Can I drive in EU states and Switzerland with German proof of a surrendered U.S. license?
I'm an American citizen living in Germany since January, 2019. I have/had a valid Illinois (U.S.) driver's license. In Germany, residents with U.S. driver's licenses from certain states can apply for a German driver's license by surrendering their U.S. license.
I've done just that, and in exchange for surrendering my license I received a document from the German Führerscheinstelle which has a photo of my Illinois license, and it basically states that I surrendered the license to them. This document allows me to continue to drive in Germany on the authority of the Illinois license (up to the German 6 month limit anyway) until I receive my German license in the mail, which has not happened yet.
I want to take a little road trip next week through Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. The question is, can I legally drive in those countries as a visitor, on the authority of my Illinois license, even though I don't actually have the license in my possession - just the document from the Führerscheinstelle? (I'm aware Switerland [and Liechtenstein, thanks @phoog] are not EU members and wouldn't be surprised if the answer is different than for Austria.)
(If it matters at all, I'd be driving a German-registered vehicle which I own, I have a valid International Motor Insurance Certificate, and I'm aware of the need to purchase Austrian and Swiss motorway vignettes.)
Best Answer
Since we don't know much about your temporary document, it might be easiest to check with the relevant authorities for each of the countries you want to go to.
Indeed, the EU page on Driving licence recognition and validity advises to do just that:
Provisional or temporary licences, international driving permits (or any other certificates issued in your home country) are not regulated at EU level and may not be recognised in other EU countries.
Do you have a provisional driving licence and are moving to another EU country? Check the rules with the national driving licence authority in the country you're moving to.
For Austria:
Driving licence recognition and validity
Registration
Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Innovation und Technologie (BMVIT) Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology (BMVIT)
Radetzkystraße 2 AT-1030 Wien Tel.: +43 17 11 62 65 0
For Switzerland (merely an info page with some contact options related to the Swiss consulate in Italy):
Article 42 of the Ordinance on the Licensing of Persons and Vehicles for Road Traffic Purposes (SR 741.51) stipulates that drivers from other countries may drive motorised vehicles in Switzerland provided that they are holders of:
a valid national driving licence, or
a valid international driving licence (in accordance with the International Convention on Motor Traffic [SR 0.741.11] and the Convention on Road Traffic [SR 0.741.10]), together with the relevant national driving licence.
I don't think your case falls into either of those categories, but it won't hurt to double check with the relevant authority. Alternatively, you could contact a Swiss representative in Germany. For example, the Swiss Embassy in Berlin.
For Liechtenstein:
Driving licence recognition and validity
Driving licence
Motorfahrzeugkontrolle (MFK) Motor Vehicle Agency Gewerbeweg 2 LI-9490 Vaduz
Website De Tel.: +423 23 67 50 1 E-mail: info.mfk@llv.li
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