Before you start

Completed Anmeldung establishing your residence
Your foreign licence, with certified translation if not in German or EU format
An eyesight test certificate
A first aid course certificate for most applicants

Step-by-step

1
Check whether you actually need to drive
Munich has an excellent S-Bahn and U-Bahn network, one of Europe's best cycle networks, and the Deutschlandticket covers all local and regional transport nationwide for a flat monthly fee. Car ownership in the city is expensive and parking is scarce. A great many residents do without one entirely.
OnlineWho: You
2
Find your country on the exchange list
Germany maintains a country-by-country list, with some countries exchanging freely, some requiring a theory test, some a practical test, and some both. For several countries — including the United States, Canada and Australia — the treatment depends on the individual state or province. Check yours before booking anything.
OnlineWho: YouBefore the six months expire
3
Act inside the six-month window
A non-EU licence is valid for six months after you take up residence. Applying for the exchange before that expires matters — letting it lapse can push you into the full licensing process even where an exchange would have been available.
In personWho: You
4
Get a translation, eyesight test and first aid certificate
Non-German licences generally need a certified translation, usually from ADAC or a sworn translator. An eyesight test from an optician and a first aid course of a few hours are also standard requirements.
In personWho: You
5
Apply at the Führerscheinstelle
Submit the application with your documents and surrender your foreign licence, which is usually retained. Processing takes weeks rather than days.
In personWho: You
6
If you do drive, learn the Umweltplakette rule
Munich has a low emission zone requiring a green environmental badge on the windscreen. Driving into it without one attracts a fine, and the badge is bought once from a testing station or garage.
In personWho: You

Documents you’ll need

Foreign driving licence and certified translation
Meldebescheinigung from your Anmeldung
Passport and residence permit
Eyesight test certificate
First aid course certificate
Biometric photograph

Things most newcomers don’t know

For US, Canadian and Australian licences, the answer depends on your state or province.

Germany's exchange arrangements with federal countries are negotiated per state. A licence from one US state may exchange with no test at all while a neighbouring state's requires both theory and practical. The same applies to Canadian provinces and Australian states. Look up your specific issuing jurisdiction, not just the country.

Source: Bundesministerium für Digitales und Verkehr — Anlage 11

Letting the six months lapse can cost you the exchange entirely.

A non-EU licence is valid for six months from establishing residence. Applying within that window preserves your exchange rights; letting it expire can put you into the full German licensing process — theory, practical and a driving school — costing thousands of euros and months. This is the single most expensive avoidable mistake for a new arrival who drives.

Source: Landeshauptstadt München — Führerscheinstelle

A German licence from scratch is genuinely expensive.

Compulsory theory lessons, a minimum number of supervised practical hours including motorway and night driving, and the tests themselves typically total into the low thousands of euros. It is one of the most expensive licensing regimes in Europe, which is why the exchange route matters and why so many residents simply do not drive.

Source: community-reported

The Deutschlandticket changed the calculation on car ownership.

A single flat monthly fare covering all local and regional public transport across the whole of Germany makes a car harder to justify — and from Munich it opens up the whole of Bavaria, including the Alpine foothills, at no extra cost. For most city residents it is the better deal by a wide margin.

Source: Deutschlandticket

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming your country exchanges freely without checking the state or province-level list.
Letting the six-month window lapse and losing your exchange rights.
Driving into the low emission zone without a green Umweltplakette.
Buying a car before comparing the true cost against the Deutschlandticket.
Booking driving school lessons before confirming whether you need any tests at all.

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.