Driving license translation: Why is it worth it?

If you want to use your foreign driving license in Germany or your German driving license abroad, there are two options:

A) You obtain an international driving license

or

B) You obtain a certified translation of your foreign driving license.

As a rule, you may drive with a foreign driving license for up to six months after entering Germany. If the driving license is written in a foreign language, you will need a certified translation, which you must present at any check.


Order certified driver's license translation online now


However, if you are staying in Germany permanently, ie for more than half a year, and have a permanent residence here, you may not drive without further notice with your foreign driving license. After six months, you must obtain a German driving license from your local driving licensing office. Depending on where it was issued, it may be possible to directly exchange it. This means that you surrender your foreign driving license and in return receive a German driving license from the driving license office. The requirements vary from one country to another and are also determined differently by the various driving license offices in Germany.

You can find out how to have your foreign driving license exchanged at the responsible driving license office in your place of residence.

The translation must be prepared by an authorized translator in the form of a "certified translation". Otherwise you run the risk that the translation will not be recognized by the authorities.

You can order a certified translation of your driving license conveniently via our online shop. The final translation will be sent to your desired address in Germany in a few days by post. It is sufficient for us if you upload the scanned driver's license or send it to us by e-mail after completing the order.

Attention: The original document must be presented to the authorities for transfer or crediting. If you are allowed to drive in Germany with your foreign driving license, you must carry the original driving license in addition to the certified translation.


Further advantages of a driver's license translation:

1) By presenting a certified translation, you can, if you have a German driving license, be released from many driving lessons when presenting a foreign driving license.

2) Proof that you have already held a foreign driving license often eliminates the probationary period of two years.

3) By submitting a foreign driving license and a certified translation, you will almost always receive a lower rate with car insurance. If your insurance company does not offer you this, ask another insurance company immediately.

Order certified driver's license translation online now

Further information on the use of foreign driving licenses in the Federal Republic of Germany can be found in the information sheet of the Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI). read more

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