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Attention, driving license holders! Exchange period ends soon – act now!
In Parchim, owners of older EU card driving licenses must exchange them by January 19, 2026 to ensure validity.
Attention, driving license holders! Exchange period ends soon – act now!
More and more drivers are facing an important deadline: owners of an old EU driving license issued between 1999 and 2001 have until January 19, 2026 to act. Otherwise, your driving license could lose its validity, even if the driving license itself remains intact. The driving license authority in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district strongly advises not to wait until the last minute in order to avoid long waiting times. “A little advance notice never hurts,” emphasizes the authority.
The exchange is mandatory for all residents of Ludwigslust-Parchim or Schwerin. Applications can be submitted to the driving license office in Schwerin or to any citizens' office in the district. In addition to the old driver's license, those interested must also present a valid ID or passport and a biometric photo. The old driver's license is either confiscated or canceled and the new one is conveniently sent directly by the Bundesdruckerei. Loud Uckermark courier Anyone who is still traveling with an old model should take care of the exchange now.
Deadlines at a glance
The deadlines for exchanging old driving licenses are clearly regulated. According to the requirements of the Third EU Driving License Directive, the following deadlines must be observed:
- Führerscheine aus den Jahren 1999 bis 2001 müssen bis zum 19. Januar 2026 umgetauscht werden.
- Für Führerscheine von 2002 bis 2004 gilt der 19. Januar 2027.
- Jüngere Führerscheine bis 2012 müssen bis zum 19. Januar 2033 erneuert werden.
The details are on federalgovernment.de to find. There is no new driving test as the exchange is purely an administrative matter.
What can happen?
Anyone who fails to exchange their old driver's license in time can expect possible difficulties during traffic controls from January 20, 2026. Although the driver's license remains valid, possession of a valid driver's license is expected. To avoid trouble, those affected should keep an eye on the deadline.
Another point is that, last but not least, the validity of driving licenses from January 19, 2013 is only 15 years before they have to be renewed. This applies to all types of driving licenses, including motorcycles. The new driving licenses are significantly more secure against forgery and correspond to the uniform standards in the EU. There are fees of around 25 euros for the exchange.
Drivers should not sit back and wait, but rather take the necessary steps quickly and easily. Find out what is needed for the exchange and avoid the rush close to the deadline.