Can a driver with a foreign driver's license obtain the German class C or CE without an exam? This depends on the issuing state, the existing driver's license class, and the conditions of Annex 11 to the Driver's License Ordinance. Depending on the entry, both exams are waived, either one or none.
For freight forwarders, this examination precedes the planning of deployment. Even a transfer without examination does not replace the additional proof or the professional driver qualification.
The most important in a nutshell
Annex 11 is part of § 31 FeV and consists of a table with four columns: issuing state, class or classes, theoretical examination, practical examination. The examination columns read „yes“ or „no“. „No“ means that this examination is not required.
Three points decide the result.
What is in the class gap. If it says „all“, all classes are covered. If there is a list, the relief only applies to the classes listed. For a class that is not listed, § 31, paragraph 2 of the FeV applies: The training requirements are to be met, the theoretical and practical examinations must be passed.
What is stated in the official notes. Around two dozen footnotes hang on the table, and they are part of the regulation, not an explanatory addition. Note 1, for example, specifies that only Class B is granted based on the aforementioned classes. However, it does not apply universally but only to the lines that refer to it, namely the Republic of Korea and Taiwan at present, as well as the blocks of the US states and Canadian provinces.
Theory and practice separated. There are states where the theoretical exam is not required and the practical exam remains the same.
The table is built up of three blocks: states, Australian territories, and US states and Canadian provinces. The last two blocks contain local class designations, not the European ones.
The current version of Annex 11 is the authoritative one; this overview is not.
| State | Captured classes | Theory | Practice | Official note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | A1, A, B | does not apply | does not apply | None. Truck classes are not included, For C or CE, both exams must be passed. |
| Montenegro | all | does not apply | does not apply | No additional note in Appendix 11 |
| Serbia | all | does not apply | does not apply | Temporary driver's licenses are excluded. |
| Ukraine | A1, A, B, BE, C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D, DE | does not apply | does not apply | Before issuing a C1 to DE license, proof of fitness according to Appendix 5 and visual acuity according to Appendix 6 must be provided. The Ukrainian class A1 corresponds to the German AM. If C or D was issued without B, the theoretical and practical exam for B must be taken. C or D without prior issuance of B is not provided. |
| Albania | A1, A2, A, B, BE, C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D, DE (AM in its own line, where practice is required) |
does not apply | does not apply | For driver's licenses issued before January 24, 2017, a request for information must be submitted to the Albanian authority through the Federal Motor Transport Authority. |
| Moldavia | A1 to DE | does not apply | required | The counterexample: The theory is discarded; the practical test remains |
| Namibia | A1, A, B, BE, C1, C1E, C, CE | does not apply | does not apply | The date of issuance must be at least two years before applying. Namibian C1 and C also entitle drivers to drive buses; however, a conversion to D1 is not permitted. Namibian C1 is valid up to 16,000 kg, while in Germany only C1 is issued up to 7,500 kg. |
Bosnia and Herzegovina illustrates the case that most often affects hauliers: the state is on the list, but the truck categories are not listed there. A driver from there therefore does not bring a class CE without testing, even though he has it at home.
Section 29 of the FeV regulates how long a foreign driver's license is valid in Germany. Those who have moved their regular place of residence here and hold a driver's license from a country outside the EU and EEA may still drive for six months. Upon request, the authority may extend this by up to six additional months if the applicant proves that their stay does not exceed twelve months.
An application for a change of classification does not automatically extend the driving permit. Those who submit the application late risk a gap in the system, during which no one is allowed to drive.
Excluded from the eligibility are, pursuant to § 29, paragraph 3 of the FeV, among others, learner's permits and provisional driving licenses, driver's licenses acquired while the holder already had their regular place of residence in Germany, as well as cases in which the driver's license was withdrawn or revoked domestically.
The six-month period does not apply to a large group. According to Article 3(1) of Regulation (EU) 2022/1280, valid Ukrainian driving licenses are recognized in the territory of the Union as long as their holders enjoy temporary protection or adequate protection under national law, and that is „until the time when this temporary protection ends“. A change of status is not required for this.
The protection status is granted by Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1912 of 30 July 2026 until March 4, 2028 The deadline has been extended. Until then, there is no time pressure for this group under § 29 FeV.
Two practical consequences are explicitly mentioned in Article 3(2) of the regulation: certified translation and one International driver's license They must not be required. To establish identity, the authority may require a passport, proof of residence, or another suitable document.
