Rewriting foreign driving licences - EU/EEA

The scope of the driving authorization in Germany corresponds to that of the foreign driving license. This means that the minimum age is also based on the driving license law of the issuing country (e.g. English driving licenses for passenger cars from the age of 17). If the foreign driving license contains restrictions or requirements, this also applies to the driving authorization in Germany. Exceeding the foreign driving authorization is a punishable driving without a license under German law according to § 21 StVG. The following restriction also applies to holders of class A1 driving licenses: anyone who has not yet reached the age of 18 may only drive light motorcycles in Germany with a maximum speed of no more than 80 km/h as determined by their design.

Persons who have held their foreign driver's license for less than 2 years are subject to the German regulations on probationary driver's licenses after establishing their residence in Germany.

In the case of a driver's license acquired while studying or attending school, an important exemption regulation regarding residence takes effect. Anyone who acquires a driver's license during a stay exclusively for the purpose of attending a university or school within an EU or EEA state can use this driver's license in Germany even if he or she had his or her normal place of residence at that time in Germany and not in the issuing country.
In the case of a stay abroad solely for the purpose of such training, the legislator assumes that the normal place of residence continues to be in Germany. However, the driving license holder must have stayed in the issuing country for at least 6 months for this purpose.