What was considered the norm for decades has now been over for ten years: driver’s licenses are no longer valid indefinitely. Since January 19, 2013, the documents in the EU standard credit card format have only been issued for 15 years. Then a new driver’s license must be applied for, but without an examination or health check for car and motorcyclists. It’s all about the photo: only a few 65-year-olds are likely to still look like they did when they were 18.
And that’s not all: If you have an old driver’s license, you must exchange it for the new, forgery-proof EU driver’s license. The Bundestag decided in 2019. Currently, the fees for the exchange are 25.30 euros.
It is currently the turn of those born between 1965 and 1970 to exchange their old paper driving licenses – gray or pink and issued before 1999. You have until January 19, 2024. After that, all younger generations must exchange their paper documents by January 19, 2025.
The older driving license cards issued since 1999 and before January 19, 2013 must also be exchanged from 2026 onwards. Depending on the date of issue, the respective deadlines extend up to the year 2033. An exception to the “rag exchange” applies to seniors who were born before 1953. They generally have until 2033, regardless of when the driver’s license was issued and whether it is a paper or credit card sized one. They wanted to spare you the procedure.
The processing time for a new driving license is eight weeks
Anyone who misses their respective deadline and is caught with an expired driver’s license must pay a fine of ten euros. However, this does not count as driving without a license, which would then be a criminal offence.
The district administration department (KVR) cannot say how many driving licenses have already been exchanged in Munich as part of the legal obligation. The authority does not keep statistics that differentiate between mandatory exchanges and exchanges for other reasons.
According to the KVR, the processing time for a new driving license currently takes around eight weeks because there are a large number of applications to be processed. The waiting time depends in particular on the time of the application, the KVR informs on request. Especially at the end of an exchange phase, the number of applications skyrockets, so that the waiting times increased accordingly.
Recently, on January 19, the deadline for the baby boomers born between 1959 and 1964 expired. Anyone who applied for their new EU driving license shortly before this date should therefore wait a little longer. In the Bundesdruckerei, which produces the documents exclusively, there are also delays of around two weeks due to the high number of applications.
Anyone applying for a new driver’s license in Munich can either do so by filling out a written application and submitting the required documents (old driver’s license in the original or as a copy, copy of ID card, biometric photo, proof of transfer of fees) to the driver’s license authority in Garmischer Strasse. Or you log in with the Bayern ID and apply for the driver’s license completely online by uploading the required documents.
If the old driver’s license was not issued in Munich, the applicant must submit a so-called index card copy of the driver’s license data. There are in the municipality that issued the old certificate. It can be requested by telephone or in writing and is exceptionally free of charge. The relevant authority then sends the copy directly to the driver’s license office in Munich.
At the KVR, the driving licenses can be picked up at the driving license authority
If you send in the original of your old driver’s license and have it returned validated, but still have to wait for the new one, you still don’t have to leave your car at home. Together with a confirmation from the driver’s license office that the application for a new one has been made, you can also drive in Germany with the canceled rag. However, there can be problems abroad. If you want to travel by car, it is better to wait until the new driver’s license comes in the mail.
Applicants who do not enclose the original paper driver’s license must collect the new one personally on Garmischer Straße. The old one will then be devalued there.
According to information from the KVR, the vast majority of applicants prefer to collect their driving license themselves. However, this could lead to bottlenecks in making appointments and thus to longer waiting times, a spokesman said. The pick-up is also only possible in the driver’s license authority, not in the citizens’ offices.
Only seven percent of applicants currently use the option of applying for an EU driving license online. Incidentally, if it is not your turn yet, it may be worth exchanging it early. For example, for an international driver’s license, which is often required outside the EU, you definitely need a credit card-sized driver’s license.