American driver license in germany

If youve ever been to germany, you know it has a higher bar for getting a drivers license than in the us. These licenses restrict certain driving privileges, such as. You may then need to go to the rathaus city hall to get. These pages provide information on the most important german provisions for holders of foreign driving licences. American drivers licence for germans the acquisition of a us drivers license is much simpler for german citizens in the usa than for american citizens in germany. In addition to making it legal for you to drive, an idp is also recognized. To rent a car in germany, you need a valid drivers license from your home state or province. My drivers license expired last autumn september 20. We hope you will appreciate that the federal ministry of transport. Little do the germans know that i have a duplicate american license, you could probably do the same. An american tourist who likely knows no german beyond gesundheit, and even less about german traffic laws can rent a car and drive in germany with his or her us driver s license. For driving in the eu, it is required to either possess an eu driving license, possess an international driving license which is legally an official translation of the national licen.

And thats not time just waiting to turn a certain age, its real work. If youre a military member currently serving in germany, make sure you have a valid drivers license to drive on the countrys roads previously, german authorities only required u. If you already have a valid drivers license from your home country and youd like to get a german driving license, read on. Transfer your drivers license from a foreign country. Afterwards, you need to obtain a german license with or. You must be 17 in order to get the usareur license. If your home country or american state has a license exchange agreement with germany, you have up to three years to swap after that, youve got to. Their office in hesse charges 36 for members and 46 for non.

A priority issue for american citizens resident in germany is the reciprocal recognition of drivers licenses from the two countries. I could wait until im back in the states again to renew, but i dont have plans to go back in the near future. Either an applicant can claim the driver license reciprocity agreement between a us state and germany if the us state has one and pay the administrative fees or apply as a first. After this six month period, youll need to go through the.

Driving in germany and international driving permits tripsavvy. If your home country or american state has a license exchange agreement with germany, you have up to three years to swap after that, youve got. Check with your local driver licensing office, or through your home countrys transport authority. Applicants must present a stateside drivers license to take the test. Can you drive the autobahn in germany with a us drivers. On thursday, usareur warned personnel without a current stateside drivers license to avoid driving on public roads while the u.

I am planning on living in germany with the odd visit to america now and then. Such agreements exists with us states, canadian provinces, australian territories and many more countries. The german driving license can be obtained after finishing driving school and passing a twostage test, the theory test and road test. To sum up, you may drive in germany with your american license for up to six months. You cannot obtain an international driving permit at the embassy. However, they can use their idp in conjunction with the license to assist german authorities in reading the. Drivers license information for us expats in germany. The us drivers license and driver record have to be translated in german before submitting the application for exchanging the drivers license. When it comes to driving in germany, you can use your driver s licence for a set amount of time. Sometimes the driving licence authorities ask applicants.

Here is a video with differences and a comparison about driving in germany and america add me on. Driving in germany and international driving permits. A statement that confirms the driving licence issued in your homeland is still valid. An american tourist who likely knows no german beyond gesundheit, and even less about german traffic laws can rent a car and drive in germany with his or her us drivers license. Personnel are advised to have their stateside driver s license, idcac card, and usareur license when driving in germany, as well as with an international driver s permit when outside the country. I then went to the dmv in hannover and exchanged my american license for a german one, so now i have a german one but my american one needs to stay in the dmv for as long as i want it. All german driver licenses issued before 20 are valid until december 31, 2032.

Germany will again recognize expired us state drivers. Foreigners on shortterm visit may rent a car and drive with a valid foreign drivers license for up to 6 months in germany. Yes, you can, normally for 6 months or 1 year if you go to their dmv and prove youre only staying one year. Other countries often require an international driving permit idp, and many countries require an idp along with your u. Drivers license age requirement since july 1, 2011, a nongerman driver must be at least 18 years of age in order to legally drive in germany with a foreign drivers license. This free site was created to assist you with learning the material and testing your knowledge of the usareur driver license manual for germany how to use this site. Your drivers licence was issued by a member state of the eueea. If you are involved in an accident then you would need to undergo the drivers tests in germany. How to apply for a german driving license for expats in. So, if youre planning to stay within germany s borders on your drive, all youll need is your valid united states license to rent a car, but if youre planning to travel elsewhere. If youre lucky enough to come from one of these states, then trading your us license for a german driving license simply takes going through the bulletpointed list of admin tasks in the previous section. When i move to germany will i have to get a whole new liscence. From driving licenses and permits, to tips for motorists on the road, heres everything you need to know about driving in germany.

If youll be staying longer than a year, though, you need a fuhrerschein to drive in germany after your first six months in country. Faq german drivers license replacement how do i replace a lost or stolen german drivers license. Although germany doesnt require an international driving permit. So, if youre planning to stay within germanys borders on your drive, all youll need is your valid united states license to rent a car, but if youre planning to travel elsewhere. It must be obtained in your home country from aaa in the us before you leave. Worked out between the us embassy and the american chamber of commerce in germany, these agreements mean you can skip the need for testing. Often described as an international drivers license, an international driving permit in germany idp is a document that translates the information on your drivers license into german. A priority issue for american citizens resident in germany is the reciprocal recognition of driver s licenses from the two countries.

