(Plastic) driving licenses expire, fines threaten: All deadlines at a glance

Do you still have an old paper driving license? The driving licenses issued before 1999, known colloquially as “rags”, urgently need to be exchanged. After that, across the EU, only the driving license was issued in credit card form, which is now widely used and which you may also find in your wallet. But here too, deadlines have to be observed and many driving licenses have to be exchanged.

The switch from paper to plastic brought with it innovations that many drivers no longer have in mind these days. The vehicle classes have been renamed and restructured. For example, “moped class” 1b became A1. The class 3 car driving license now bears the letter “B”.

Driving with a trailer: Medical examination may be required

But many Germans are still clinging to their old driving license rags. There is a strict exchange requirement, which is based on the year of birth.

You can find out exactly how this is staggered and when driving licenses must be exchanged using the ADAC driving license exchange calculator. Many have to exchange their “rag” by January 19, 2024.

Are there any disadvantages when exchanging?

Perhaps some people fear that changing their driving license will entail disadvantages, that they will no longer be allowed to drive vehicles that they were previously legally allowed to drive. But the ADAC makes it clear:

Only the driving license document as such expires after 15 years – but not the driving license classes themselves. Driver license holders who still have the old pink or gray driving license do not have any disadvantages as a result of the exchange.

ADAC

However, this does not apply without restrictions. Anyone who has the old class 3 driving license may still be able to drive trucks with a permissible total weight of 7.5 tonnes and even tow a trailer. Driving articulated trains with a permissible total weight of up to 18.75 tons may then still be permitted.

If this applies to you and you are currently affected by a driver’s license exchange, then this may require you to see a doctor. Because the so-called “temporary class 3” corresponds to today’s CE truck license with key number 79.

Driving licenses in credit card format also expire – these are the deadlines

Anyone over 50 who wants to continue driving in this class needs a medical certificate. When you visit the doctor, your general ability to drive will be assessed. In addition, an ophthalmological report is required – regardless of whether the driver’s license has already been exchanged or not. Anyone who drives “normal” cars without a trailer doesn’t have to worry about this.

Anyone who has a plastic credit card-sized driving license also needs to keep an eye on deadlines. Not all plastic driving licenses are the same. There are new and old cards. Until January 18, 2013, plastic cards were issued without an expiration date. These must also be exchanged with the authorities for EU-compliant ones that are valid for 15 years.

If you have such a driving license in credit card format, an exchange must be made by January 19, 2033 at the latest. However, the exchange won’t start until January 2026 – so you still have a little time. You can find the exact deadlines for the exchange in the table above.

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