Overview
- NRW data show low uptake: Dortmund has exchanged about 5,000 of an estimated 37,000 licences and Cologne about 19,000 of roughly 62,000, with other large cities also lagging.
- Missing the deadline leaves the driving entitlement intact but the card invalid, with a €10 warning fine possible in checks and potential rental or police issues abroad.
- Applications must be made in person at local offices with the old licence, a photo ID and a biometric photo; typical costs are reported around €25, while Bottrop lists €33 standard or €35 express.
- New cards are produced by the Bundesdruckerei in Berlin and carry a 15‑year validity before renewal is required.
- A higher 2026 CO₂ price of €55–€65 per tonne is projected to add about €0.16–€0.20 per litre of fuel, insurance premiums are expected to rise, and new safety-tech rules apply to new models without retrofit obligations for existing cars.