New drivers ed program in germany gives students, parents options. Exchanging your american drivers license my german life. Fyi, technically you are required to have an international drivers permit its not called a license to go with your u. Before being allowed to take these tests an eyeexam must have been performed and a firstaid course usually lasts 8 hours completed. Usdrivers licenses must be valid for a minimum of six months after entering. How to germany faq german drivers license replacement.

To rent a car in germany, you need a valid drivers license from your. The minimum age to obtain a restricted driver license in the us varies from 14 years, three months in south dakota to as high as 17 in new jersey. Theres some really good advice on driving the autobahn in the replies here. In most states, a graduated licensing law applies to newlylicensed teenage drivers, going by names such as provisional driver, junior operator, probationary driver, or intermediate license. How to apply for a german driving license for expats in germany. For more detailed information on driver s licenses in germany you can visit the federal ministry of transport and digital infrastructure website page in english. Forces certificate of license usareur license to drive on public roads. Applicants must present a stateside driver s license to take the test. Different conditions exist, however, depending on whether you have a european union eu licence or a noneu licence. The actual license will arrive in the mail in about three weeks. Croatian drivers licenses can be obtained at the local police station where the u.

Americans who have expired stateside licenses but valid u. Number 2, it takes time and money, 3 to 6 months is what you need to allot to get your first drivers license in germany. If your us drivers has been issued for less than 2 years then you are still eligible for a german drivers license but you would be subject to a 2 year probation period minus. Original driving licence issued in your country of origin handing in an international licence is not adequate. New drivers ed program in germany gives students, parents. Germany drivers license guideline or requirments free. Differences between us and german licenses roadshow. However, in germany you dont need an idp for a license in english, and the rental car agency only wants to see your us or canadian drivers license. Bmvi validity of foreign driving licences in the federal. Differences between us and german licenses youtube. All licenses issued in the european union are accepted.

I hadnt used the licensedriven anywhere in several years at the time that it expired, but now im thinking of using it again for short tripsrentals. German drivers license reciprocity life in germany. If youre coming from the us, uk, or austrailia, you generally will not need an international driving permit idp, especially if your drivers license is in the internationallyrecognized numbered format i. I would suggest you contact either the strassenverkehrsamt department of motor vehicles or the stadtverwaltung municipality office where your license was issued and they can provide proof that you had a valid german drivers license. This applies to us exchange students and other foreign residents in germany, as well as tourists visiting germany. Drivers license information for us citizens in germany american. But, if you are staying in germany for 6 months or longer you are required to get a german drivers license. There are 27 us states plus puerto rico that have full reciprocity with germany for drivers licenses.

If you are in germany longer than that, you do not need to retest, but will need to show your valid us license, pay the fee and go into the appropriate office to obtain a new one. Be sure to take your time, as skipping any steps may hinder your ability to pass the official test. Converting a us drivers license to a german one life in. Driver license requirement from germany entering austria.

The learner driver s training usually takes place in legally authorised and. While germany does not require foreign citizens to acquire international drivers permits, the neighboring country of austria and many other european countries do. In principle, the driving licence must be translated into german by a sworn translator. International driving permits are not a mediumtolong term substitute for a japanese drivers license. You can legally drive in germany with your us drivers license for up to six months.

More info for transfer your drivers license from a foreign country you may drive in the united states with your valid foreign drivers license as a visitor credentials marked with temporary, limited term, or driver privilege only terms cannot be converted, as there is no equivalent massachusetts credential. Fill out the application from for transferring the foreign license to the german license. Depending on the agreement between the state and germany, the us drivers license might be returned to the issuing state once a german drivers license has been issued. Even for these, there is a minimum age of 15 years and a small mandatory.

If you have any further questions, for instance about the procedure for registration and issuing of german driving licences, you should contact your local driver licensing authority at your city or district council. The drivers license is issued by an agency of the local police. Your us or other license must also be valid for the entire time you will be driving. The process of establishing reciprocity continues to be slow, since many informal agreements require individual tailoring to meet the requirements of each u. Few options for us drivers in germany whose us licenses. Persons found driving in japan without a legal license are subject to fines, arrest and possible deportation. But a noneu resident has to get a german license after six months in order to drive in germany without breaking the law. I have the american drivers liscense, and have been driving accident free for a few years. Exchanging your license for a german driver s license. Yes, if you keep residing in the usa and are just visiting. Most german drivers license offices have translators to deal with the many foreigners obtaining licenses, so language is seldom a problem. Or can i just exchange my american one for a german one. Drivers licenses from noneu countries except switzerland are accepted if you have a visa in your passport and at the time of rental have not been in europe for longer than 6 months.

You can get a translation from the adac automobile club. Personnel are advised to have their stateside drivers license, idcac card, and usareur license when driving in germany, as well as with an international drivers permit when outside the country. The german drivers license office will take your usa license, send it back to the issuing state, and give you a temp drivers license for germany. Drivers license information for us citizens in germany. While germany does not require foreign citizens to acquire international driver s permits, the neighboring country of austria and many other european countries do.