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Germany Warns Drivers to Swap 1999–2001 Licenses by Jan. 19, 2026

An EU mandate to standardize licenses by 2033 has left local offices with weeks-long waits.

Sendungsbild
Alter Führerscheine aus den Jahren 1999 bis 2001sollten in spätestens zwei Monaten umgestauscht sein.
Eine Person nimmt einen Führerschein aus ihrem Geldbeutel.
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Overview

  • Licenses issued in 1999–2001 must be exchanged by January 19, 2026, and the decisive date is the issuance shown in field 4a, not the holder’s birth year.
  • Local authorities report sizable backlogs—Wittenberg cites more than 20,000 pending cases—and processing can take up to 12 weeks, so officials urge booking early.
  • Applications are made at the local licensing office or, in some areas, online; bring ID, a biometric passport photo and the current license, and expect a €25–€30 fee.
  • Missing the deadline for car or motorcycle licenses is an administrative offence that may lead to a €10 on-the-spot fine, but the driving entitlement remains; travel checks and rentals abroad can be problematic.
  • The exchange is part of an EU program converting about 43 million German licenses to a tamper‑resistant card by 2033, with stricter treatment for lorry and bus licenses.