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Replace driver card due to loss

Service Description

The driver card is used to monitor driving times and rest periods in the commercial transport of goods and passengers. The obligation to have a driver card applies to:

  • Motor vehicles with a maximum permissible mass of more than 3.5 t including trailers;
  • motor vehicles with a maximum permissible mass of 2.8 to 3.5 t including trailers, provided that a digital tachograph is installed;
  • as well as for motor vehicles designed to carry more than nine persons including the driver.

Exemptions result from § 1 paragraph 2 and § 18 of the Driving Personnel Ordinance and Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No. 561/2006.

In case of loss, you must apply for the replacement of a driver card.

Process flow

You can apply for the replacement of your driver card with the required documents and information on site

  • at your local driver licensing authority, the district or the independent city where you have your main residence for at least 185 days a year.
  • When submitting your application, you must provide all the required information and documents.
  • The responsible authority will check your information for completeness and correctness.
  • After successful verification, the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA - Federal Motor Transport Authority) will issue the personalized driver card.
  • After application and verification, the card will be issued within 8 working days. During this time, the driver may continue driving without a valid driver card for a maximum of 15 days. For the period in which the driver is not in possession of a driver card, printouts must be made from the digital tachograph and carried in a professional manner.
  • The personalized driver card can be
    • collect it in person directly from the competent office or
    • have it sent to you directly (after authentication and payment) by the KBA.

Notice:

The authority that issued the driver card must be informed immediately of the loss of the driver card. When the replacement card is issued, the replaced card loses its validity. A recovered card must be returned to the issuing authority.

If serious violations (including both criminal offenses and misdemeanors) are found during the replacement process, the issuance of the driver card may be refused and the application may be rejected.

Who should I contact?

Please contact your local driver licensing authority in the county or city where you have your primary residence for at least 185 days per year.

Please contact your local driver licensing authority.

Competent authority

Driving Licensing Authority

Requirements

You are entitled to apply for the first issue of a driver card if you are

  • are resident in the Federal Republic of Germany and
  • hold a German EU-card driver's license with one of the following classes: B, BE, C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D, DE.

Driving licenses issued in a member state of the European Union (EU) or another state party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) must correspond to one of the aforementioned classes.

Which documents are required?

  • Address and proof of residence such as identity card with eID function (or residence permit or EU citizen card) as well as proof of birth and surname, first name, date and place of birth, mother tongue
  • Current biometric photo
  • A current EU driving license or a comparable driving license for applicants from another EU/EEA country of the corresponding driving license class, which entitles the holder to drive vehicles for which the driving and rest periods according to Regulation (EC) No. 561/2006 must be observed.
  • Written declaration of loss
  • Authority may require to make an affirmation in lieu of an oath that the driver card cannot be returned and for what reasons.

What are the fees?

The issuance is subject to a fee.

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

In case of replacement issuance, the application must be submitted within 7 calendar days.

The start of validity is the date of personalization (production) by the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA).

The end of validity of the driver card to be replaced corresponds to the end of validity of the previous lost driver card if the remaining period of validity is more than 185 days.

Processing duration

Processing Time: 8 Working days

Legal basis

Applications / forms

Opposition

Appeal

Forms available: Yes

Written form required: Yes

Informal application possible: No

Personal appearance required: Yes

What else should I know?

In Germany, employers are not obliged to reimburse their employees for the cost of driver cards. The Federal Labor Court has ruled that employees are not entitled to reimbursement.

Author

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

Technically approved by

Thuringian Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Health, Women and Family Affairs

Professionally released on

20.04.2023

Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Thüringen (Linie6PLus)

No competent authority found

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