Under an EU-wide regulation, all old driving licences must be exchanged by 2033 at the latest. The aim is to introduce a standardised and forgery-proof driving licence. To ease the burden on the driving licence authorities, the exchange will take place according to a phased plan set at national level.
The next statutory deadline is 19 January 2027. By then, holders of card-style driving licences issued between 2002 and 2004 in particular must exchange their licences (with the exception of licence holders born before 1953).
Whilst long waiting times are common in the months leading up to the respective deadline, the appointment situation is currently much less busy. The Börde district therefore recommends not postponing the exchange until the end of the year, but taking advantage of the currently available slots.
Driving licence exchanges are carried out exclusively by prior appointment. During the appointment, the driving licence details are checked and the new licence is ordered. The existing driving licence is returned to the holder until the new document is issued, so that the licence can continue to be used without restriction within Germany.
Appointments can be booked online via the Börde district’s website. In addition, on consultation days, further appointments for the current day and additional appointments for the next five weeks are made available at around 7.30 am.
In the Börde district, around 10,000 driving licences still need to be replaced. Experience shows that those who complete the replacement process now will avoid the high demand expected in the months immediately before the statutory deadline expires.