Obtaining a German driver’s license

We had been told that a German driver’s license (DL) would be required for driving in Germany. We knew that, we were prepared for that in theory, and we recognized that some research would be involved, possibly even a bit of time and money required. How difficult could it be? A bit more than you might think….

Since we only have the one car, and I will not be driving the company car, the need for a German DL did not apply to me. Buddy, on the other hand, would need one. You see, our US driver’s license(s) would be valid for up to 6 months but after that, we needed a German DL. This being Germany, we’ve learned that there is always a detailed process and at least one form involved in situations like this. This was no different: a myriad of rules applied in order to obtain a German DL, and much of that is driven (no pun intended) by the country/state that issued your original DL. We figured that the US DL could be converted quite easily to a German DL…we figured wrong.

If your license is issued by an EU country, you don’t even need to exchange it for a German one. For some non-EU countries, you can simply exchange your license, without the need for a written test, driving exam, etc. Some of the countries that fall into this group are South Africa, Canada, S. Korea, and many others, as well as selected US states (only of which 10 fall into that group). For many other countries, as well as about 35 of the US states, the applicant will need to do the following:

1. Take a written test that covers rules of the road and traffic signs.

2. Take a driving test that demonstrates you are a competent driver.

3. These written and driving tests are only administered by driving schools; some schools have simplified courses for experienced drivers. Either way, you are looking at completing a driving course that can range from 200 – 1000 euros. OK, so driving and written exams, time and money for school….

4. Upon completion of tests and school, apply at the local police station, bringing your passport, 2 photos, residence permit, and application for DL, an old driver’s license, and proof of tests, eye exam, and driving school, if applicable.

“That sounds like quite a hassle”, we say. “Which group do Texas DL holders fall into?” One guess….The last group. Don’t ask us why. We have no answer, nor have we been able to locate one. It is what it is.

As Buddy began to ponder the time and money required to get his German DL, we stumbled across a note in one booklet that said S. Korean DL holders could just exchange their Korean DLs for German ones. As luck would have it, Buddy had applied for and received a S. Korean DL, obtaining it by simply showing up at the local Korean police station and applying for it. No drivers test…no written test….well, there was that color blind test he had to take but we found a work-around for that. The best news is that S. Korean DLs are valid for 10 years and Buddy still had the license with him.

So….after getting the Korean license translated into German (I bore you with that detail, but it was accomplished with minimal effort and expense), and making application, he is now the proud holder of a German DL…he is officially legal.