How do I get a German driver's license?

I am moving to Germany in a month. I have a Mass. DL now. What will I have to do in Germany to drive? Thanks.

Each German state has it's own rules for each US state. Check the government web site below to find the rules. If you have to take a written test, don't worry. It can be done in English.

Also, before you leave the US, I recommend that you go to your local DMV and request a replacement DL. Tell them you lost your license and need a new one. In Germany they'll take your US license and never give it back.

http://www.amcham.de/location-germany/dr...

Pass the 100 question multiple choice portion of the test, then take a driving test, It takes 40 hours of classroom work, learning everything to pass. I believe you have to get at least an 80%.

Getting driver license in Germany is not easy. They are having over 100 questions, you need to study for that, than driving is another problem, autobahn, night driving, over land, all that. Take forever and cost so much money. I'm not sure about the people from the US if they are coming to Germany and how they get driver license easier here. I know about military and their supposes, this is easy, they are having another rules for them..
Good luck for you and I hope it will be not so bad.

If you already have a DL then go to the Strassenverkehrsamt. They will explain in detail.
see this link:
http://www.strassenverkehrsamt.de/

The German govt. has an agreement with some US States that if you get your driver麓s license from the State (i.e. Illinois) you don麓t have to take a written or driving test. This is what happened to me, otherwise I might not drive here:)

The person who answered this is right about them taking the license away-
Also, before you leave the US, I recommend that you go to your local DMV and request a replacement DL. Tell them you lost your license and need a new one. In Germany they'll take your US license and never give it back.
When I got my German license, they took my US license, and now when I go back to the States I have to get a new one right away.

well, from what I heard foreigners are allowed to drive with their foreign license, after that they have to get a German license.

You can drive with your US-License for 6 Month. Then you've got to get a german one

Hi from Germany.

I got myself informed, but this is without any warranty whatsoever, as I'm not sure about my sources; but they involved the ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobilclub, general German autombilists' club), which is the first place you should turn to if youwant to turn over yout U.S. license into an international or a German one, and according to their information, your U.S. drivers license is valid up to three months. If you'll stay longer, they'll turn it over to an international drivers' license for a fee they call "small", and it will be valid for another nine months. After that, it will be obligatory that you acquire a German one. All the time, the car(s) that you use must be registered in Germany.

So that's what I understood about the legal stuff. I may be wrong there. The more important thing to me is: Can you drive a manual five-gear? In Germany, we keep being told that Americans only drive on automatic, and if you want to actually handle three pedals (a gas, a brake, and a clutch), you'll have to learn how to use the second foot. Well, maybe that's just kidding...

(Acrtually bad spelling involved, but me lazybones not going to scroll up.)

Some US States have a deal with the German government, where you can get your license transferred. You must do it quickly, though, like within 6 months or so. Otherwise you'll end up like me and have to go to a German driving school and take the tests, which costed me 2000 DM back then. Highway robbery if you ask me.

you'll have to pass a test..