Getting an EU Driver’s License

When visiting Europe, Americans are able to use their US driver’s license for a maximum of six months.  However, once this time expires, you are treated and ticketed as if you have no license.  As with most things, Germans don’t mess around.

I stopped by the local Fahrerlaubnisamt (the German-equivalent to the DMV) to talk to them about exchanging (tr., umschreiben) my US driver’s license for a German (or EU) one.  The process is fairly straightforward, but it involves a whole lot of paperwork, which truly makes Germans giddy.

As this was a meet-and-greet and not an exchange of paperwork, the head of the office personally talked with me about the documentation needed:

• An official translation of my driver’s license into German
• My actual valid driver’s license (see more info below)
• My visa
• My residence documentation (Meldebestätigung)
• Proof of residence (which seems redundant)
• Travel documentation to prove that I have been in the country less than six months
• My passport
• A biometric photo (i.e., a passport photo)
• Payment for the fee (€42.60)

We talked a bit about my driver’s license history as each state has separate agreements with Germany as to acceptability for transfer.  Wisconsin (my home state) and Illinois (where I lived for eight years) made the list (Anlage 11 FEV).  California (where I lived for the past four years) was not.

Luckily, after I left San Francisco, I took the time during my three weeks at my parent’s house to transfer my license back to Wisconsin – primarily to avoid yet another jury duty summons.  I am overjoyed that I did this.  With my Wisconsin driver’s license, I didn’t have to take the written or driving test.

The head of the office suggested that I simply bring my Wisconsin license, even though it was issued only a couple months ago, and not mention living in California.  Additionally, he informed me that I need to prove that I have had a license for more than four years, or I may only be issued a provisional license.  Note that this boss was on a rotational program and was due to move to a different office in the next week; this was his advice when working with the next boss.

It was recommended that I work with ADAC, which is an equivalent of the AAA in the US.  In order to translate my driver’s license, I paid an upfront fee of €50 and would have to pay the balance upon completion.  They charge per word.  I ended up maying about €58 in total for the translation.  (Note they misspelled “Madison, WI”, but argued that it would not matter (it did not).  Also note that “Madison, WI” is stated nowhere on my driver’s license.)

I also worked with the Wisconsin DMV to produce documentation of when I first received my license.  This cost $12 for a certified document.

Finally, I reached out to United Airlines to produce travel documentation as there is nothing on the site that allows a traveler to do so.  Their customer service produced an “official-looking” document in a couple days that showed my travel dates arriving in Germany.

The Official Meeting

I nervously took at number at the German DMV and waited for the four people ahead of me to be helped.  They were all assigned a room with the sound of a chime within ten minutes of my arrival, but I still waited for another 30 minutes before that chime rang again.

I went to the assigned office and said I was there to transfer my license.  When I told her I had a Wisconsin driver’s license, she smiled and said that her daughter had worked as an au pair in Mequon, and she had been to Milwaukee.

I gave her my translated driver’s license paperwork, my passport, my visa, my actual driver’s license, and a biometric photo.  After I paid my fee, I was out the door in ten minutes.

No questions about arrival dates, no proof needed about driving history, and no proof of residence.  I was armed with paperwork, but was not too upset I did not get to show it off.

I was told to expect a postcard, which arrived in less than a week.  I returned to exchange my Wisconsin license for an EU/Germany license.  Note I did have to surrender my Wisconsin license.  Which then led me to wonder…

Driving in the US with an EU License

It appears that I will be able to use my EU license for up to one year in the US, but each state handles this differently.  Many sites recommend getting an international driver’s license to accompany the country’s (i.e., a translation).  However, I’m banking on the fact that reciprocity exists between Germany and the Midwest, so I will be fine when I head home for Thanksgiving.