Use the stay abroad in the United States to get an American driver’s license – many schoolchildren and students put this idea into practice every year. But can you also drive it in Germany, and how does the description work?
- Driving license acquisition during a stay of at least 185 days
- To drive a car alone, you must be 18 years old when you return
- Driving license from the USA is valid in Germany for a maximum of six months
Driving in Germany with an American driver’s license
If you want to drive with a US driver’s license in Germany, you must meet a few requirements :
- You must have resided in the United States for at least 185 days
- obtained a US driver’s license there and
- have reached the age of 18 when returning to Germany
Then you can drive a motor vehicle for a maximum of six months after your return to Germany . During this time, you must carry a translation and classification of your US driver’s license .
Minors are not allowed to drive
The six-month period does not apply to underage license holders . You are not allowed to drive in Germany or you have to apply for a transfer to a German driving license as part of accompanied driving B17 . Driver’s license holders who have not yet reached the age of 18 and who are only staying in Germany temporarily as tourists are also not allowed to drive motor vehicles in Germany.
Proof of at least 185 days stay
If you want to have your US driver’s license converted to a German one, you must prove that you have stayed in the USA for at least 185 days. School certificates, rental contracts, flight tickets or hotel bills are suitable for this.
Rewrite after six months at the latest: You have to do this
After the six months have expired, your driving license expires. You then have to take care of the conversion of your US driver’s license into a German driver’s license.
A one-off extension of the six-month period by a further six months is possible if you can demonstrate that you will not be living in Germany for longer than twelve months.
The application for a transfer of the driving license is possible for an unlimited period of time.
In order to have your driving license rewritten, you must personally apply for the German driving license (rewriting) and contact the responsible road traffic office ( driver’s license office ) at your place of residence. The driver’s license office will enter a note on your German driver’s license that you have presented a US driver’s license. It returns the US driver’s license to the US driver’s license authority or takes it into custody.
Driving license test in Germany
The transcription of an American car driver’s license does not involve a practical test, but sometimes involves a theoretical test . The prerequisite is that the training and examination procedure of a US state is equivalent to that of Germany . For which US states this equivalence exists, results from the so-called list of states according to Annex 11 of the Driver License Ordinance.
Translation of driver’s license
Some authorities do not provide translations for English -language driver’s licenses. Other authorities require a translation. Due to the different transliteration practices of the driving license authorities, you should find out in advance from your driving license office whether a translation is required.
Limitation of driving license until the day of departure
The US driver’s license or the certificate of driving authorization is often limited to the day you leave the USA. However, you can no longer have your driving license rewritten in Germany if the driving license has already “expired” when you apply.
Tip : You should therefore apply for a change of registration before you return to Germany . Get in touch with your responsible German driving license office in good time. You will only get your German driving license after your return or after you have established your place of residence in Germany.
Transcription of the learner’s license
You are not allowed to use a foreign driver’s license in Germany if it is a minor or learner’s license or another provisional driver’s license(e.g. provisional license).
Driver’s licenses from the USA often have an expiry date. In Germany, however, driver’s licenses are only recognized if they are valid indefinitely . Driving authorizations must not be temporary and must not require re-examination in the relevant US state in order to be exchanged. The American driver’s license class must therefore automatically remain valid. This may require confirmation of the full validity of the American driver’s license. You should contact the German consulate general of the federal state in question for confirmation.