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Important restrictions to note before driving in Germany with a foreign driver’s licence

Depending on the type of foreign driving licence you hold, you may be allowed to drive in Germany but make sure you note the following restrictions.

Man-driving

Category A1
If you hold a Category A1 driving licence, you may until your 18th birthday, only ride light motorcycles (engine size up to 125 cc and power output up to 11 kW) with a maximum design speed of 80 kilometres per hour.

Categories C1 and C1E
In Germany, a driving licence issued for these categories is only valid until the holder’s 50th birthday. You should therefore avoid using your Category C1 and C1E foreign driving licence if you have passed your 50th birthday.

Categories C, CE, D, DE, D1 and D1E
In Germany, a driving licence issued for Categories C, CE, D, DE, D1 and D1E is only valid for a period of five years after the date of issue. This means you can’t use the above foreign driving licences in Germany after five years even if they are valid for a longer period in your home country.

Categories C, C1, CE, C1E, D, D1, DE, and D1E
The period of validity of a driving licence issued for Categories C, C1, CE, C1E, D, D1, DE, and D1E will upon request, be extended by five years in Germany if the holder meets appropriate health and eyesight requirements.

For more information, contact your local driver licensing authority.

Please note that your foreign driving licence is only valid if your stay in Germany is temporary. It is therefore no longer valid when you transfer your normal residence to Germany.

The following actions will be treated as driving without a driving licence and penalized accordingly:
– Any infringement of the age provision governing the riding of light motorcycles

– Driving or riding a motor vehicle with a driving licence that has expired under the law of the issuing state or under the German provisions

If your foreign driving licence is about to expire or is no longer valid, you will receive a German licence of the same category upon request.

The above article has been prepared using information provided by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure

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