The Bundestag is currently considering a bill that would modify the approach towards holders of driving licences issued in another European Union or European Economic Area country who do not have permanent residence in Germany.
According to the draft law (document 21/2375), information about a driving ban will no longer be entered on a foreign driving licence. Instead, it will be stored digitally in the Fahreignungsregister (FAER), Germany’s central register of driver fitness. This will allow the authorities to verify a driver’s record directly in the system.
Implementing an EU Court of Justice ruling
The amendment stems from a 2021 ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union, which found that member states cannot add annotations about driving bans to EU or EEA driving licences belonging to drivers who are not permanently resident in that country.
As a result, Germany will discontinue physical entries on driving licences. The ban will apply only within Germany and will be recorded exclusively in the FAER register.
For professional drivers from outside Germany, this means that information on driving bans will be fully digitised, eliminating paper-based annotations. It will no longer be possible to “hide” a ban by exchanging a driving licence, as the restriction will remain visible in the register accessible to the German police.
The reform is also intended to simplify procedures for drivers: once the ban period has expired, the system will automatically update the record without requiring any additional formalities.
More efficient control, less bureaucracy
According to the German government, digital registration will make enforcement more efficient and ensure consistent treatment of all drivers across the European Union. Police officers will have instant access to licence data, enabling faster roadside checks.
For hauliers and truck drivers, this means that any serious offence committed in Germany will be immediately recorded and visible in the system. The reform marks another step towards the digitalisation of road enforcement and tighter compliance within European road transport.
