Converting an Indian Driving License to a German Driving license

Germany is often known as the car capital of the world. Of course, with German car manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen, Opel, Porsche, etc. dominating for decades there is little to argue for that. Germany, on the other hand, is also a country with a lot of bureaucracy. Right from registering your apartment, to getting your residence permit every step of your life here requires you to deal with many appointments and red tape. This can then be extended to getting a German driving license.

You have made the long journey of moving from India (and many other non-EU countries). You want to get behind the wheel. Sure you can with your existing license. However, you can drive only for six months since you came to Germany. If you are caught driving with your license after that in Germany, there is a heavy fine (up to €5000) and a possible long-term visa rejection.

Getting a German license is a long and tiring process. Don't forget it is also very expensive. Expect to spend around €1500–€2000 just to swap your existing license for a German one. I struggled to find all the information and steps to complete this process in one place, hence I would like to share my experience so that it is easier for you.

Let us start the process. Below you can find a step-by-step process for getting your non-EU driving license converted to a German driving license

1. Complete your first aid course and eye test. The first aid course can be completed at any driving school. Most of the driving schools will offer the first-aid course on their premises. It is a 6–8 hour In-person course which teaches you the basics of providing first aid. By German law, every individual should be a first aid giver. Along with the first aid course, also get your eye test done, confirming that you have the vision required to drive a car. The first aid course should cost you around €50–€60
2. Once your test is completed, you must book an appointment with the town hall. The link to book an appointment in Berlin is here. The documents required for this appointment:
   - Appointment confirmation email
   - Residence card or passport
   - Passport size photograph
   - Your current driving license (translation is not required if the license is in Latin/English script)
   - Anmeldung
   - First aid course completion document
   - Eye test
   In this appointment, you need to produce these documents. Please note, that your license will not be taken in this appointment. The cost for this appointment will be €43.90. In this appointment, you will be asked as to which certifying body you want to register with for the exam. There are two private companies in Germany that do it — TÜV and Dekra. Honestly, it does not matter which one you choose. Check for driving schools in your area which may be affiliated with either. Cost-wise, it is the same
3. After you are done with the appointment, patiently wait for a letter from the citizen’s office confirming that you are all set to begin your driving license conversion process.
4. While you wait for the letter, you can start preparing for the theoretical exam. You don't need classes for the same and can take the exam in various languages like German, English, Arabic, Spanish, etc. You can prepare using an app. The app that I used was Führerschein 2023 GOLD. It is a paid app and costs around €10. It is a difficult exam with a high passing cut-off. Prepare thoroughly before you give an attempt. There are about 1200 questions in the question and do not take the exam lightly
5. So a couple of weeks have elapsed since your appointment and you receive the letter by post (there is an option to get it by email as well, hope it works for you). Congratulations, you are ready to start.
6. Assuming you are prepared for the test, you can simply walk in to take the theoretical exam at a TUV or Dekra center. The cost for the theory exam is €22.49. If you fail, you can take the test again in 14 days. If you have passed, let's move on to the next step.
7. Pat yourself on the back if you have passed the theory exam. You should now enroll yourself in a driving school. There are many English-speaking driving schools around (at least in Berlin).
8. The driving school will take your theory exam pass certificate and register you with the school. Registration fee differs from school to school but it would be anything between €200-€500. Please note, generally, schools with higher registration fees have a lower per-lesson fee and schools with low registration fees have a high per-lesson fee. In my case, the registration fee was €200 and for the driving class, it was €1 per minute. My lessons were generally 90 minutes long.
9. The driving school will try to complete at least 12 hours of practicing, as it is their opportunity to make some money as well and ensure that you are ready for the test. The major proportion of the overall cost of getting the license will be spent here.
10. After completing, some lessons and once your instructor has confidence in your driving ability, he/she will book your final driving exam. You don't have to do anything, simply pay the fee online (you will get a TUV or Dekra account in the letter you receive from the citizen’s office). The fee for the final exam is €116.93.
11. On the day of the exam, relax, remember all the rules and your training and you should sail through. Remember, that the driving school will charge separately for facilitating the exam. It differs from school to school, but it will be at least €200.
12. You passed the exam, that is awesome. It is a big achievement to pass the driving exam in Germany and get a German license. The examiner will let you know as soon as the test is done their verdict. On passing the exam, you will get a pink paper as shown below.

13. With this pink slip you can drive in Germany for 3 months while you wait for your license

14. There is one step left before you get your physical driving license. You need to book an appointment with LABO (Landesamt für Bürger- und Ordnungsangelegenheiten). For Berlin, you can send them an email at post.fahrerlaubnis@labo.berlin.de. They will give you an appointment. On the day of this appointment, carry your pink slip, existing license, and ID card (passport/residence permit). The officer will take possession of your existing driving license and give you the German. And it is done

The process is tedious. It takes around 6–12 months to complete everything and that is if you have all the information. If you consider the fixed costs as described above, the total comes to at least €650 — €750. On top of that you have the cost of the lessons, thus add at least €700–€1000 depending on the number of lessons you require. This is if you pass the theory and practical tests on the first attempt. With every failed attempt of a practical test, expect to add another €500.

This has been my experience and according to me it is the most cost-effective method. Of course, you can register in a driving school much earlier and they can arrange for the theory app. You could also start your practical lessons before passing your theory exams, however, there is a risk of losing more money if you do not pass the theory test as you cannot take the practical exam without passing theory and you require many lessons just before the exams resulting in the lessons you took earlier to go waste.

I hope this was helpful. I have tried my best to share all the information. The German driving style is definitely superior and if you are a driver anywhere else in the world, it is important to first unlearn everything and start fresh. I can easily say that I am a much better driver now. Even though I had driven for 15 years before this, it was like a fresh start for me.