8 min all old driver’s licenses must be exchanged by 2033 at the latest – which expiration date applies to you and what to bear in mind when exchanging them
*information about the calculation example "from 8,63 €/ month": calculation example for: smart fortwo 1.0 coupe (HSN: 1313, TSN: AHM), owner-financed, initial registration 2015, year of purchase: 2015, registered in zip code: 26871 (papenburg), mileage: 5.000 km/year, use: exclusively private, owner: VN, driver: VN (age 54 years/driver’s license since 36 years) and further driver (age 52 years/driver’s license since 34 years), employed, no residential property, parking place: street, married, SF-class KH/ VK: SF 36 / SF 36 excess VK/ TK: 500/ 150 €, no pre-damages, payment: yearly direct debit, workshop binding, insurance start: 05.01.2021, tariff incl. Fully comprehensive insurance, classic product line. The 8,63 €/ month refers to the calculated annual premium of 103,60 €, which was broken down to 12 months. Status: 2021
Why do driver’s licenses have to be exchanged??
The aim of the large-scale exchange campaign is to issue uniform driver’s licenses to all EU citizens. This is provided for in an amendment passed on 19. EU Directive (2006/126/EC) that came into force on January 1, 2013. By 2033 at the latest, all old driver’s licenses issued before that date must be exchanged. The new plastic documents are equipped with security features that make forgery more difficult. In addition, all driver’s licenses are recorded in a database, which is intended to prevent misuse.
With the uniform driver’s license, an expiration date was also introduced. Driving licenses issued from 2013 onwards now have a validity period of only 15 years, after which they must be renewed. This ensures that all driver’s licenses have a photo and personal data that are as up-to-date as possible. Until 2013, driver’s licenses were valid for an unlimited period.