Logo Bayernportal
Home > Procedures

Driver card; applying for a replacement in the event of theft

You are a driver of a truck or bus and your driver card was stolen? Then you need to apply for a replacement card.

Online services & Forms

Online services

Responsible for you

Stilisiertes Bild eines Hauses
DEKRA - Ausgabestellen für Fahrerkarten
Mehr zur Behörde
Stilisiertes Bild eines Hauses
TÜV SÜD - Ausgabestellen für Fahrerkarte
Mehr zur Behörde

Procedure details

The driver card is used to record driving and rest times in the commercial transport of goods and passengers.

If you are a driver of trucks or buses and your driver card has been stolen, you can apply for a replacement card from the office responsible for you.

The replacement driver card is valid until the same date as the stolen original card - if it would have been valid for more than 6 months. Therefore, the validity period does not start all over again.

From the time you lose your driver card, you may continue to drive without a valid driver card for a maximum of 15 days.

As long as you are not in possession of your driver card, you must record the driving and rest times manually. You must make printouts of these from the digital tachograph and carry them with you.

Your employer is not obliged to reimburse you for the cost of the driver card.

  • You have your residence in the Federal Republic of Germany.
  • You hold a valid driver's license with one of the following classes: B, BE, C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D, DE.
  • Your valid driving license must correspond to one of the aforementioned classes if it was issued in an EEA member state.

  • Required Documents
    • Application for replacement driver card
    • Proof of identity
    • valid domestic driver's license or driver's license of a state of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), respectively
      • entitles the holder to drive vehicles for which regulations on driving and rest times must be observed
    • Proof of residence in Germany and address
    • proof of birth and surname, first name, day and place of birth
    • Photograph against a light background in the size 35 mm x 45 mm, showing the applicant without headgear in a frontal shot (biometric passport photo)
    • proof of a theft report
    • the issuing authority may also require the holder of the driver card to provide an affidavit stating that and for what reasons he or she is unable to return the driver card

Bayernweite Ergänzung

46,20 - 52,20 EUR

You must apply for a replacement card within 7 days of a theft.

After application and verification, the competent authority will issue your card within 8 working days. (8 Werktage)

There are no clues or specifics.

Status: 04.06.2025
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bundesministerium für Verkehr + Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Familie, Arbeit und Soziales
Source: Federal Portal