Ukrainians will be able to exchange their driving licences in Germany without taking any tests: details

Germany is radically simplifying life for Ukrainian drivers by recognising their qualifications at the state level. A new bill could eliminate gruelling exams and expensive driving school training for thousands of displaced persons. Find out which categories of licences are affected by the simplification and when the new rules will officially come into force

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Germany is preparing a large-scale simplification of rules for Ukrainian drivers, which will allow them to legalise their status on the roads without the usual bureaucratic red tape. The country's authorities have published a draft amendment, according to which Ukraine will be included in a special list of countries with recognised training standards. This means that the procedure for exchanging national licences for German ones will no longer require mandatory retaking of theoretical and practical exams.

The essence of the legislative changes

The document is currently undergoing approval and provides for the inclusion of Ukraine in the so-called Annex 11 to the Resolution on the admission of persons to road traffic. The main goal of the reform is to remove financial barriers that previously prevented full integration. The draft text explicitly states that holders of Ukrainian licences in certain categories will be completely exempt from the need to attend a driving school to confirm their qualifications.

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Transport categories and language issues

There is still some intrigue surrounding the issue of specific categories of vehicles. The published text does not yet specify whether the changes will only affect professional truck and bus drivers, or whether the simplification will also extend to the most popular segment of passenger cars. However, the draft already provides for the official addition of Ukrainian to the list of languages for taking the theory test, which will make life much easier for those who are just planning to start training in Germany.

The scale of the planned changes is impressive in terms of both the number of people and the financial indicators. According to German government estimates, theoretically, about 600,000 people will be able to take advantage of the simplified procedure, although in reality, about 300,000 applications are expected. This will save more than a million hours of administrative work for government agencies and save Ukrainians a total of more than seventy-five million euros. The authorities emphasise that the decision is systemic in nature and will apply not only to current residents but also to future migrants.

When could the decision come into force?

Despite the optimistic forecasts, it is important to remember that at the moment the changes only exist in the form of an official draft document. The new rules will only become fully legally binding after final approval by all authorities and subsequent publication in the federal legislative gazette Bundesgesetzblatt. Along with Ukraine, similar benefits are planned to be granted to citizens of Israel and Montenegro.

At the same time, for drivers who temporarily leave Ukraine, having a valid Green Card remains a prerequisite for legal travel on European roads. You can purchase an international insurance policy online at Visit Ukraine, which allows you to quickly obtain the document before your trip and avoid fines and financial risks in the event of an accident.

Reminder! In 2025, more than 14,800 insurance claims were settled abroad under the Green Card system. Find out in which countries Ukrainian drivers were most often involved in road accidents and how the amounts of compensation differ.

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