Prerequisites
- They possess a card-format driving licence.
- Her main residence is in Hamburg.
Documents required
- valid identification document (identity card, electronic residence permit (eAT) or passport) with current registration certificate
- biometric passport photo 35 x 45 millimeters - not older than 1 year
- current driver's license
- Appointment confirmation
Additionally, for the renewal of a truck driving licence of the old classes 2 and 3:
- ophthalmological report in accordance with Annex 6 of the Driving Licence Regulations (FeV), not older than 2 years
- Medical certificate in accordance with Annex 5.1 of the German Driving License Regulations (FeV), not older than 1 year.
If you are no longer interested in renewing your old license classes and ownership rights, you do not need an expert opinion. You may then continue to drive vehicles up to 7.5 tons plus trailers over 3.5 tons (provided the total weight does not exceed 12 tons).
You will usually receive your new driving licence from the Federal Printing Office after 3-4 months.
Please note
You can also exchange your driver's license at the State Transport Authority (LBV).
With the old Class 3 license, extending the authorization to drive vehicles over 7.5 tons (CE 79) is no longer straightforward. Upon exchanging your license, you will receive a Class BE driving licence.
If you wish to obtain additional driving licence categories, you will need to submit further documents. From the age of 55, you must also take a theoretical and a practical test for categories C and CE (formerly category 2). Alternatively, you can choose not to obtain category 2.
Your driving licence remains valid after the exchange.
Deadlines
The exchange deadlines for unlimited card-format driving licences depend on the year the licence was issued:
- 1999 to 2001: Exchange until January 19, 2026
- 2002 to 2004: Exchange until 19.01.2027
- 2005 to 2007: Exchange until 19.01.2028
- 2008: Exchange until 19.01.2029
- 2009: Exchange until January 19, 2030
- 2010: Exchange until 19.01.2031
- 2011: Exchange until 19.01.2032
- 2012: Exchange until January 18, 2033
- 2013: Exchange until January 19, 2033
If you were born before 1953, you also have until January 19, 2033 to exchange your card-format driving licence.
EU driving licences of category B issued from 19 January 2013 onwards are already valid for 15 years. You can find the expiry date on your EU driving licence.
