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Driving license: Exchange old driving license for new driving license
If your driver's license becomes invalid, you must apply for a new one. You will then receive a European Union (EU) card-style driver's license.
What do I need to know?
Service description
Many driving license holders are still driving with the old paper license. These documents will gradually lose their validity from January 19, 2022, depending on the year of birth of the holder.
When your old paper driver's license becomes invalid, you must replace it with the currently valid standard European Union (EU) card driver's license.
Even if you are the holder of an older driver's license in credit card format, you must exchange your driver's license.
Card driving licenses issued on or after January 19, 2013, are valid for 15 years. For driving licenses issued before this date, certain deadlines apply for exchanging them.
You can use the year of issue to see when you need to exchange your driver's license in the following overview:
Before 1953: January 19, 2033
1953 to 1998: Deadline already expired
1999 to 2001: January 19, 2026
2002 to 2004: January 19, 2027
2005 to 2007: January 19, 2028
2008: January 19, 2029
2009: January 19, 2030
2010: January 19, 2031
2011: January 19, 2032
2012 to January 18, 2013: January 19, 2033
Notes:
Holders of a driver's license who were born before 1953 must also exchange their driver's license by January 19, 2033, regardless of the year of issue.
The respective time limit only applies to the driver's license document, not to the underlying driving license. No medical examination or other checks are required when exchanging the document.
The rights documented in the driver's license remain valid even if the document is exchanged.
Remark
We will retain your current driver's license after conversion/exchange to an EU card driver's license or invalidate it.
Proof of identity, for example, identity card or passport
Current biometric passport photo
Original old driver's license
Card index transcript, if applicable
Current registration certificate, if applicable
A recent biometric photo (size 45x35 mm, portrait orientation, full-face view); digital codes are not accepted!
Note: As of May 1, 2025, the regulation requiring you to submit a digital passport photo to the registration office applies to passport photos for ID cards and passports. However, this requirement does not apply to the Driver’s License Office and therefore does not affect applications for driver’s license documents. The Driver’s License Office is equipped with the technical facilities to take photos on site. You may continue to submit passport photos in analog format to the Driver’s License Authority, preferably along with the complete application documents.
Please note: If your old paper driver’s license (gray or pink) was issued by the state capital of Mainz prior to 1996, but you were residing in the Mainz-Bingen district at that time, this data is no longer available in Mainz. In this case, please contact the Mainz-Bingen District Administration directly or the Driver’s License Authorities (Driver’s License Offices) in Bingen or Oppenheim. Email: fs-bingenmainz-bingende Email: fs-oppenheimmainz-bingende
When exchanging a former Class 2 license starting at age 50, the following is also required:
Medical report in accordance with Annex 5 of the Driver’s License Regulation (costs to be borne by the applicant)
an ophthalmological report in accordance with Annex 6 of the Driver’s License Regulation (costs to be borne by the applicant)
If you are exchanging your license due to the removal or modification of conditions, please contact the driver’s license authority in advance to inquire about the required documents.
When exchanging a former Class 3 license at age 50 or older, the following is additionally required:
Medical report in accordance with Annex 5 of the Driver’s License Regulation (costs to be borne by the applicant)
An ophthalmological report in accordance with Annex 6 of the Driver’s License Regulation (costs to be borne by the applicant)
If you are exchanging your license due to the removal or modification of conditions, please contact the driver’s license authority in advance to inquire about the required documents.
You only need these additional documents when exchanging a Class 3 license if you wish to continue driving vehicle combinations over 12 t (up to 18.75 t) with 3 axles and a towing vehicle up to 7.5 t (CE79).
For further information on renewal and issuance after the expiration date, please refer to the relevant service.
Pick up the card-style driver’s license at the driver’s license authority
In person
Letter from the Driver’s License Authority
Identification document
by an authorized representative
Letter to the Driver's License Authority
Identification documents for both individuals
Written power of attorney
How much does it cost and how can I pay?
Fees
EU card driving license: €26.50
EU card driving license with express shipping: €47 (express shipping €20.50)
For direct shipping by the Federal Printing Office in Berlin: €6.50
Current Notice: Appointments during the times listed below are available only by prior online booking. (opens in a new tab)
Monday: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Thursday: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays!
Please also note that due to the time required to process an affidavit in connection with a lost driver’s license, we can only accept these on Thursdays until 5:00 PM.
General Information
A self-service photo terminal is available on the ground floor between the "waiting area" and the "pickup area." Here you can take biometric passport photos and submit them digitally. A fee of 6 euros applies.
Bus stop: Heiligkreuzweg/Löhr Automeile Line: 64, 65, 66, 76, 93
Further information
Night mailboxes are located at - Stadthaus Große Bleiche, Löwenhofstr. 1, to the left of the sliding door and at the - Kaiserstraße, Lauterenflügel, Kaiserstr. 3- 5, to the right of the entrance door.
