Overview
- Drivers whose licenses were issued in 1999, 2000 or 2001 must swap to the new EU card by January 19, 2026, while people born before 1953 have until January 19, 2033.
- The swap is administrative only with no new test or health check, typically costs about €25 plus photo/shipping, and the new card must be renewed every 15 years.
- Missing the deadline invalidates the document but not the driving entitlement; in Germany this is usually a €10 warning, though issues can arise abroad or with rental companies.
- Municipal offices report heavy demand and limited appointments, with some urging online applications that can meet the cut‑off even if the physical card arrives weeks later.
- The Bundestag held a first reading of a bill to let a smartphone version serve as domestic proof via the i‑Kfz app, with rollout targeted by late 2026 to early 2027, domestic use only at first, device limits noted, and EU‑wide digital recognition expected by 2030.