Driving in Germany with a US license: IDP, exchange and the test

Many Americans plan to keep driving on their state license after moving to Germany, and for a while they can. German law gives a limited window, then requires a German license. Whether you get one by simple exchange or must take tests depends on the US state that issued your license.

I lived and worked in Germany, and I saw how often newcomers missed the deadline because nobody told them about it. This guide sets out the rules from the Driving Licence Ordinance (Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung, FeV), its Annex 11 and the US Embassy. Your local driving licence office (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde or Führerscheinstelle) has the final word.

Visiting versus living in Germany

Section 29 FeV lets holders of a foreign license drive in Germany within the scope of their license as long as they do not have an ordinary residence here.

Ordinary residence is defined in section 7 FeV. In short, it is where you live for at least 185 days a year because of personal and work ties. Tourists and short business visitors therefore drive on their US license.

The six-month window after you move

Once you establish ordinary residence in Germany, section 29 FeV says your foreign license remains valid for another six months. The licensing office can extend this on application by up to six more months if you show that your residence in Germany will not last longer than twelve months.

After the window closes, driving on the US license alone counts as driving without a valid license in Germany. Mark the date you registered your address and plan the exchange well before six months pass.

Translation or International Driving Permit

Section 29 FeV also deals with how you prove your license. A foreign national license that is not in German, not issued in the EU, EEA or Switzerland, and not in the format of Annex 6 of the 1968 Vienna Convention must be accompanied by a translation. US state licenses fall into this group.

You have two options:

• An International Driving Permit (IDP) under the road traffic conventions, carried together with your US license.
• A translation made by an internationally recognised automobile club of the issuing country or a body designated by the German transport ministry.

The IDP does not extend the six-month window. It only proves what your US license allows.

Exchanging your US license

Section 31 FeV governs the exchange. If your license was issued by a state and in a class listed in Annex 11, the office does not require:

• the eye test,
• the first-aid course,
• and, depending on Annex 11, the theory and practical driving tests.

Training rules, such as compulsory driving school lessons, also do not apply. For states not in Annex 11, section 31 says the training rules still do not apply, but you must pass the tests.

### What Annex 11 says about US states

Annex 11 lists car licenses from individual US states and territories, with two columns: whether a theory test is required, and whether a practical test is required. In the current text, no listed US state requires a practical test. The theory test column differs:

| Theory test required? | Examples of states in Annex 11 | |---|---| | No | Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington State, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming | | Yes | Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee |

Annex 11 names the license classes for each state (for example class D for many states, class C for Pennsylvania and Wyoming) and carries footnotes with extra conditions. Read the entry for your state and class.

States that do not appear in the list, such as California, New York, Georgia, New Jersey and Nevada, do not get the test waiver. Holders of those licenses take both the theory and the practical test, but without compulsory driving school training.

### Staying less than a year

The US Embassy adds a practical point for short stays: if you will leave Germany within a year, go to the licensing office before the six months run out and ask to continue on your US license until departure. Bring an official translation of your license and proof of departure, such as a return ticket or a fixed-term work contract. This matches the extension rule in section 29 FeV.

### The theory test in English

The US Embassy states that the written test can be taken in English, costs approximately EUR 40, and includes a separate test of German license-related vocabulary. Many people still take a few lessons before the practical test to learn local test routes and expectations.

### Documents

The US Embassy lists typical documents for an exchange, including your passport, residence registration, your original US license with a translation, and a biometric photo. Many offices also ask for an eye test certificate when tests apply.

Road rules worth knowing

Some rules differ from US habits. Section 3 of the Road Traffic Regulations (StVO) sets the general speed limits for cars:

• 50 km/h inside built-up areas,
• 100 km/h outside built-up areas,
• on the Autobahn there is no general limit except where posted, and the US Embassy notes that the authorities recommend a top speed of 130 km/h.

Other points from the US Embassy's driving information:

• Passing on the Autobahn. Check the mirror far back before moving into the left lane, because fast cars approach suddenly, then return to the right lane quickly.
• Seat belts are mandatory in front and back seats, and child safety seats are mandatory for children.
• Alcohol. Driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.5 per mill or higher is illegal, and penalties include withdrawal of the license.
• Breakdowns. Arrows on the white posts along the Autobahn point to the nearest emergency call box.
• Papers. The vehicle registration document must accompany the driver, but should not be left in an unattended car.

Buying and keeping a car

The US Embassy notes several obligations for car owners:

• Cars with German plates must be registered and pass the technical inspection (TÜV) within 90 days of the car's arrival in Germany.
• Cars must be inspected every two years, and a sticker on the rear plate shows when the next inspection is due.
• Third-party liability insurance is mandatory, and every accident must be reported to the insurer immediately.
• Insurers are not obliged to give discounts for a US driving record, though many do, so the embassy encourages comparing several insurers.
• Every car must carry a warning triangle and a first-aid kit.

Checklist

1. Note the date you registered your address in Germany.
2. Carry an IDP or an approved translation with your US license.
3. Look up your state and class in Annex 11.
4. Apply at your local driving licence office well within six months.
5. Book the theory test, and the practical test if needed, early.

Common questions

How long can I drive in Germany on my US license? As a visitor, while you have no ordinary residence in Germany. Once you live there, section 29 FeV gives six more months, extendable by up to six months if you will stay no more than twelve months.

Can I exchange my US license without a test? It depends on your state. Annex 11 FeV lists states whose car licenses need no practical test; some of them still require the theory test. Unlisted states need both tests.

Do I need an International Driving Permit? You need either an IDP or an approved translation with your US license, because US licenses are not in German or the Vienna Convention format.

Can I take the theory test in English? Yes. The US Embassy states the written test can be taken in English for approximately EUR 40.