A driver's license obtained for official purposes can be converted into a "civilian" driver's license, i.e., a general driver's license.

With a service driver's license from the German Armed Forces, the Federal Police, or the police, you are only allowed to drive service vehicles. It is only valid for the duration of your employment.

Please note: Driver's licenses issued on or after January 19, 2013, are valid for a limited period of 15 years. However, this limitation only applies to the driver's license document itself. It must be renewed every 15 years. Regular medical examinations or other tests are not required when replacing the document.

You must be the holder of a valid commercial driver's license.

• Application for transfer of official driver's license
• Identity card or passport (original; if using a passport, also provide proof of residence)
• Current biometric photo (size 45x35 mm, portrait format, frontal view), no digital code possible!
  Note:
  Since May 1, 2025, the rule has been in effect that a digital passport photo must be submitted to the registration authority for ID cards and passports. However, this requirement does not apply to the driver's license authority and therefore does not affect the application for driver's license documents. Please also note that the driver's license authorities do not have the technical equipment to take photos on site. You must therefore submit passport photos in analog form, preferably together with the complete application documents, to the driver's license authority.
• Presentation of the "civilian" driver's license, if one has already been issued
• Presentation of a valid service driver's license or a certificate of service driving permission if the application is submitted after the end of the employment relationship
• If applicable, proof of basic qualification in accordance with the Professional Driver Qualification Act in goods transport or passenger transport for commercial purposes on public roads
  • for the entry of key number 95
• If applicable, a copy of the index card from the issuing authority (if the "civilian" driver's license was not issued by the state capital of Mainz)
  • To speed up the issuance of the EU card driving license, you can request the index card transcript in advance by telephone from the original issuing driving license authority.
  • You can send the index card transcript directly by fax (06131 12-2563) or by email (fuehrerscheinstellestadt.mainzde) to the Mainz driver's license authority.

When picking up your card driving license at the driver's license authority, please bring the following documents with you:

• For personal collection
  • Cover letter from the driver's license authority
  • Identification document
• For collection by an authorized representative
  • Letter from the driver's license authority
  • Identification documents of both persons
  • Written power of attorney

Transfer of a service driver's license/service driving permit: €37.50

Cash/EC