Digital driving license application. Traffic fines in Germany. Starting in April 2025, drivers in Germany will be able to try out the digital driving license for the first time. This new option is a modern alternative to the traditional physical license. The project is part of a plan to digitize vehicle documents and make road checks easier.
Digital driving license application
According to echo24.de, the German government plans to update the Road Traffic Act, allowing drivers to show their licenses digitally using a mobile app. This means they wouldn’t need to carry a physical license for police checks.
Important Details:
- The digital license will not replace the physical one but will serve as an electronic option within Germany.
- Drivers must have a valid physical license to get the digital version.
- All license details will be available digitally, except for the holder’s signature.
When and how will the new digital permit be implemented?
The Ministry of Transport has announced that testing for the new digital driving license will begin in April 2025. This initiative is part of a broader plan to modernize vehicle documents, allowing both the driving license and vehicle registration certificate to be accessed through an official app developed by the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA), Germany’s federal road transport authority.
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How to obtain the digital permit?
To get the digital driving license, drivers will need to:
- Submit an online application to the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA).
- Download the official KBA app to access digital documents.
- Authenticate their identity using details from their physical license.
What’s next?
The final approval of the digital driving license will depend on the future German government, which is expected to support the project. Discussions on this initiative started in 2024, and the 2025 tests could lead to nationwide implementation.
This move is part of a larger effort to digitize car documents, making processes simpler and reducing bureaucracy. However, it remains to be seen how the project will develop and if it will become a permanent solution.