Driving license: Exchange old driving license for new driving license
Online services
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.
Legal basis
- § Section 24a Ordinance on the Admission of Persons to Road Traffic (Driving License Ordinance - FeV) (opens in a new tab)
- § 25 Ordinance on the admission of persons to road traffic (Driving License Ordinance - FeV) (opens in a new tab)
- Annex 3 Ordinance on the Admission of Persons to Road Traffic (Driving License Ordinance - FeV) (opens in a new tab)
- Annex 8e Ordinance on the Admission of Persons to Road Traffic (Driving License Ordinance - FeV) (opens in a new tab)
Deadlines
Approximately 4 to 6 weeks
What do I need to bring or submit?
- 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
- Current biometric photo (size 45x35 mm, portrait format, frontal view), no digital code possible!
Note:
Since May 1, 2025, the rule applies that you must submit a digital passport photo to the registration authority for passport photos for identity cards and passports. However, this requirement does not apply to the driver's license authority and therefore does not affect the application for driver's license documents. Please also note that the driver's license authorities do not have the technical equipment to take photos on site. You must therefore submit passport photos in analog form, preferably together with the complete application documents, to the driver's license authority.
Please note:
If your old paper driver's license (gray or pink) was issued by the state capital of Mainz before 1996, but you were a resident of 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 or the driver's license authorities (driver's license offices) in Bingen or Oppenheim directly.
Email: fs-bingenmainz-bingende
Email: fs-oppenheimmainz-bingende
When exchanging the former Class 2 license from the age of 50, the following is also required:
- Medical report in accordance with Appendix 5 of the Driver's License Regulation (costs to be borne by the applicant)
- an ophthalmological report in accordance with Appendix 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 change of conditions, please ask the driver's license authority in advance for the necessary documents.
When exchanging the former Class 3 license from the age of 50, the following is also required:
- Medical report in accordance with Appendix 5 of the Driver's License Regulation (costs to be borne by the applicant)
- Ophthalmological report in accordance with Appendix 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 change of conditions, please ask the driver's license authority in advance which documents are required.
You only need these additional documents when exchanging Class 3 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 expiry date, please refer to the relevant service.
Collection of the card driving license from the driver's license authority
in person
- Letter from the driver's license authority
- Identity document
by an authorized person
- Letter from the driver's license authority
- Identification documents of both persons
- 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
Payment methods
Cash/EC
Forms, information sheets, links
Formulare
- Driving license, conversion to EU card driving license or exchange due to change in driving license or issue of a replacement driving license, applicationPDF-File117,02 kB
- Collecting a driving license from the driving license authority, power of attorneyPDF-File156,76 kB
- Driving license, EU card driving license direct mailing, information sheet and declaration of consentPDF-File85,84 kB
Internetverweise
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Contact us
Address
Fahrerlaubnisbehörde (Führerscheinstelle)
Elly-Beinhorn-Straße 16
55129 Mainz
Postal address
55028 Mainz
Telephone, fax and e-mail address
- +49 6131 12 ext. 2563
- fuehrerscheinstellestadt.mainzde
Your way to us
Contact persons
| Mr. BossogProcessing for initial issue, BF 17, replacement, exchange, extension, renewal of C and D classes, letters A to B and U | Letter range: A–B und U | +49 6131 12 ext. 3482 | |
| Mr. KeilProcessing for initial issue, BF 17, replacement, exchange, extension, renewal of C and D classes, letters D to G and T | Letter range: D–G und T | +49 6131 12 ext. 3728 | |
| Mrs. WeideClerk for initial issue, BF 17, replacement, exchange, extension, renewal of C and D classes, letters I to L and C | Letter range: I–L und C | +49 6131 12 ext. 2193 | |
| Mrs. TrabertClerk for initial issue, BF 17, replacement, exchange, extension, renewal of C and D classes, letter range L to Q | Letter range: M–Q und V | +49 6131 12 ext. 2634 | |
| Mrs. LangeProcessing for initial issue, BF 17, replacement, exchange, extension, renewal of C and D classes, letter range R to S | Letter range: R–S | +49 6131 12 ext. 2812 | |
| Mrs. MayerProcessing for initial issue, BF 17, replacement, exchange, extension, renewal of C and D classes, letters U to Z | Letter range: W–Z und H | +49 6131 12 ext. 2187 |
Opening hours
Current information:
Appointments can only be made at the times listed below after booking online in advance.
Online appointment scheduling/Vehicle Registration Office (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 public holidays!
Please also note that due to the time required to accept an affidavit in the event of a driver's license loss, we can only accept these on Thursdays until 5 p.m.
Accessibility
Information on accessibility
Barrier-free access available. Wheelchair-accessible WC available.