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Applying for a driver card for the commercial transport of goods and passengers for the first time

Are you a driver of a truck or bus and need a driver card for the first time? Then you must apply for it at the office responsible for you.

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Procedure details

The driver card is used to record driving times and rest periods for the commercial transport of goods and passengers. As a driver, you need a driver card for the following motor vehicles (Kfz):

  • Motor vehicles with a maximum permissible mass of more than 3.5 tons, including trailers.
  • motor vehicles with a maximum permissible mass of 2.8 to 3.5 tons including trailers, provided that a digital tachograph is installed
  • motor vehicles designed to carry more than 9 persons, including the driver.

There are certain exemptions for farmers or for universal services.

If you do not yet have a valid driver card, you can apply for one at the office responsible for you.

The driver card is valid for 5 years from the date of personalization by the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA). You must apply for a renewal of your card at least 15 working days before the card expires.

You want to renew a driver card whose validity has already expired? Then you have to make an initial order again.

The driver card issued to you personally may only be used by you. It always remains your property, even if your employer has paid for the driver card. In principle, they are not obliged to pay for it.

In the event of damage, malfunction, loss or theft of the driver card, you must apply for a replacement card from the office responsible for you within 7 calendar days at the latest. You must immediately report the theft or loss of the driver card to the authority or office that issued the driver card.

  • You have your residence in the Federal Republic of Germany.
  • You hold a valid driver's license with one of the following classes: B, BE, C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D, DE.
  • Your valid driving license must correspond to one of the aforementioned classes if it was issued in an EEA member state.

  • Required Documents
    • Application for driver card
    • Proof of identity
    • valid domestic driver's license or driver's license of a state of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), respectively
      • entitles the holder to drive vehicles for which regulations on driving and rest periods must be observed
    • Proof of residence in Germany and address
    • proof of birth and surname, first name, day and place of birth
    • Photograph against a light background in the size 35 mm x 45 mm, showing the applicant without headgear in a frontal shot (biometric passport photograph)

Bayernweite Ergänzung

46,20 - 52,20 EUR

There are no clues or specifics.

  • Renew driver card

    You are a driver of a truck or bus and the validity of your driver card is about to expire? Then you can have it renewed.

  • Replace driver card due to theft

    You are a driver of a truck or bus and your driver card was stolen? Then you need to apply for a replacement card.

  • Replace driver card due to loss

    You are a driver of a truck or bus and your driver card has been lost? Then you need to apply for a replacement card.

Status: 01.09.2025
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bundesministerium für Verkehr + Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Familie, Arbeit und Soziales
Source: Federal Portal