How to exchange a driving license in Luxembourg
Step by step instructions on who needs to replace a driving license in Luxembourg, how to do it and what documents you need.
With a driving license, you are allowed to drive a car. The conditions for exchanging driving license are different for citizens from the EU, CIS and other countries.
Luxembourg is a member of the Vienna Convention. This means that you can drive around the country with your home license for a while. After that, however, you will have to change the document anyway.
You do not need to change your license if:
- You are a citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA).
- You are a citizen of Luxembourg.
You need to change your license if:
- you are a citizen of any country outside the EEA.
You cannot exchange your driving license until 185 days after you move to Luxembourg. However, you should apply as soon as you arrive.
Your driver's license and International Driving Permit (IDP) will be cancelled 12 months after your arrival in the community. If you have not replaced your license before then, you will need to retake the theory and practical tests.
If the application is submitted on time:
- You do not need to take the exam for categories A, A2, A1, AM, B, BE or F.
- For the truck (C) or bus (D) license categories, you must pass exams (theory and practical).
How to get a driver's license in Luxembourg
The list of documents you need to change your license is long.
Some of these documents require you to have a residence permit. In other words, you must be officially registered in Luxembourg.
Bulletin 4 is one of the key documents in the exchange of a driver's license. It is a certificate confirming that the holder has no criminal record. It can be obtained in several ways.
Cité judiciaire
Guichet.lu
Do not request a Bulletin 4
As you can see, it is not necessary to have Bulletin 4 at the time of submission. However, we recommend that you prepare the entire package of documents in advance to avoid potential mistakes and delays.
You can apply for a licence exchange in person or by sending a package of documents by post.
In-person
By post
In SNCA you may be asked for proof of payment of the state fee — timbre de chancellerie.
The cost of this can be different. There are several ways of obtaining it.
- At the office of Registration Duties, Estates and VAT Authority.
- At the reception of Guichet.lu at 11, rue Notre-Dame in Luxembourg city.
- The SNCA. Please note that you will have to pay an additional fee of 3 euros for the processing of the application.
- You can apply for the Timbre de chancellerie through a driving school if you attend one. Some schools will do this for you free of charge.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I need to exchange my license?
If you are a citizen of a non-EU country, yes. And you must do it within one year of entering Luxembourg.
Do I have to retake theory and practice?
Not if you change your license within the legal deadline. However, for category C and D drivers, retesting is mandatory regardless of the replacement deadline.
Source: luxtoday.lu, guichet.public.lu, jurliga.ligazakon.net
We took photos from these sources: why kei for Unsplash.