Driving licences issued from 19 January 2013 are valid for 15 years. Once the validity of the driving licence has expired, you must apply for a new driving licence unless you renounce your driving licence. A driving licence issued before 19 January 2013 must be exchanged for a current driving licence model by the date shown in the following tables, unless you renounce your driving licence:
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Driving licences issued up to and including 31 December 1998:
Year of birth of the licence holder - Date by which the licence must be exchanged
Before 1953 - 19 January 2033
1953 to 1958 - 19 January 2022
1959 to 1964 - 19 January 2023
1965 to 1970 - 19 January 2024
1971 or later - 19 January 2025
Driving licences issued from 1 January 1999*:
Year of issue - date by which the driving licence must be exchanged
1999 to 2001 - 19 January 2026
2002 to 2004 - 19 January 2027
2005 to 2007 - 19 January 2028
2008 - 19 January 2029
2009 - 19 January 2030
2010 - 19 January 2031
2011 - 19 January 2032
2012 to 18 January 2013 - 19 January 2033
(*Driving licence holders whose year of birth is before 1953 must exchange their driving licence by 19 January 2033, regardless of the year of issue of the driving licence)
However, the time limit only applies to the driving licence document, not the underlying driving licence. A medical examination or other checks are not associated with the document exchange.
The rights documented in the driving licence remain valid even if the document is exchanged. Which driving licence categories are assigned in detail when a driving licence is exchanged is determined by Annex 3 of the Driving Licence Ordinance (FeV).