Are you dreaming about speeding down the Autobahn in Germany, but unsure if you’re even allowed to drive here?
I spent my first months in Germany trawling through Reddit and Facebook groups to figure out the specifics about if I could drive with my Australian driver’s license and how to exchange it for a German one.
The amount of conflicting advice was overwhelming and not to mention, the German bureaucracy was terrifying.
The good news: driving in Germany as a foreigner is allowed! Even on the Autobahn, but you have to jump through some bureaucratic hurdles first (but that’s just life in Germany, right?!)
In this post I’ll break down what you need, where to get it and how to do it, step-by-step.
This article is for you if you:
- Are a foreigner in Germany;
- Plan to drive here and
- Intend to stay here for more than 6 months.
Please Note! I am discussing only regular driver’s licenses for passenger vehicles. For further information about other driver’s license classes, please head over to ADAC.
Some helpful vocab
Getting anything done in Germany is tough without the right words! Here a few useful pieces of vocabulary to get you started on your journey towards driving in Germany as a foreigner.
| auf Deutsch | in English |
| Auto | Car |
| Führerschein Erlaubnis | Driver’s License |
| Fahrerlaubnisbehörde | Driver’s License authority |
| Fahrschule | Driving School |
| Ausbildung Vertrag | The contract you enter into with your driving school to complete your driving education. |
| Theoretische Prufung | Theory Exam |
| Praktische Prufung | Practical Exam |
| Sehtest | Sight test |
Can I drive in Germany as a foreigner?
The short answer to this question is, yes. You can drive in Germany as a foreigner.
But like nearly everything in Germany, there’s nuance to the seemingly simple question!
The better answer is: yes, but . . .
Driving in Germany AS A TOURIST (for less than 6 months)
Just want to have a holiday in Germany? Or maybe you’d like to transit through Germany on a European road trip adventure?
No problem. You can drive in Germany with a driver’s license from your country of origin.
BUT
It’s a little more complicated if you’re not from the EU.
If you’re a foreigner from a country outside of the EU (like me!) then you’ll also need either:
An International driver’s Permit
or a
Translation of your driver’s license.
You must carry your original license and one of these documents with you at all times when driving.
Buuuut.
If you’re from one of the following countries, you are not required to carry a translation of your license. You lucky ducks!
Andorra
Hong Kong
Monaco
New Zealand
San Marino
Switzerland
Senegal
Remember: all of the restrictions on your driver’s license from your country of origin apply in Germany.
A confession
I didn’t investigate this whole driving in Germany as a foreigner thing very well before I moved here and I drove without an international driver’s license OR a translation!
Thank goodness I was never stopped by the police. I probably would have cried with the stress of it all.
Don’t repeat my mistakes!
Before you travel, get your driver’s license translated.
OR get yourself an International driver’s Permit. These can be easily obtained by your local authority.
Just google “International driver’s Permit [your city]”.
Generally, these applications can be completed online and will take up to two weeks to be delivered to your address.
Staying in Germany for more than 6 months: Getting a German Driver’s License
Now you need to step into the ring of German bureaucracy.
You’ve probably already managed the Ausländerbehörde, so you’ve got this!
If you want to continue driving in Germany as a foreigner, then you must apply for a German driver’s License.
For some, this will be a simple exchange of your existing driver’s license for your new German one. For others, there will be additional steps to obtain your German driver’s license as a foreigner.
Exchanging Your License: EU vs. Non-EU Drivers
EU Drivers
Honestly. Everything about living in Germany as a foreigner is just easier if your country of origin is in the EU.
IF YOU’RE ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES:
You can use your home driver’s license (as long as it’s valid) and exchange it for a German one when you’ve been living here for 6 months.
Easy peasy!
Non-EU Drivers
So, for the rest of us, the license exchange is a little more complicated.
Broadly speaking, there are two groups that the rest of us can be divided into:
- Swap with additional requirements, or
- No swap allowed – you will need to acquire a German driver’s License from scratch (skip ahead to the next section if this is you).
Swap with additional requirements
As a non-EU citizen, this option is the best.
If your licensing country is considered to be similar enough to Germany, then you may only need to demonstrate one of two things for the authorities before they simply take your existing license and give you a shiny new German one.
In my case, I needed to present the licensing authority with a document that stated:
- When I was first licensed to drive,
- Any restrictions to my driver’s license and
- If any suspension had ever been placed on my driving.
As an Australian with a driver’s license from Victoria, I could easily access this information through the VicRoads online portal. I didn’t even have it translated and it was accepted first time.
Thank God Australian services are almost entirely online!
Additional requirements for a swap to occur can include:
- Demonstrating how long you’ve been licensed to drive,
- An eyesight test,
- Completion of a first aid course or
- The successful completion of the theory component of the driver’s license program.
What you will have to provide is wholly dependent on where your driver’s license was issued. Often, this is dependent on the State where you received your driver’s license, not only your country of origin.
