Driver card: issue
For certain motor vehicles placed on the market for the first time on or after 01.05.2006, the use of digital recording equipment is mandatory. This applies to vehicles used for the carriage of goods with a maximum permissible weight, including trailers or semi-trailers, exceeding 3.5 tonnes, as well as vehicles used for the carriage of persons which, by virtue of their construction and equipment, are suitable and intended to carry more than nine persons, including the driver. The digital recording device records driving times and rest periods, makes manipulation more difficult to the detriment of general road safety and facilitates checks. The driver card replaces the previous speedometer disc and stores the driving and rest periods for at least 28 days. After that, the oldest data is overwritten. Each driver may only have one valid driver card. This is checked (national: Central Tachograph Card Register, international: TACHOnet).
The following data can be read:
- Surname, first name, date of birth, photograph and signature of the applicant
- Driver's license number
- Nationality of the issuing country
- Validity period (from / to)
- Driving and rest periods (including interruption and whether the driver has driven alone or in two-driver mode)
- Data relating to the vehicle (operating times, date, registration number, mileage)
- Events, errors and controls
Who should I contact?
The responsibility lies with the district and the district-free city.
Responsible authorities
Landkreis Emsland - Fachbereich Straßenverkehr
Contact
Requirements
The applicant should have his main residence in Germany. If the applicant cannot prove normal residence in Germany (185 days) at the time of application, it is sufficient if he can credibly demonstrate (e.g. rental agreement, employment contract) that his stay is more than 185 days. The driver card can only be obtained by holders of a valid driving licence in the form of a card driving licence. If you do not yet have a card driving licence, you must apply for it at the same time when applying for the driver card (in which case two photographs are required). At least one of the following driving licence categories must be proven: B, BE, C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D or DE.
Applications / forms
Fahrerkarte - Antragsformular 2019
Download
Which documents are required?
- German EU card driving licence or corresponding driving licence from an EU/EEA member state
- Identity card or passport in conjunction with a confirmation of registration
- Photograph against a bright background in size 35 x 45 mm, showing the applicant without headgear in half profile (§ 5 para. 1 no. 4 Ordinance on the Implementation of the Driving Personnel Act - FPersV)
- alternatively, a photograph (biometric) that complies with the provisions of the Passport Ordinance of 19 October 2007 (Federal Law Gazette I p. 2007, 2386) is also permitted.
What are the fees?
When ordering a driver card, a fee of up to 22.00 euros plus 12.00 euros KBA fees will be charged. If direct shipping is requested by the Federal Motor Transport Authority to the applicant, an additional fee of 3.00 euros will be charged to the Federal Motor Transport Authority for direct shipping. However, direct shipping is only possible if the applicant is in possession of a card driving licence.
What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?
The driver card is valid for five years and may be applied for at the earliest six months before expiry, but must be re-applied for no later than 15 working days before the expiry of its validity.
What else should I know?
Further information on driver cards and the digital control device can be obtained from the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA).