Two limitations are included: First, the Federal Ministry of Transport points out that the protection status now requires proof of military service obligations, but not of persons who have already been granted temporary protection. Second, and crucial for freight forwarders: the professional driver qualification is not included in this. Anyone who drives a vehicle for which the Professional Driver Qualification Act requires a qualification needs the basic qualification and proof of key figure 95. The recognition of the Ukrainian driver's license alone is not sufficient for this purpose.
Ukraine and Montenegro have been included in the list of countries. For driver's licenses from these countries, the theoretical and practical exams are no longer required. Previously, both exams had to be passed. The requirements for official documentation regarding Ukraine remain unchanged, as required by the official note before issuing the C1 to DE categories.
For Ukrainian drivers, two regulations thus apply side by side, and they do not conflict with each other. As long as the temporary protection exists, the Ukrainian driver's license is immediately recognized; a conversion is not necessary at all. Appendix 11 becomes relevant if someone nevertheless wants to obtain the German driver's license, for example because the employer requires it for deployment planning beyond 2028, or if no protection status is available.
The relief under § 31 FeV exempts from examination and training requirements, but only to the extent provided for in the respective entry in Appendix 11. If the answer is „yes“ in a test column, the exam must be taken; for a class that is not mentioned in the row, the relief does not apply from the outset. The following proofs may be required in addition:
Check the line, not the country. What is crucial is whether the required classes C and CE are listed in the line of the state of display and what annotation is attached there.
Clarify it before entering the country. If an exam is scheduled, the planned deployment may be delayed because driving school appointments and exam dates must be taken into account.
Be aware of the schedule. Six months elapse from the time of obtaining residency, and how quickly an appointment at the driver's license authority becomes available varies regionally.
Separate the description and qualification. Annex 11 concerns only the driver's license. For commercial freight transport, the professional driver qualification and the driver qualification certificate are added.
Here is how this is reflected in the three paths for residence rights: Truck drivers from abroad are being recruited. You can find the background information on driver requirements here. Driver shortage in Germany.
In this case, § 31, paragraph 2 of the FeV applies. The required driving school training is no longer required; theoretical and practical exams must be passed. An automatic downgrading to class B only occurs where official remark 1 is mentioned.
After six months of residence, with a driver's license from a country outside the EU and the EEA. Upon request, up to six additional months are possible if the stay does not exceed twelve months. For Ukrainian driver's licenses in temporary protection, something different applies; see the next question.
No. According to Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2022/1280, valid Ukrainian driving licenses are recognized as long as their holders enjoy temporary protection, without conversion and without the deadline of § 29 of the FeV. The protection status has been extended by Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1912 of 30 July 2026 until 4 March 2028. A certified translation and an international driver's license are not required. The professional driver qualification remains unaffected: Basic qualification and key figure 95 must continue to be demonstrated for qualifying driving duties.
This depends on the competent licensing authority, the completeness of the documents, and whether proof of qualifications and visual acuity needs to be provided. There is no nationwide uniform processing time.
Fees for road traffic measures are based on the nationwide fee regulations for road traffic measures, not on local determination. Depending on the case, additional fee provisions and expenses are added, such as for inquiries with the issuing authority. In addition, costs arise for aptitude assessment, examination of visual acuity, and, if necessary, for translation or classification.
As a rule, yes. According to §§ 23 and 24 of the FeV, assessment of fitness remains required for temporary classes C1 to DE, while examination of visual acuity according to Annex 5 and examination of visual acuity according to Annex 6 remain necessary. A simple eye test is not sufficient for this purpose. For Ukraine, the official annotation explicitly requires these proofs before issuing these classes.
No. The driver's license is being rewritten, and the professional driver qualification concerns something else, namely the authorization to transport goods or passengers commercially. It is proven through the driver qualification certificate.
Then only the training requirements apply. Theoretical and practical exams must be passed.
Yes, it will continue to be implemented through regulatory amendments. Most recently, Ukraine and Montenegro were added on August 18, 2026. The applicable legal regulations, including any transitional arrangements, are the decisive factors. An application does not freeze the legal situation.
We will discuss with you in advance which classes your candidates will bring and what they will become in Germany. Tell us how many drivers you need and for which tours.
Discussing driver requirements
Further information: Truck drivers from abroad are being recruited · Driver shortage in Germany · West Balkan regulation for professional drivers
Status: October 2026. Regulatory changes are continuously being made to the list of states. The applicable legal regulations are decisive, including any transitional provisions, as well as the information provided by the competent driving license authority. This text does not replace legal advice in individual cases.