Germany allows Ukrainians to exchange their driving licence for a German one without exams, but this option hides two significant drawbacks. The main one — your driving experience isn’t counted, and insurance may cost more than the car itself.

Driving experience resets after the exchange

When a Ukrainian driving licence is exchanged for a German one, driving experience starts counting only from the exchange date. If a driver had 20 years of experience and got their Ukrainian licence in 2000, their German licence will show experience starting, for example, from October 1, 2026 — the exchange date. This matters a lot to insurance companies: with zero German driving experience, car insurance costs jump sharply. If the car isn’t new, the owner may end up paying more for insurance than the vehicle itself is worth.

Why it’s currently more beneficial to keep the Ukrainian licence

While temporary protection is in effect, Ukrainians can legally drive in Germany with their Ukrainian licence, and insurance companies count their full driving experience without issues. Additionally, Germany has signed an agreement on licence exchange that is no longer tied to temporary protection status. If a Ukrainian stays in Germany after temporary protection ends, they will be able to exchange their licence at any time — there’s no urgency. In practice, it’s currently more advantageous to keep the Ukrainian licence than to exchange it for a German one.

Ukrainian licences become invalid

As soon as a Ukrainian driving licence is exchanged for a German one, the Ukrainian document stops being valid both in Germany and in Ukraine. Holding two driving licences at the same time is prohibited. If a driver returns to Ukraine, they will have 60 days to exchange the German licence back for a Ukrainian one. Many people are unaware of this restriction and mistakenly believe they can use both documents as needed.

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