Driver’s license: the old rag has to go – car & mobile

Drivers who are still driving with a proverbial “old rag” should not miss the deadline to exchange for a forgery-proof credit card driver’s license. The ADAC points this out. According to the automobile club, only people born between 1953 and 1958 are currently affected. You actually only have a few days, until January 19, 2022, to exchange your old driver’s license for the new, forgery-proof document.

Since the corona pandemic sometimes leads to long waiting times for processing in the driver’s license offices of the municipalities, the transport ministers decided at their meeting shortly before Christmas, according to the AvD automobile club, not to impose any fines until July 19, 2022. Motorists who are still driving with an old driver’s license from January 20, could otherwise have been fined ten euros. For professional drivers, different and more severe sanctions apply – the AvD points out.

The background to the whole thing is a regulation of the EU. According to this, all motorists in Europe should be equipped with a uniform and forgery-proof driver’s license from mid-January 2033. In order to prevent misuse, a Europe-wide networked digital information system has also been installed at the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), in which all relevant driver’s license data is stored.

Criticism from the automobile club

Therefore, German drivers are also forced to exchange – but this happens gradually. In addition, only driver’s licenses issued before January 19, 2013 are affected. The old gray or pink paper copies as well as the driver’s licenses issued between 1999 and 2013 in credit card format have to be exchanged.

However, in order to cushion the onslaught on the driver’s license offices, a deadline regulation was made. First, it is the turn of those born between 1953 and 1958 – they must have exchanged their old driver’s licenses by January 19, 2022 at the latest. Those born between 1959 and 1964 then follow: January 19, 2023 is the key date for the exchange of documents. Later reference dates apply to all other years. You have to apply for the exchange at the driver’s license office responsible for your place of residence. According to the AvD, the costs are between 25 and 37 euros. The term of the new document is limited to 15 years and must be renewed afterwards – similar to the identity card.

The AvD criticizes the bureaucratic effort associated with the forced exchange. “The holder of a previously unlimited driver’s license document must personally go to the driver’s license office, apply for an exchange, provide the necessary evidence and will also be charged with costs,” explains the club.

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