The 6-month rule
A licence from outside the EU and EEA lets you drive in Germany for six months after you take up residence here – in practice, from the date you register your address. If you will stay less than 12 months, the driving licence office can extend this once by up to six months. When the period ends, the foreign licence no longer allows you to drive in Germany, and driving anyway is a criminal offence. There is no deadline for applying for a German licence, but you may not drive in the gap. EU and EEA licences are different: they stay valid until they expire.
Which tests you need depends on your country
Germany keeps a list of countries whose licences are converted more easily (Annex 11 of the Driving Licence Regulation, FeV). For the United Kingdom, and since 18 August 2026 also Ukraine and Montenegro, class B is converted without a theory or practical test. For the USA, Canada and Australia it depends on the state or province. If your country is not on the list – for example Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Egypt, Morocco or India – you take the theory and the practical test. You do not have to complete driving-school training or a minimum number of lessons.
The theory test in your language
It is the same theory test new drivers take: 30 questions, and you pass with no more than 10 error points. You can take it in German or in one of many other languages, including English, Arabic and Turkish. Use the waiting time while your application is processed to practise with our lessons and questions in your language.
The practical test
You take the practical test in a driving-school car with a driving instructor next to you, and it is held in German. Lessons are not compulsory, but a few help you get used to German traffic and to the car; how many you book is up to you. If you take the test in an automatic car, your licence will be limited to automatics (code 78).
Documents and translation
You apply at the driving licence office (Führerscheinstelle) where you live. Offices usually ask for your passport or ID, your registration certificate, a biometric photo and your original licence – and, if you take tests, an eye test and a first-aid course certificate. Many offices want a translation (for example from ADAC or a sworn translator); for English-language licences it is often not needed. While you drive during the six months, carry a translation or an international driving permit unless your licence is in German or in the international format.
Costs and how long it takes
The office fee is usually around €35–45; Mülheim an der Ruhr, for example, charges €43.90. If you need tests, the official fees are €24.99 for the theory test and €129.83 for the practical test, plus what your driving school charges. Checking a foreign licence takes time – Mülheim an der Ruhr says it takes significantly longer than four weeks – so apply soon after you register.
Probation period for newer drivers
If you have held your licence for less than two years, the German probation period (Probezeit) applies for the remaining time. A serious offence during that time means an advanced seminar and a longer probation period.
Work out your 6-month date today, then practise the theory test while your application is processed.
Put it into practiceRule references
- BMV: Gültigkeit ausländischer Fahrerlaubnisse (Stand 02.03.2026) ↗
- ADAC: Ausländischen Führerschein umschreiben (18.08.2026) ↗
- ADAC: Führerschein-Umschreibung für Geflüchtete (18.08.2026) ↗
- Anlage 11 FeV: Staatenliste ↗
- Your Europe: Driving licence recognition in the EU ↗
- LABO Berlin: Ausländische Fahrerlaubnisse ↗
- Stadt Mülheim an der Ruhr: Umschreibung eines ausländischen Führerscheins ↗
- TÜV SÜD: Gebühren der Führerscheinprüfung ↗
Sources checked on 22 September 2026, including the changes in force since 18 August 2026. Your driving licence office decides your individual case.
Original, AI-assisted supplementary learning content. Not the official question catalogue or a substitute for your driving instructor. Rule summaries are selective; consult the linked text for its full scope.