Germany has a reputation as the land of the car, and the reputation is deserved. It is also the land of the form. The good news for most Europeans is that your driving licence travels well. The less good news is that your car does not travel quite as easily. This guide covers the driving licence in Germany first and the car second.
Do you have to exchange your EU driving licence in Germany?
No. A licence issued in another EU or EEA state is recognised in Germany even after you move here (§ 28 of the Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung, or FeV). The categories are matched by the European rules. You can exchange it voluntarily at the Fahrerlaubnisbehörde (licensing authority) of your city or district, with no theory or driving test, no eye test and no first-aid course (§ 30 FeV). You hand over the old licence in return.
There are two exceptions:
- Lorry and bus categories (C, C1, CE, D, D1, DE and similar). In Germany these are limited to five years, and the rule applies to your foreign licence too, counted from its issue date. If it is more than five years old when you settle, you may keep driving for six months, then you need a German licence with the medical checks the rules require.
- Licences obtained while you already lived in Germany, apart from studies of at least six months, are not recognised. A licence issued after a withdrawal or ban in Germany does not give the right to drive here either.
Old paper licences remain valid, but EU rules require all of them to be exchanged by 2033, in the country that issued them or in your country of residence. If yours is old, exchanging it in Germany is a good time-saver.
What about UK and Swiss licences?
These follow a different rule. A UK or Swiss licence is valid for six months from the day you take up residence in Germany. It can be extended for up to six months only if you prove you will stay no more than twelve months in all (§ 29 FeV). Exchange before the deadline, in person at the licensing authority, with a statement that your licence is still valid. Both countries are on the list of states whose licences are exchanged without a theory or driving test; for the UK, a vision test can be requested.
You count as resident when you live in Germany at least 185 days a year with personal or professional ties (§ 7 FeV). A student from the EU who comes only to study is not treated as having moved their home. Do not let the six months slip by. After that, you are driving without a valid licence in Germany. Our article on moving to Germany from the UK places this in the wider picture.
What documents and fees does a driving licence exchange in Germany need?
- Your original licence.
- An ID document and, in practice, your registration certificate (see our Anmeldung guide).
- A recent biometric passport photo, on paper: Berlin says the photo is not printed on site.
- For non-EU licences, a statement that the licence is still valid, and sometimes a translation.
The fee follows a federal scale but is applied locally. In Berlin in 2026, it is €37.50 for an exchange without an exam and €45.10 where an exam is required, according to the city's service portal. Check your own city's page.
If your licence is old, covers heavy vehicles, or you are not sure which date counts as the start of your residence, the details can change your deadline. Moovy can help you read the rule and prepare your appointment in plain English. It does not apply for the licence for you.
How do you register a foreign car in Germany?
A car with foreign plates may circulate in Germany temporarily, for no more than one year, and only if it does not have its usual base in Germany (§ 46 of the vehicle registration ordinance). Once you move here with a car, it is based in Germany, and you must register it. The law gives no number of days, so do it soon after you arrive. Your home-country insurance may also stop covering you, so ask your insurer in writing.
The steps, according to the Berlin service portal and the federal rules:
- Get German liability insurance and the electronic insurance confirmation number (eVB).
- Check the technical inspection. A valid Hauptuntersuchung (HU, popularly "TÜV") is needed. A recent car has its first HU after 36 months, then every 24 months. An EU inspection that meets European rules is accepted if you can prove the first registration date. For a car that came from outside the EU, such as the UK or Switzerland, a German HU is required before registration.
- Find the certificate of conformity (COC) or a manufacturer's confirmation. Without one, an expert report is needed.
- Book an appointment at the registration office (Zulassungsstelle) and bring the originals: foreign registration papers and plates, ID with proof of address, the eVB number, proof of the HU, the purchase contract if applicable.
- Sign a SEPA direct-debit mandate for the car tax. No bank account, no registration of a taxable vehicle.
- Collect your papers, make your plates, get them stamped.
- Deregister the car in your home country. The German registration triggers a notice to your home authority, but not an automatic deregistration.
Fees follow the federal scale. In Berlin, the simplest case costs €34.70 in 2026, plates not included.
How much is the Kfz-Steuer, and what about electric cars?
The annual vehicle tax is based on engine size and CO2 emissions. For a car first registered since 2021, there is a rate per 100 cm³ (€2 for petrol, €9.50 for diesel) plus a surcharge per gram of CO2 above 95 g/km (§ 9 of the Motor Vehicle Tax Act). It is debited from your account every year. Electric cars first registered between 18 May 2011 and 31 December 2030 are exempt for ten years, and no later than 31 December 2035.
What about cars from outside the EU?
For Swiss and British cars, customs matters. Proof of customs clearance is needed for the registration, and import VAT may be due. A moving exemption can apply if you lived outside the EU for at least 12 months, owned and used the car for at least six months there and declare it within 12 months of settling. In that case, you cannot sell, lend or rent it out for 12 months without telling customs. Check the customs rules with the German customs service before shipping.
Which mistakes cost the most?
- Driving for months on foreign plates after moving.
- Forgetting the certificate of conformity. Ask the manufacturer before you leave, because an expert report costs more.
- Missing the six months for a UK or Swiss licence.
- Not deregistering the old car, which means you may keep paying tax and insurance back home.
- Expecting to pay the tax in cash. It is collected by direct debit.
For the money side, our bank account in Germany guide explains how to get a German account quickly.
What if you lose your licence, or need insurance advice?
If you lose an EU licence once you live in Germany, the German authority issues the replacement. Third-party liability insurance is compulsory for any vehicle based in Germany. The legal minimum cover is €7.5 million for personal injury, €1.3 million for property damage and €50,000 for pure financial loss per claim, and premiums are set by the insurer, so compare quotes. Sort out your driving licence in Germany and your car insurance in the same week, since the registration office will ask for the insurance number.