How to Convert your License to a European One?

Here’s a step-by-step account of how I obtained a class B driver’s license in Germany, focusing on NRW (North-Rhein-Westfalen) state. While my experience is specific to NRW, the general process is similar across Germany, making this guide valuable for anyone navigating this journey in the country.

Living in a smaller city like Düsseldorf offers many transportation advantages. Despite the options of walking, cycling, or using short-term public transport to get around, the necessity of owning a car became apparent with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Being confined to home for extended periods and the monotony of circling the same location made the idea of traveling across Europe by car, in a hygienic manner, somewhat liberating. This notion prompted me to start my driver’s license application process in July 2020.

Step 1 – Researching Driving Schools
The first step was researching driving schools. It’s crucial to get informed about the process and to arrange practical driving lessons with an instructor. During the initial consultation, I was also briefed on the payments required throughout the process.

Fees for the driving school were as follows (Prices from July 2020):

• Registration (Anmeldung der Fahrschule): 199 Euros
• Practical driving lessons (45 min): Automatic transmission (B-Automatisch) 50 euros / manual transmission 45 euros
• Practical driving test support (Vorstellung zur prakt. Prüfung): 150 euros (Price as of 30.07.2020)

Step 2 – License Translation (Übersetzung Türkisch-Deutsch FÜHRERSCHEIN)
For the translation of my Turkish license into German, it’s typically recommended to visit ADAC. However, any licensed translator can handle this. I opted to send a photo of my license to a Turkish translator, and within a few hours, the translation was ready for pickup on the same day.

Step 3 – ADAC License Classification (Reine Klassifizierung)

After getting your Turkish driver’s license translated, the next step is to have it classified at ADAC. If you opted for ADAC to handle the translation, you can process both tasks simultaneously.

Upon arrival, inform the attendant that you are there for a driver’s license translation (“Führerscheinübersetzungen”). You’ll receive a ticket to wait your turn. When called, submit your original Turkish license and its translation, stating you are there for classification (“Reine Klassifizierung”). We were fortunate to communicate in English with the staff. The attendant photocopied the documents, printed a form, and advised me to return in a week.

A week later, the classification was ready. It’s crucial to check every document carefully. Despite my original license including categories B, B1, M, and F, only B was listed in the classification. I had to revisit ADAC the same day for a correction.

• Classification Fee: 25 Euros.
• If ADAC handles both translation and classification: 65 Euros.

For the most current fees, I recommend checking ADAC’s website. The address and additional details are available on their site. Due to Covid-19, online payments are encouraged. Be sure to carry a credit or debit card.

Step 4 – First Aid Training (Auxiliaris-Erste Hilfe Kurs)

One of the requirements for a driver’s license application in Germany is first aid training. The recommended provider is Auxiliaris. You can book an appointment online through their website. I paid 35 Euros in 2020.

The session includes 7.5 hours of training, 2 biometric photos (passfotos), and a vision test (sehtest). I attended the 09:30-17:00 session, which included three 15-minute breaks in addition to the lunch break. The training center is located in the basement of the Ibis Hotel inside the central station (HBF), surrounded by various dining options. Since the session is intensive, consider grabbing coffee from nearby spots or bring your own sandwiches and drinks if you prefer not to dine out due to COVID-19 concerns.

Photos are taken in the garden during training. You’re called out for the photo without disrupting the class, and the process takes a few minutes. You can review your photo and receive prints before the session ends.

The vision test begins in the afternoon. Unfortunately, I failed to pass the test and could not obtain the clearance to drive. This was expected, as my vision had deteriorated over the past three years.

Step 5 – Vision Test (Sehtest)

After failing the vision test during the first aid course, I was advised to visit an optician, not necessarily an eye doctor. You can book appointments through opticians’ websites. I scheduled with both Apollo and Fielmann but canceled Fielmann after a satisfactory experience with Apollo. During booking, choose ‘Brillenberatung + Sehtest Pro’. If you’re unsure about your vision, request a ‘Driver’s License Vision Test’ (Führerschein Sehtest) when you arrive. My glasses arrived in 2-3 weeks. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, I couldn’t get lens training, hence no lenses were provided.

Step 6 – Submitting Documents to the Traffic Department (Straßenverkehrsamt)

Once I had all my necessary documents – my old Turkish driver’s license (no need to submit this at this stage), the German translation of my license, the classification document from ADAC, the first aid and vision test results, and the contract with my driving school – I made an appointment at the Traffic Department (Straßenverkehrsamt). You can book an appointment through this link.

At the appointment, I paid a fee of 43.40 Euros for the application. Within a week, I received documents at my address detailing the fees for the theoretical and practical exams. I made the payments through my bank’s online banking, using the provided IBAN and reference numbers.

• Theoretical Exam Fee (Theoretische Prüfung): 21.92 Euros.
• Practical Exam Fee (Praktische Prüfung): 89.44 Euros.