Can I exchange my driver’s license in Germany as a foreigner?
If your country is on this list, then YES! You can exchange your driver’s license in Germany as a foreigner.
Albania
Andorra
Australia (additional requirements for some states)
Bosnia and Herzogovina
Canada (additional requirements for some regions)
French Polynesia
Gibraltar
Isle of Man
Israel
Japan
Jersey
Kosovo
Moldova
North Macedonia
Monaco
Namibia
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Republic of South Korea
San Marino
Serbia
Singapore
South Africa
Switzerland
Taiwan
United Kingdom
United States of America (additional requirements for some states)
Remember: You may still have to meet additional requirements!
How to Exchange your Foreign Driver’s License: Step-by-Step
- Book an appointment at your local Führerscheinbehörde.
- Ensure you have the necessary paperwork ready. This could include your Anmeldung, Aufenhaltstitel, and current driver’s license. Please read any information from the Behörde carefully.
- Attend your appointment and pay the fee.
- Collect your shiny new license on the designated date, usually within 2 weeks.
WAIT! I have to give up my license from home?
Yes.
The basis of this easy path to a German driver’s license is that you have to exchange your license from home for a German driver’s license.
I know this can be confronting. In many places, like Australia, a driver’s License is a key form of identification.
Fear not! In all my months of lurking in expat forums, I´ve seen a workaround suggested.
And it goes like this:
- Exchange your foreign driver’s license for a German driver´s license.
- Report your driver’s license as lost or stolen to the issuing authority at home.
- Receive a new one.
A Word of Caution
Facebook forums, Reddit and Quora can be fantastic places to seek additional advice and support from people who have already exchanged their driver’s licenses.
BUT.
Know the following:
EVERY CASE IS UNIQUE.
Your specific requirements for diving in Germany as a foreigner will depend on your situation, including:
- How long you’ve been licensed to drive,
- Where your driver’s license was issued. This includes different states and territories within the same country, so pay special attention! and
- The professional processing your application.
I found the conflicting and varying experiences shared in forums so confusing!
My advice to you, no matter what bureaucratic process you’re undertaking in Germany, is this:
- Read the information carefully.
- Have all documents ready before your appointment.
- Follow all instructions.
- When in doubt, ask the authority directly.
I know contacting the authority directly sounds scary, especially if you’re still coming to grips with the German language, but it IS the best way to know what you need to do. Many authorities will respond to online requests for information if you’re uncomfortable using the phone.
If you’ve got time, just visit the office and ask for help. There’s normally at least one staff member who will be brave enough to try and help you in English (and if you’re living in a bigger city, this is even less of a problem!)
No swap allowed: Gaining a German License as a foreigner from scratch
Unfortunately, if your country of origin is not listed above, then you are not eligible to exchange your driver’s license. You will have to obtain your German driver’s license from scratch.
How long does it take to get a German driver’s License?
Typically, it will take between 12 and 24 months for you to meet the requirements for a German driver’s License.
Obtaining a driver’s license in Germany is akin to completing an apprenticeship.
There are a series of mandated skills that you must learn and demonstrate before receiving your driver’s license.
The cost of a German Driver’s License
Getting a German Driver’s License will cost you between 2000€ and 3000€.
This cost includes:
- Mandatory professional driving practice in prescribed conditions,
- Theoretical education,
- Theory exam,
- practical exam,
- Eyesight test and
- First aid test.
Unfortunately, there is no getting around these costs.
You are required to complete your driving education with an accredited driving school.
How do I get a German driver’s License?
To get a German driver’s License, you will need to do the following:
- Research driving schools in your area.
- Select one and enter into their driving program.
- Request permission from the Bürgeramt to attempt the theoretical exam.
- Complete the theory exam.
- Complete the practical exam.
- Collect your shiny new German driver’s license.
Additional Tips and Resources
- Head to ADAC for more information about if you’re eligible to exchange your foreign Driver’s License for a German Driver’s license and what your next steps should be if not.
- Many driving schools offer tuition in English. They’ll be able to help you navigate the paperwork.
- The Theoretical exam is conducted on a computer and is available in English (and 10 other languages to boot!)
- ADAC offers a free App to support your preparation for the theory exam.
- Unfortunately, the practical exam is only available in German. You must understand enough German to follow the examiner’s instructions.
- YouTube is your friend! Check out video tutorials to prepare for both the theoretical and practical exams.
FULL DISCLOSURE
I haven’t been through this process. I’ve done my best to ensure this information is accurate and up-to-date but I can’t offer you any personal insights.
If this applies to you, please seek out further assistance from other expats.
Good luck and happy driving
Alrighty. Now that I’ve saved you hours of trawling through Facebook groups and forums, getting yourself all confused, it’s time to get driving in Germany as a foreigner!
Let me know how you get on in the comment section below.
How do you find driving in Germany as a foreigner? Have you exchanged your license? Share your experiences below!
