Munich – November 04, 2026 -- German drivers will be able to leave their card licence at home from the end of November, when the digital driving licence is due to launch. After the digital vehicle registration document, the driving licence is the next document to move onto the smartphone. ADAC legal experts have explained how it works and what motorists need to know.
Setup requires your ID card's online function and PIN
Users must first prove their identity online. This requires the online ID function of the German identity card and its PIN. The licence is then stored digitally through the Federal Motor Transport Authority's free i-Kfz app.
The digital licence is valid only inside Germany
At launch, the digital version is accepted only in Germany. Anyone driving abroad must still carry the card licence.
The new EU driving licence directive provides for a digital licence valid across Europe. According to ADAC, it will be several more years before it can actually be used.
The card licence stays valid and the digital version is optional
The digital licence supplements the card and is voluntary. Drivers who prefer the classic document can keep using it without restriction. At a traffic check in Germany, digital proof on the smartphone is meant to be accepted alongside the card.
ADAC welcomes the move as an everyday convenience for drivers and a step in digitalising administrative services. The club's conditions are that use stays voluntary, the card remains fully usable, data protection and security are guaranteed, and the digital licence works reliably in daily use.