Experience shows that the number of applications always increases at the turn of the year. This year, however, the volume is significantly higher than usual. The reason for this is that, for the first time, a larger group of holders of the first EU driving licenses from 1999 to 2001 are being asked to exchange their driving license.
Almost twice as many applications as in the same period last year
In the period from December 2025 to January 2026 alone, the driving license authority received more than 6,300 applications. In the same period of the previous year (December 2024 to January 2025), there were around 3,200 applications. This means that the number of applications received has almost doubled.
The employees of the driving license authority are working with great commitment and under great time pressure to process the applications. However, due to the exceptionally high number of cases, it is to be expected that processing times may be extended to several months.
The driving license authority asks applicants to refrain from making telephone or written inquiries about the status of their application. These tie up additional personnel resources and can further delay the processing of all applications. All applications are carefully checked and processed strictly in the order in which they are received.
Note for traffic checks
A valid driver's license is still valid even if it has already expired. However, in the event of a traffic check, a warning fine of 10 euros may be levied. Citizens who have already applied for an extension or renewal should show this directly to the police during a check or point it out in order to clarify any queries directly. This means that there is no uncertainty or risk of a complaint due to the expired document.
The driving license authority asks citizens for their understanding for the current situation.
