In Germany, millions of driver’s licenses have to be exchanged one after the other. They should be forgery-proof and recorded in a common database. The exchange is to be staggered according to the year of birth and the date of issue.
This article first appeared on RTL.de
Until now, only driver’s licenses issued after 2013 had an expiry date, but this should gradually change. The driver’s license exchange is a mammoth project: The owners of around 15 million paper driver’s licenses issued up to 1998 and around 28 million credit card driver’s licenses issued between 1999 and January 19, 2013 are affected. The phased schedule was proposed by the Transport Committee and approved by the Federal Council. Not only car driving licenses are affected, but the rags of all classes.
An expiry date means that the document loses its validity, but not that the holder loses his driving license. When asked by RTL, the ADAC advises: “In general, we advise everyone who now has to exchange their driver’s license to make an appointment as soon as possible, even if it is later in the year.”
The first people to be affected had a paper driver’s license and were born between 1953 and 1958. After the deadline had already been extended, they had to exchange their driver’s license by July 19, 2022.
Now, that is, until January 19, 2023, it is the turn of those born between 1959 and 1964.
Drivers should know that
Since 2013, the rule has applied that newly issued driver’s licenses are only valid for a limited period of 15 years. As part of this new regulation, the older generation has so far only been obliged to exchange their rags by 2033. According to the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport, the deadlines for exchanging a driver’s license are as follows.
Depending on the year of birth, paper driving licenses must be exchanged between January 19, 2022 and January 19, 2033.
| Year of birth of driver’s license holder | Day by which the driver’s license must be exchanged |
|
Before 1953 |
01/19/2033 |
|
1953 – 1958 |
01/19/2022 |
|
1959 – 1964 |
01/19/2023 |
|
1965 – 1970 |
01/19/2024 |
|
1971 or later |
01/19/2025 |
Depending on the year of issue, card-type driver’s licenses issued from 1999 onwards must be exchanged between January 19, 2026 and January 19, 2033.
| year of issue | Day by which the driver’s license must be exchanged |
|
1999 – 2001 |
01/19/2026 |
|
2002 – 2004 |
01/19/2027 |
|
2005 – 2007 |
01/19/2028 |
|
2008 |
01/19/2029 |
|
2009 |
01/19/2030 |
|
2010 |
01/19/2031 |
|
2011 |
01/19/2032 |
|
2012 – 01/18/2013 |
01/19/2033 |
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You must take note of this
The reason for the earlier expiry date for driving licenses is to relieve the authorities so that they can cope with the large number of future applications. This is to ensure that the exchange can take place without lengthy waiting times, because the application for the exchange can only be made in person. The driving license authority of the respective place of residence is responsible here, the exchange should cost 25 euros. The new driving license is then valid for 15 years.
If the driver’s license is not exchanged in time and you are caught with an expired rag, you have to pay a fine of ten euros.
Source: Stern
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