Foreign Driving Licence Translation into German

Which driving licence do you have? Documents by country

The licence itself is usually a single card or booklet, but layouts and languages differ a lot. This is what we see most often:

Ukrainian driving licences: special rules

Ukrainian licences remain valid in Germany under special rules. Since 18 August 2026, valid Ukrainian licences can be exchanged more easily: for certain classes no theory or practical test is needed. Each Führerscheinstelle decides what translation it needs for the exchange, so check with your office before you order. We translate Ukrainian licences, including older Soviet-era style documents, directly into German.

Vehicle classes, codes and validity dates

A German clerk must see at a glance which vehicles you may drive and until when. We translate every category, sub-category, restriction code and date, and keep the original code in brackets. Indian licences, for example, use short codes:

Many licences give each class its own "valid from" and "valid until" date. We put each date next to its class. Some offices want your classes matched to German classes. The translator does not do this matching; your office decides.

See what your translation will look like

The sample shows an example licence with dummy data. Every translation includes the full text of both sides in the same order, each class with its dates, notes on stamps, photo and QR code, and the sworn translator's declaration, stamp and signature.

How we write your name

A sworn translator copies names in Latin letters letter by letter, exactly as on the licence, including Turkish letters such as ç or ı. Names in Cyrillic or Arabic script are transliterated. Abbreviations stay abbreviations. If your passport spelling is different, we add it in a translator's note.

If your name changed, you may also need a name change document translation.

Common problems with foreign licences, and how we handle them

1. 1Details are on the back. Classes, dates and restrictions are often on the back of the card. We always translate both sides.
2. 2Old booklet with handwritten pages. We translate every page with entries and mark text we cannot read, so nothing is invented.
3. 3Card damaged or details missing. A record from the issuing authority can help, for example a DL Extract from an Indian RTO. We translate the licence and the record together.
4. 4Two languages on one card. Iraqi licences may mix Arabic and Kurdish, Afghan ones Dari and Pashto. Every language part is translated.

Driving in Germany and converting your licence

Your foreign licence is valid in Germany for six months after you take up ordinary residence (usually your Anmeldung). It must have been issued before you moved. If you stay less than 12 months, a one-time extension of up to six months is possible. During this time you must carry a German translation or an International Driving Permit. According to the ADAC, some federal states do not insist on this for English-language licences.

After that you need a German licence. Turkey, Russia, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and India are not on the list in Anlage 11 FeV, so converting usually means a theory and a practical test. Ukraine has the special rules above. For the full process, see our licence conversion guide. Many Führerscheinstellen accept both an ADAC translation and a sworn translation. Check your office.

When do you need your driving licence in German?

• When converting your licence at the Führerscheinstelle
• To drive in your first months, show the police, or rent a car
• Sometimes in your permanent residence file, if the office asks
• Together with other papers, such as a police clearance certificate translation

What language is your driving licence in?

We translate directly into German from Turkish, Arabic, Kurdish (Kurmanji and Sorani), Dari, Pashto, Persian (Farsi), Ukrainian, Russian and English. Indian licences are mostly in English, often with Hindi or a regional language.

Indian languages: English · Hindi · Punjabi · Urdu · Tamil · Telugu · Bengali · Marathi · Gujarati · Malayalam

Driving licence translation into German: price and delivery

All prices shown are starting prices incl. VAT and postage within Germany. Your exact fixed price comes in a written quote after upload, before you pay.

The price is fixed and shown before you pay. See all prices or read how it works.

Your files are transferred encrypted and deleted after 30 days (GDPR).

If your office asks for a change to our translation, we correct it free of charge.

What should I upload?

• A clear scan or photo of the front and the back of your licence
• Any licence record or extract, if you have one or if your office asked for it
• Your passport photo page, so the translator can add a note on your passport spelling (recommended)

Usually a clear scan or photo is enough. Some offices want the translator to see the original, so check your letter. Düsseldorf, for example, asks for this for licence translations. Tell us before you order.

Frequently asked questions about driving licence translation