Licence renewal · Just the card
Expiring? Only the document.
Your licence card is expiring — but relax: your entitlement to drive stays valid. What you need is a new card. No course, no test.
- No course, no test
- Only the document
- Langenfeld
- Start in good time
First, breathe
Your entitlement to drive doesn't expire.
Only the document has an expiry date. Since 2013 the EU has had a uniform licence card valid for 15 years — an administrative rule, not a restriction. You exchange the card, and that's all.
What actually expires
- Since 2013, EU licence cards are valid for 15 years
- That's an EU-wide administrative rule — not a restriction on your entitlement
- The entitlement itself remains valid indefinitely
- You only exchange the card: no course, no test, no Sehtest
- Old paper licences have to be exchanged by 2033 at the latest
What you need
- A valid ID card or passport
- A current biometric passport photo
- Your existing licence — it's handed in at the authority
- An appointment at the Straßenverkehrsamt
- A little lead time: start 6–8 weeks before it expires
How it runs
Three steps. Done.
- Documents
Get the photo & the ID.
Have a biometric photo taken, put your valid ID out, keep the old licence to hand. If anything's unclear, give us a quick call.
- The authority
Appointment. Application. Done.
Book an appointment at the Straßenverkehrsamt, submit the application, hand in the documents. The new card arrives by post a few weeks later.
- Ticked off
New card. Carry on driving.
The new document comes to your door and is valid for another 15 years. No course, no theatre — simply back on the road.
What we charge for it
Renewal. Our support.
Renewal, with support
What we do around the renewal. The Straßenverkehrsamt's own fee and the passport photo come separately.
- We tell you which documents you need
- No course, no test, no Sehtest
- Old paper licences too
100 €
VAT included
All prices include VAT. TÜV fees are charged separately.
Why Erste Liga
Renewal. Clear and quick.
No course needed
Your entitlement is untouched. Only the physical document is renewed — a purely administrative act.
Start in good time
Begin 6–8 weeks before expiry: the authority, the processing and the post all take their time. Plan early and there's no stress.
A quick word with us
Just call — we'll tell you straight away what you need, whether it's a paper licence or a plastic card. No long detours.
The exchange
The card expires. You don't.
What expires is the piece of plastic. Your entitlement to drive stands; this is only about exchanging the document and about the paperwork that has to be in place for it.
- The entitlement stays, the document is exchanged
- We tell you which papers you need
- Dealing with it early avoids the deadline scramble
Good to know
Renewal. Clear answers.
No. The entitlement itself stays valid indefinitely, whatever it says on the card. What expires is only the physical document. You should still renew it promptly, because with an expired card you're driving without valid proof.
No. For a straight renewal of the document you need neither a course nor a test nor an eye test. It is a purely administrative act at the Straßenverkehrsamt.
Those also have to be exchanged for the new EU card by 2033 at the latest. Depending on your year of birth and the year of issue, staggered deadlines apply. Here too: no course, no test.
At least 6–8 weeks before expiry. The authorities have their own waiting times for appointments, and the new document then takes a few more weeks. Plan early and there's no stress.
The Straßenverkehrsamt charges its own fee for issuing the new card, and the passport photo comes on top. What our support costs is further down this page and in the price list.
Your next step
Get in touch. We'll sort the rest.
Call or send us a photo of your licence — we'll tell you straight away what's needed and the quickest way to get it done.