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German driver's license?

  • 08-07-2011 1:12pm
    #1
    pumpkinsoup
    Closed Accounts Posts: 54 ✭✭


    I've a German drivers license which I got nearly 20 years ago while living in Germany. Although I've been living in Ireland for a number of years I never exchanged it as I understand that European licenses are now valid in all EU countries. My understanding has been that a German license is for life and it should therefore still be valid. However, I'm concerned that the license is very tatty at this stage and I no longer look like the guy in the picture. I'm afraid this could cause some problems if I'm asked to show it at some stage (which has never happened!).

    Can anyone confirm if a 20 year old German license is still valid?
    If so, does anyone know how long it takes to exchange it for an Irish one?


Comments

  • #2
    keithclancy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,208 ✭✭✭keithclancy


    pumpkinsoup wrote: »
    I've a German drivers license which I got nearly 20 years ago while living in Germany. Although I've been living in Ireland for a number of years I never exchanged it as I understand that European licenses are now valid in all EU countries. My understanding has been that a German license is for life and it should therefore still be valid. However, I'm concerned that the license is very tatty at this stage and I no longer look like the guy in the picture. I'm afraid this could cause some problems if I'm asked to show it at some stage (which has never happened!).

    Can anyone confirm if a 20 year old German license is still valid?
    If so, does anyone know how long it takes to exchange it for an Irish one?

    http://ec.europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/vehicles/driving/validity/resident_en.htm

    Problem:
    Jürgen is 35 and got his German driving licence when he was 20. He has recently moved to Spain. In Germany, licences have an unlimited validity period but in Spain, licences for people under 45 are valid for 10 years only. So Jürgen's 15 year-old licence will not be valid in Spain.

    Solution:
    Jürgen will be allowed to drive in Spain for 6 months after registering there as a resident. Before the end of that period, he will need to exchange his German licence for a Spanish one (valid for 10 years, as for Spanish nationals).

    You can just exchange it for an Irish one, although you should have exchanged it within 6 months of arriving in Ireland if your German license is over 10 years old.


  • #3
    Our man in Havana
    Closed Accounts Posts: 29,473 ✭✭✭✭Our man in Havana


    No one will care about that.


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