Driving in Germany

Driving in Germany with a U.S. Driver's License
Converting a U.S. Driver's License into a German License  
Grace Periods
Taking the Driver's Exam in Germany 
States for which the Theoretical and Practical Exams are required 
States for which the Theoretical Exam is required 
States whose Testing Programs are Considered Equivalent to That of Germany's 
Underage Holders of a U.S. Driver's License 
Minor's License or Learner's Permit; Provisional or Probationary Licenses 
Agency Responsible for Converting Licenses 
German Automobile Association (ADAC)

Driving in Germany with a U.S. Driver's License 

Anyone who holds a valid driver's license which has been properly acquired during a stay in the United States of at least 185 days is entitled to operate a vehicle in Germany temporarily -- regardless of age. "Temporarily" means a maximum of six months. The six-month grace period begins when "ordinary residency" has been established in Germany. During this period, the driver is to carry a translation, including the driver's class, along with the actual license. The translation is issued for a fee by the ADAC* (the German equivalent of the American Automobile Association) and other institutions. 

Converting an American Driver's License into a German License 

Generally speaking, a U.S. driver's license can be converted into a German license only when it has been acquired during a stay in the U.S. of at least 185 days (to study or attend a secondary school). The length of stay can be proven by, among other documents, school transcripts, rent receipts, hotel invoices, or airline tickets. 

Grace Periods 

To be able to continue operating a vehicle in Germany, the driver must convert his/her U.S. driver's license into a German license within six months of establishing "ordinary residency" there. If, after six months, the change has not occurred, the driver's license holder is no longer entitled to drive in Germany with a U.S. driver's license. It is possible to extend the grace period one time by another six months if the license holder can credibly show that he/she will not reside in Germany longer than 12 months . 

After the six-month grace period has expired, it is still possible to convert a U.S. driver's license into a German license within a maximum of three years after establishing "ordinary residency." However, the license holder is not allowed to drive during the application process and as long as the conversion to a German license has not occurred. After the three-year grace period has expired, it is no longer possible to convert the U.S. driver's license into a German license. Thus, to obtain a German driver's license, the driver must complete a full driver-training program and then pass a theoretical (written) and practical (road) test. 

Taking the Driver's Exam in Germany 

If the driver duly applies to have the U.S. driver's license converted to a German license (see above), it is not necessary in every case to take the German driver's exam. If the training and testing procedure of a U.S. state is equivalent to that of Germany, the license will be converted without testing. If the procedures are not equivalent, then, depending on the state in which the U.S. license was acquired, either only the theoretical or the entire driver's exam must be taken. Driver's licenses acquired in U.S. states not listed in the attachment can be converted into German licenses only after the entire German driver's exam has been completed. However, the license holder generally will not be required to take driver's training. In individual cases, a waiver is required from the license-issuing agency in order to receive a German driver's license. 

States for which the Theoretical and Practical Exams are Required 

Drivers with licenses from the following U.S. states are required to take the entire German driver's exam: Alaska, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Washington, American Samoa, Guam, Virgin Islands. 

States for which the Theoretical Exam is required 

Drivers with licenses from the following U.S. states are required to take the German theoretical exam only: Connecticut (classes D, 1, 2), District of Columbia (D), Florida (E), Idaho (D), Michigan (operator), Mississippi (operator), Missouri (F), Nebraska (O), North Carolina (C), Oregon (C), Tennessee (D). 

States whose Testing Programs are considered equivalent to that of Germany 

Driver's licenses from the following states will be converted into German licenses without testing: Alabama (D), Arizona (D, 2) Arkansas (D), Colorado (C, R), Delaware (D), Illinois (D), Kansas (C), Kentucky (D), Louisiana (E), Massachusetts (D), New Mexico (D), Pennsylvania (C), Puerto Rico (3), South Carolina, South Dakota (1,2), Utah (D), Virginia (NONE, M (provided code 6 is not indicated)), West Virginia (E), Wisconsin (D), Wyoming (C). 

This list of states is not complete and can be amended at any time through a reciprocity agreement when a state presents the necessary proof of equivalency. 

Underage Holders of a U.S. Driver's License 

If, on returning from the United States, a youth has not yet reached the age of 18, he/she may drive in Germany with a U.S. license for a maximum of six months. 

The driver's license must be translated and have a designated driver's class. After the six-month grace period has expired, the U.S. driver's license temporarily expires for anyone who is not yet 18 years old. 

The driver may take the theoretical exam three months before becoming of legal age in Germany and the practical exam one month before becoming of legal age. If the driver passes both exams, the license will be issued to the driver on his/her 18th birthday. This conversion of the license is equivalent to the first-time acquisition of a driver's license, meaning that (German) probationary rules apply. However, the two-year probationary period will be calculated from the time the U.S. license was issued. 

Minor's License or Learner's Permit; Provisional or Probationary Licenses 

A driver is not entitled to use a foreign driver's license if it is a "minor's license," "learner's permit," or another provisionally issued license. The legal situation in Germany becomes complicated in cases when drivers under the age of 18 or 21 receive a minor's license or a learner's permit or when the license is generally issued for a limited period of time, as is done in some U.S. states. These licenses are generally recognized only when they are valid without any restrictions, that is, when they do not carry an expiration date and do not require that an exam be retaken in the respective state for their continued validity. Thus, Germany recognizes an American license when it automatically remains valid. The matter will depend on the legal situation in the respective U.S. state. The applicant may have to present the German authority with confirmation of the validity of the American driver's license. 

The rules governing the probationary (German) driver's license do not apply to the translated and/or classified U.S. driver's license. Here, too, the conversion to a German license is equivalent to the first-time acquisition of a driver's license, meaning the provisions pertaining to the probationary driver's license apply. The probationary period will be calculated from the time the U.S. license was issued. 

Agency Responsible for Converting Licenses 

Applicants are to submit their requests for a German license (license change) in person at their local office of motor vehicles (Straßenverkehrsamt - Führerscheinstelle). A note will be entered in the German driver's license stating that the applicant has presented a foreign driver's license. Barring any reasonable exceptions, the U.S. license will be returned to the U.S. issuing agency or held by the German agency. It will be given back only after the German driver's license is returned. 

ADAC

The ADAC website is in German, but you will find links to an alphabetical listing of ADAC locations if you click on GO under Für ADAC Gäste, then on the next screen at the top under ADAC & mehr, click on ADAC Geschäftsstellen.
 

Editor's Note: This information was supplied courtesy of ADAC, Germany, and AAA, U.S.A.