If you have lost your driving license, you must apply for a new one at the responsible registration office. However, doing this online is difficult.
Lost your driving license: How far can you apply for it online?
Regardless of whether your driver's license was stolen or you simply misplaced it, you urgently need a replacement. Otherwise, you will no longer be able to drive. However, you cannot submit the entire application online.
- In Germany, this is due to the high security requirements and the need to present certain documents in person.
- However, many municipalities now offer a combination of online and face-to-face procedures. This means that you can complete some of the formalities from the comfort of your own home before you have to appear in person to have everything checked and collect your new driver's license and sign it.
- Some cities offer a shipping service that will send the replacement license to your home once your identity has been successfully verified, but you cannot assume this.
How to apply for your driving license
If you have lost your driving license, you must take the following steps:
- First, inform your local driver's license office about the loss and make an appointment there to have a new license issued.
- If your car is stolen, you should also report it to the police to prevent any misuse. You will also receive a theft certificate, which you can temporarily show at traffic checks.
- Some cities and municipalities offer online forms that you can fill out and submit to the responsible driver's license office in your place of residence or to the responsible authority.
- In other cases, you must submit the application directly on site. Always check with the driving license authority for your individual case. Find out which driving license office in your region is your contact for applying for a new driving license after losing one. You will not be able to avoid going there in person.
- You will then be issued a provisional driving license. You can usually collect your real driving license after two to four weeks. If you are in a hurry, you can ask many registration offices for a special appointment. However, you will need a good reason for this.
- You can shorten the waiting time of two to six weeks to up to 48 hours if you are willing to pay more for the express driver's license.