Holders of a non-EU driving licence who want to drive in Germany have to consider some things. Like so many other things in the German legal jungle, there are also very different regulations for the recognition of foreign driving licences in Germany. It plays a role how long your stay in Germany will last and in which country or state the driving licence was issued. For example, drivers with an American driver's licence from some states of the USA have to take the driving test again, whereas drivers from other states of the USA just may have their document transferred. In any case time is pressing, because as soon as one is registered as residence in Germany, it is only allowed to drive with the non-EU driving licence for at least 6 months.
Therefore, it makes sense to take care of the transcription as soon as possible. For this purpose, an application must be submitted to the driving licence authority. For the application the personal attendance is absolutely necessary. One should also be prepared for the fact that only the official language German is "spoken" at this authority. That means all applications and questions about the procedure will not be processed in English. Many international applicants have therefore failed going there by their own. This is where relocation agencies come into operation. They take care of the smooth processing and communication with the authorities and the special "official German" and help to make the process uncomplicated and without loss of time.
If the holder of a foreign non-EU driving licence comes from countries/states with which no licence agreement exists, the applicant has to pass both, the theoretical and the practical test must be passed. Both parts of the test can be done in English. A driving school of choice organises the tests. It is strongly recommended to book at least two practical driving lessons before taking the practical driving test. Even if you have a long driving experience. The German driving rules are already special and numerous. Only when the driving instructor has the impression that his student can successfully pass the practical test by a neutral, state-certified driving instructor, the student is registered for the driving test.
When attending the driving licence authority many documents must be submitted: passport, valid residence permit, a copy of the driving licence translated into German (translation by official authorities, ADAC or sworn translator), a biometric passport photo, the driving school application and proof of participation in first aid training (this can be done in English at selected providers) and an eye test (conducted by an optician or ophthalmologist), which must not be older than two years.
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