Press release 4/2022 of the district of Märkisch-Oderland
On 17 January 2022, the Conference of Interior Ministers (IMK) decided that violations of the obligation to exchange old driving licences should not be sanctioned for the time being in view of the current impact of the coronavirus pandemic. This affects all driving licence holders born between 1953 and 1958 with old paper driving licences issued before 31 December 1998. The current exchange deadline is to be extended by six months from 19 January to 19 July 2022. Until the legal solution comes into force, the police will not levy the warning fine of 10 euros that would otherwise be due. The underlying driving licence remains unaffected despite the obligation to exchange it.
Background: All German driving licences issued before 19 January 2013 must be gradually exchanged for an EU driving licence in a staggered process. Nationwide, this means around 43 million old driving licences by 19 January 2033. According to Herrmann, anyone affected by the exchange deadlines should contact the driving licence authority responsible for their place of residence in good time.
General information about exchanging your driving licence can be found here:
https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/suche/faq-fuehrerschein-umtausch-1842574