Potsdam to Drivers: Don't Wait Until 2027 to Swap Your Old Licence

Potsdam's licensing office has urged holders of paper driving licences issued between 2002 and 2004 to book their mandatory exchange appointments now, warning that demand will surge as the 19 January 2027 deadline approaches.

The city says slots are still plentiful and can be reserved online at termin.potsdam.de or by calling the national public-service number 115. Officials advise against leaving the application until the end of the year, when calendars typically fill up fast.

The requirement is part of a nationwide programme to replace older documents with forgery-proof EU card licences. According to the ADAC motoring club, roughly 43 million documents are being phased out across Germany in stages, with the whole process running until 19 January 2033.

Dresden suspends Monday walk-ins to clear backlog

Pressure is already visible elsewhere. From 2 November 2026, Dresden's driving licence authority will stop scheduling in-person appointments on Mondays for an initial six-month period, a step it says is needed to work through a pile-up of applications.

The office attributes the measure to a sharp rise in workload: around 17,600 postal applications had arrived by the end of September 2026, nine percent more than a year earlier, with the compulsory exchange accounting for most of the increase.

The rolling timetable

Deadlines are staggered by the year a licence was issued. Holders of documents from 1999 to 2001 have already missed theirs, which expired on 19 January 2026. After the 2002–2004 cohort's cutoff on 19 January 2027, licences issued in 2005, 2006 and 2007 follow by 19 January 2028, and those from 2008 by 19 January 2029.

One group sits outside the schedule entirely: anyone born before 1953 can keep their current document until 19 January 2033, regardless of when it was issued. Separately, participants in the accompanied driving scheme from age 17 (known in Germany as BF17) who were born in 1987 or 1988 and received their cards in 2005 fall under the January 2028 deadline.

No retest, fifteen years of validity

Swapping the licence involves neither a fresh driving test nor a medical check. The new EU card remains valid for 15 years. Miss the deadline and drivers face a warning fine of about 10 euros at home, plus possible legal complications abroad.

Fees and procedures vary by locality:

• Vorpommern-Greifswald district charges 33 euros, with processing taking up to four weeks; applications must be made in person at Anklam, Greifswald or Pasewalk.
• Regensburg district authority estimates fees of around 25 euros. Applications can be filed in person or online through the citizens' service portal. Counters are open Monday to Wednesday from 7.30 to 11.30 and 13.00 to 15.00, Thursday until 17.00 and Friday until 11.30.
• Heinsberg district accepts applications in every municipality of residence except the town of Heinsberg itself. Applicants need a identity card or passport, their existing licence and a biometric photo measuring 35 by 45 millimetres. Appointments are available online or on 02452-133690.
• Emsland district and the joint municipality of Lathen charge 32.90 euros including direct delivery. The issue date appears on the front of the document in field 4a.
• Donnersbergkreis asks for applications by mid-November and charges 26.50 euros, plus 5 euros for optional direct delivery.
• Tübingen district authority handles the process entirely by post, requiring a form, copies of identity documents and a recent biometric photo. Esslingen district authority offers digital applications via its website and has consolidated operations at its Plochingen site since 15 September.