The driver's license authority, in cooperation with the Federal Printing Office in Berlin, offers the option of having EU card driver's licenses sent by mail. The Federal Printing Office sends the driver's license directly to the applicant.

Advantage: You no longer need to make an additional trip to the driver's license authority (driver's license office) to pick up your new EU card driver's license.

With direct shipping, the Federal Printing Office in Berlin sends the EU card driver's license directly by registered mail to the applicant's registered address. The EU card driver's license is sent to the main residence specified on the driver's license application. As soon as the EU card driver's license is in the recipient's mailbox, it is considered delivered. If your address changes after applying for a driver's license, please notify the driver's license authority (driver's license office) immediately. Any additional costs, e.g., if the driver's license has to be re-sent, will be borne by you. The Federal Printing Office uses the address data exclusively for the one-time purpose of direct shipping.

When new EU card driving licenses are sent by direct mail, you can keep your old driving license document. However, this must be subsequently limited in time. This ensures that you continue to have proof of your driving license for the period until you receive your new EU card driving license at no additional cost. A temporary proof of driving authorization costing €10 is then not required.

Direct delivery is possible:

• When exchanging an old paper driver's license (gray or pink) for an EU card driver's license
• When replacing a driver's license due to loss or theft
• When replacing a driver's license due to a name change
• When changing conditions (e.g., removal of visual aids)
• When registering the key number B96, 196
• When switching from accompanied driving at age 17 (pink test certificate) to an EU card driver's license from age 18 for class B

In the following cases, direct shipping is only possible to a limited extent:

• When renewing a truck or bus driving license (classes C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D, or DE)
• When extending the driver's license to additional classes
• When registering a key number 95 (professional drivers)

In all other cases, e.g., when issuing a driver's license for the first time, for an expired driver's license, when transferring a foreign driver's license, or if several driver's license classes are registered or have been applied for, direct shipping is unfortunately not possible.

Application
Personal appearance required (for identification and signature)

The applicant has their primary residence in Mainz.

If you do not receive your driver's license within 6 weeks of submitting your application, or if the information on your driver's license is incorrect, please contact the driver's license authority (driver's license office) immediately. We will then contact the Federal Printing Office to track the EU card driver's license. You cannot contact the Federal Printing Office yourself.

The subsequently limited-validity driver's licenses are recognized in Germany, but acceptance abroad cannot be guaranteed! If you are planning to drive abroad, direct shipping may not be possible if you do not want the early limitation for this reason. A provisional proof of driving authorization (10 euro fee) is not valid abroad!

• Driver's License Regulation (FeV) (opens in a new tab)
• Regulation on the licensing of persons for road traffic (opens in a new tab)

Approximately 4 to 6 weeks (as part of the processing of the respective driver's license application)

• Current biometric photo (size 45x35 mm, portrait format, frontal view) - no digital code possible!

Note:
Since May 1, 2025, the rule applies 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.

• Official proof of place and date of birth (identity card or passport)
• Existing driver's license

The fees for the driver's license vary. Direct delivery of the driver's license costs an additional €6.50.

Cash/EC