Driving licence renewal

When does the driving licence need to be renewed or exchanged?

Do you still have an old paper or photocard driving licence? You can find all exchange periods, a deadline calculator and the costs in the guide Exchanging your driving licence: deadlines, costs and procedure.

There are essentially two different systems:

1. Car driving licence (Category B)

Photocard driving licences issued since 19 January 2013 are valid as a document for 15 years (§ 24a FeV). The expiry date is in field 4b. By then, you exchange the card for a new driving licence – colloquially, this is often called “renewing your licence”. This is not a mandatory exchange with a fixed deadline as with the old driving licences, but an exchange on the date in field 4b. The first of these cards expire in 2028.

Your driving entitlement remains in place. For the car and motorcycle categories, you do not need a test, an eye test or a medical examination: you apply for the new driving licence at your driving licence authority, usually with a current biometric passport photo. For the lorry and bus categories C and D, the driving entitlement itself is also time-limited; separate rules apply there.

If you drive with the old card after it has expired, you are not carrying a valid driving licence. This costs a warning fine of 10 euros. The deadline calculator shows you by when you need to exchange it: Go to the deadline calculator

2. Lorry and bus driving licence (Categories C and D)

In the Driving licence categories C1, C1E, C and CE as well as D1, D1E, D and DE, the situation is different.
In this case, the driving licence itself is only issued for a limited period and must be renewed every five years. This is governed by the Driving Licence Regulations (FeV). This applies in particular to professional drivers, for whom the professional driver’s qualification (code 95) is also relevant.

Prerequisite: What documents are required?

Certain documents are required to renew or exchange a driving licence. These may vary depending on the category:

Standard documents (car exchange)

• a valid identity card or passport
• valid driving licence
• biometric photograph (35 x 45 mm)
• Application to the Driving Licence Authority

Additional documentation (lorries & buses)

• medical certificate of physical fitness
• ophthalmic report
• where applicable, proof of further training for professional drivers
• additional forms in accordance with Appendices 5 and 6 of the FeV

These checks are carried out to regularly assess drivers’ fitness to drive and road safety.

The process for renewing a driving licence

The procedure is usually simple and easy to plan:

1. Submitting an application to the driving licence authority or the local citizens’ office (Bürgerbüro)

2. Submission of all required documents

3. Processing by the authority

4. Issuing and posting the new driving licence

Many towns and cities now also offer an online service portal for booking appointments or submitting applications in advance. It is advisable to submit your application around 3 to 6 months before it expires to avoid waiting times.

Costs and fees for renewing a driving licence

The fees depend heavily on the amount of work involved:

• Compulsory exchange of old car driving licences: usually €26.50 (details in the guide Exchanging your driving licence)
• Lorry or bus licence renewal: significantly higher due to the required medical reports
• Additional costs: eye test, medical examination, photographs

For professional drivers, this can quickly add up to considerably higher total costs.

Any questions?

Special cases: Foreign driving licences

Anyone who moves their residence to Germany must have a foreign driving licence exchanged under certain conditions. As a rule, the following applies:

• Driving licences from countries outside the EU and EEA generally remain valid for only 6 months after you take up residence
• Recognition depends on the country of origin (EU/non-EU)
• may be subject to additional checks or documentation

Here too, submitting the correct application to the driving licence authority plays an important role. Any questions about converting a foreign driving licence? 

Frequently asked questions about driving licence renewal

Do I have to take a new test?

No. In most cases, it is a purely administrative procedure without a theory or practical test.

How long is the new driving licence valid?

EU driving licences are generally issued for 15 years.

Where do I apply?

At the responsible driving licence authority or the citizens' office in your city.

Act in good time and keep track of deadlines

Renewing a driving licence is not a complicated process, but it requires attention to deadlines. Whilst car drivers usually only need to exchange their document, for lorry and bus drivers a regular renewal of the driving entitlement is strictly necessary.

Anyone who acts in good time, prepares all the documents and submits the application early will avoid unnecessary costs and problems. It is particularly important to distinguish between an exchange and a genuine renewal, as misunderstandings often arise here.

With good planning, your driving licence remains valid without interruption and your journey on the road stays safe and legally compliant. We at the Driving School Frankfurt expert advice!

Professional advice

For the actual driving licence training process, click here: This is how you get your driving licence.