany ever follows suit, but for now, see the above guidelines.

Austrian license
It’s usually easier for expats to get an Austrian driver’s license than a German one.
The Test
If you need to take the written (theoretical) test on traffic laws, there is a book (Fahren Lernen Lehrbuch) with all the possible questions and answers. (Note: There is a high rate of failure for this test! You need the book! If you don’t pass the test on your third attempt, you have to go back to Fahrschule.) Normally, you get the Lehrbuch from a driving school (for free if you’re taking lessons there). It costs over 50 euros, but can be found for much less on eBay and at Amazon.de, and is also available on CD (and in English; you can also take the test in English). There are various software sample test programs, such as “Die interaktive Fahrschule,” but not in English, as far as I know.

Sample Test Questions
The fuehrerschein.aral.de site offers a cool interactive review online (in German). Here are four actual pages from the Prüfbogen with illustrated English test questions (from a personal website). The US Army in Europe (USAFE) offers a “Drivers Handbook and Examination Manual for Germany” that is available in PDF format (1.8 MB) in English.

Also see the VVR site for their “Autofahren Testbogen”: Verkehrs-Verlag GmbH Remagen (site in German, English version of the test questions available) and VVR Multimedia Course (Easy Driver Control, in German).

BACK: Which US states have driver’s license reciprocity agreements with Germany? License Reciprocity and Requirements.

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Hyde Flippo is solely responsible for the content of this site and, other than permission granted to publish copyrighted material, McGraw-Hill/Contemporary Publishing has no direct involvement, financial or otherwise, with this site. When in Germany, Do As the Germans © 2002 McGraw-Hill; The German Way ©1999 McGraw-Hill/Passport Books. All rights reserved | Site Map | Advertise with us!