Note that these fees were subject to a small increase shortly after I paid.

Step 7 – Theoretical Exam (Theoretische Prüfung)

If you prefer to take the theoretical exam in Turkish, inform your driving school of your language preference before applying to the Traffic Department (Straßenverkehrsamt). This must be noted in your contract with the school.

To prepare for the exam, I purchased a study app from my driving school for 50 Euros. The app, called ‘Fahrschulcard,’ includes 1,137 practice questions, and the 30 questions in the actual exam are derived from this pool. The app also supports the Turkish language. After paying the exam fee, I scheduled my exam date through the TÜV Rheinland website.

On the exam day, we were admitted into the exam room in order, and for COVID-19 tracking purposes, we were asked to fill in our name and contact details on a form. This is a common procedure now and helps authorities contact you if there’s a reported case of the virus.

I presented my ID to the proctor at the exam hall. The proctor verified my registration and payment details and guided me to my exam station. They adjusted the computer settings for the language preference. We were instructed to turn off our phones and place them away from the desk. I then had to answer 30 test questions within the allotted time. Note that a mistake tallying 15 points or more results in failing the exam.

After completing the questions, the proctor immediately provided my results and handed me a printout of my evaluation. If you do not pass the exam, you can reschedule and retake it after paying the exam fee again, but you must wait at least two weeks.

Step 8 – Practical Exam (Praktische Prüfung)

After passing the theoretical exam, my driving school contacted me to start the practical driving lessons. You can take these lessons as many times as you need to feel confident for the exam. A minimum of four lessons is required. Despite having extensive driving experience in Turkey, navigating heavy traffic, and being familiar with stop-and-go situations, these skills did not translate directly to driving in Germany. Here, strict adherence to rules is crucial. You’ll quickly realize the importance of following rules such as not running red lights, avoiding no-entry streets, slowing down in 30 Zone areas where the right of way is crucial, and checking blind spots when changing lanes or turning. As long as you adhere to these rules and avoid critical mistakes, passing the practical exam should not be too difficult.

The difficulty of the practical exam largely depends on the examiner. As of 2021, the exam duration has increased to 1 hour, but if the examiner is satisfied with your driving, it may end sooner. I was aware that some verbal questions might be asked during the exam. For instance, I was asked what “Umkehren” meant, and I demonstrated that it meant making a U-turn. Other potential questions could be about checking tire pressure, understanding parking signs, and handling wipers and vehicle lights. My instructor had prepared me in German for these scenarios. At the start of the exam, I informed the examiner that my German wasn’t very good and asked if we could use English if possible. However, aside from a few instances, we didn’t need to switch to English as I was familiar enough with the terms through my lessons.

Upon passing the exam, the examiner immediately issued my certificate and offered some suggestions. Some of my friends received their driver’s licenses right after the exam. If you fail, you must wait at least 15 days to retake the exam and take a minimum of four more driving lessons. You will also need to repeat the payment for the practical exam and the driving school’s exam support.

Final Step – Receiving the New Driver’s License

After obtaining the exam certificate, I went to the Traffic Department (Straßenverkehrsamt) early without an appointment. According to their website, no appointment is needed to pick up the driver’s license under the section “Führerschein abholung,” but I recommend checking this page before your visit in case procedures have changed.

I lined up at the entrance and waited for a while. Once my turn came, the process was completed in just 5 minutes. Unfortunately, I had to hand over my old Turkish driver’s license. I’ve heard that in some cases, the Turkish license might not be required, but I’m not sure under what conditions this applies. Since my new license was printed as soon as I applied in July 2020, it was waiting for us to pass the exams. My advice is to complete the process as quickly as possible to avoid shortening the validity period of your license. Remember, German licenses are valid for 15 years and are recognized across Europe. A few days after the exam, I received a detailed exam result document (Prüfprotokoll) at my address, outlining my mistakes and providing useful feedback.

Important Notes:

• Check License Classes: Ensure that all classes on your previous license are transferred to your new German license. For example, a friend of mine had a motorcycle class on his Turkish license that wasn’t transferred to his new German license. Review the classification document from ADAC carefully for any discrepancies.
• License Restrictions: On the back of the new license, any restrictions like needing to wear glasses or being limited to automatic transmission are coded in the bottom left corner. If you don’t have these restrictions, this area will remain blank.
• International Validity: The German license allows you to drive across Europe and in Turkey.
• Document Your Old License: Since you’ll hand in your old license at the Traffic Department, I recommend taking a photo or scanning it. Rental car companies might cause issues if your new license is too recent.
• Validity of Turkish License: You can use your Turkish license in Germany for only 6 months after entering the country. Due to Covid-19, this period was extended to 1 year.

Good luck to everyone embarking on this journey!

If you’re curious about the top 5 things you need to do immediately after moving to Germany, check out this article.