Overview
- The 19 January 2026 cutoff makes 1999–2001 card-format driver’s licences invalid as documents, risking a €10 warning fine, while the underlying driving entitlement remains in force.
- New EU‑standard licences carry a 15‑year document validity, and further exchange waves run through 2033 according to the federally set timetable.
- The Interior Ministry now lets applicants provide an email address for advance expiry notices when applying for a personal ID card or passport, promoting earlier renewals.
- From 1 January 2026, a German ID card costs €46 for applicants aged 24 and over and €27.60 for under‑24s, with fee reductions for hardship cases handled at municipal discretion.
- Penalties for expired IDs vary widely by municipality, illustrated by a €1,160 fine in Rodgau for a card lapsed five years, while other towns report more lenient, case‑by‑case approaches.