Overview of deadlines
Driving license exchange – these age groups have to hurry now
Not only the old “rags” have to be exchanged, but also the pink driver’s licenses and older copies in credit card format
© Fleig / Eibner-Pressefoto / Picture Alliance
Old driving licenses have to be gradually replaced by the new EU variants. For some cohorts, the deadline for this will expire in the next few days.
Do you still know the old driver’s license from that green-gray paper? His nickname “Lappen” is no coincidence. Anyone who still drives a car like this should take care of the exchange soon, some of these old driver’s licenses even have to be exchanged in the next few days due to an EU directive.
The birth cohorts 1953 to 1958 are currently affected. You must have completed the exchange by January 19, 2022. This is indicated by municipal authorities in Germany and the ADAC, among others. If you let the deadline pass, you risk a fine of ten euros.
If the old driver’s license is not exchanged, there is a risk of a fine
According to the motorists’ club, there is a small grace period: Since the application due to the corona pandemic can lead to long waiting times and delays, no fines should be imposed until July 19, 2022, writes the ADAC on its website.
Drivers over 60 are one of the first groups for whom the exchange is due, which ultimately affects most drivers in Germany: By 2033, all driver’s licenses that were issued before 2013 must be supported by an EU-standard forgery-proof document in the credit card. Format will be replaced, so for example the pink successor to the famous “Lappen” and even some newer driver’s licenses that were issued as plastic cards. Incidentally, the same rules and exchange periods apply to motorcycle driving licenses (class A) as to driving licenses for cars.
From the over-60 age group that is now affected, a number of citizens have apparently not yet taken care of the exchange: According to research by the German Press Agency, many cities are expecting a veritable rush of drivers in the coming weeks to swap their old driver’s licenses want to have new cards replaced.
Uniform driving licenses across the EU
The Federal Council had decided in 2019 that the driver’s license must be exchanged. The aim is to make all of these documents uniform and forgery-proof in the European Union. The driver’s license must be exchanged at the local driver’s license office. The costs for this amount to around 30 euros plus shipping. A biometric passport photo is also required.
The next years can already note the deadlines. Drivers over the age of 69 are an exception – they have a longer deadline.
Year of birth | Deadline for exchanging the driver’s license |
Before 1953 | until January 19, 2033 |
1959 to 1964 | until January 19, 2023 |
1965 to 1970 | until January 19, 2024 |
1971 or later | until January 19, 2025 |
Anyone who has a driver’s license that was issued after January 1, 1999 and before 2013, i.e. in the format of a credit card, must observe these deadlines.
date of issue | Deadline for exchanging the driver’s license |
1999 to 2001 | until January 19, 2026 |
2002 to 2004 | until January 19, 2027 |
2005 to 2007 | until January 19, 2028 |
2008 | until January 19, 2029 |
2009 | until January 19, 2030 |
2010 | until January 19, 2031 |
2011 | until January 19, 2032 |
2012 to January 18, 2013 | until January 19, 2033 |
The ADAC offers a service for this on its website; here you can see exactly when which driver’s license has to be exchanged.
Sources: ADAC, “Allgäuer newspaper“, NDR, Hamburg.de
See in the video: Many driving licenses will soon expire. 43 million motorists and motorcyclists are affected. Find out by what time you have to exchange your document in the video.