Overview
- German card-format licences issued between 1999 and 2001 must be exchanged by 19 January 2026 as part of the EU-wide harmonisation program running through 2033.
- The swap is a document-only process that requires ID, a biometric photo and the current licence, with no medical exam or driving test.
- Fees typically range from about €25 to €30, with Berlin charging €26.50 plus an optional €5.31 mailing fee, and delivery commonly taking up to six weeks.
- Old cards lose validity after the deadline, turning driving with the expired document into an administrative offence that carries a €10 warning fine, while the underlying driving entitlement remains.
- Some car rental providers may refuse outdated licences, so failing to exchange could prevent vehicle rentals domestically or abroad.