Tomorrow is the last day for compulsory exchange of old driving licenses in GERMANY. This applies in particular to all drivers born between 1953 and 1958 with a previous paper driver’s license issued until 31 December 1998. These driver’s licenses will first be replaced by a driver’s license in the form of an EU card. Anyone who does not make the change in time and is checked will face a strike penalty. “From July 20, the police can impose fines on drivers who drive a motor vehicle with an expired license,” said Joachim Herrmann (CSU), Chairman of the Conference of Ministers of the Interior and Minister of the Interior of Bavaria. The standard penalty is 10 Euros. Herrmann recommended that all Old Driver’s License holders apply to the authorities as soon as possible.
43 MILLION PEOPLE WILL BE AFFECTED
In addition, all driver’s licenses issued before 19 January 2013 must also be gradually replaced by a new EU driver’s license. That would require approximately 43 million people nationwide to change their driver’s licenses by January 19, 2033. The reason for the changes is the new EU norms. In the future, all driver’s licenses are intended to be uniform and safe from forgery across the EU. In addition, all licenses will be saved in a database to prevent abuse. The deadline for their next birth period—that is, from 1959 to 1964—is January 19, 2023. Those born between 1965 and 1970 must also change their old driver’s license by January 19, 2024. The last scheduled driver’s license change date is January 19, 2033. This date applies to driver’s licenses issued from 2012 to January 18, 2013. Licenses issued after this date are already in compliance with the newly determined EU norms.