Buy German Driver’s License Online

A German driver’s license (führerschein) follows the EU standard. It is a plastic card, similar in size to a credit card. It contains your information, including which vehicles you are allowed to drive. All licenses that were issued after 2013 are valid for 15 years.

Driver’s licenses are issued by local driving license offices (führerscheinstellen) and registered with the Central Register of Driving Licences (zentrales fahrerlaubnisregister – ZFER).In Germany, you can drive a motorized vehicle when you are over 15, and a car when you are over 18. You must always have your license (with you when driving a vehicle, and you may not use a provisional license.

There are complex rules for foreign licenses – some expats need to exchange their driving licenses in Germany, and some require a new driving permit to get on the road. However, those staying in Germany temporarily won’t need a new license in many cases.

Getting a German driver’s license

If you’re registered as a driver in Germany, and you’re over 18, you can apply for a new license through your local driver’s license authority (Fürhrerscheinbehörde). In cases where the driving license issued by your home country isn’t recognized in Germany, you may have to attend driving lessons and pass both the written and practical German driving tests.

When applying for a driving license, you will need to provide the following (PDF):

An official identity document, such as an identity card or passport
A certificate of registration
A recent photo that adheres to German passport photo requirements
Certificates of any necessary medical exams – most licenses require a visual test, while bus and coach licenses need an additional examination.
Evidence that you have taken part in a first aid training course

Some nationalities may also need to demonstrate that they have participated in a first-aid training course.

cost of driving licence in germany

The cost of obtaining a licence for driving a car is on average 3,000€ (US$3,300 in January 2024) but varies widely according to an individual’s skill, city and region. Individual driving schools set their own prices. The total includes fees for: authorities and exams, learning materials, driving lessons and tuition.

Renewing a German driver’s license

If you have a German driving license, it’s valid for 15 years. After this time, you’ll need to renew it. To renew your license, you must be registered with a German local authority. Simply make an appointment at your local driving license authority four weeks ahead of expiry – you shouldn’t need to retake any part of the driving test to renew your license. Be sure to take your current driving license and a recent passport photo.

The renewal usually costs around €24 and takes about four weeks to arrive. It’s not possible to renew foreign driving licenses. Instead, you’ll have to exchange it for a German one.