Register a foreign driver’s license

Have you just arrived in Luxembourg and have a foreign driving licence? You may be required to register or retranscribe it.
By reading this article, you will know if you are concerned by these obligations and will know the administrative procedures to follow to register your driving licence in Luxembourg.

Exchange and retranscription of driving licences in Luxembourg

Some foreign driving licence holders wish to exchange or retranscribe their driving licence in Luxembourg for practical reasons. This allows them to easily obtain the validity dates.
Others are obliged to retranscribe their foreign driving licence in Luxembourg.

EU driving licence valid in all UE Member States

People who hold a licence obtained in a member country of the European Economic Area (EEA) are not obliged to exchange their driving licence. Indeed, driving licences issued by a member country of the European Economic Area are automatically recognised in Luxembourg.

However, the holder of such a licence may at any time register his or her foreign licence or exchange it for a Luxembourg driving licence, without an examination.
In the event of loss or theft, the holder of a licence registered in Luxembourg will thus be able to receive a duplicate more easily, without being obliged to contact the administrations of the country of issue.

Mandatory retranscription for non-EU driving licences

People who obtained their driving licence in a country outside the European Economic Area have one year to transcribe their driving licence, after having established their normal residence in Luxembourg.

This means that driving licences obtained outside the European Union must be exchanged for a Luxembourg driving licence. Depending on the category of the driving licence, a test will be required or not.

Failure to comply with this regulation will be charged at 74 euros.

Particularity for young foreign drivers

All drivers holding a category B driving license less than 2 years old at the time of taking up residence in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg must attend a one-day training course at the Training Center in Colmar-Berg. cCci concerns all driving licenses, issued in the European Economic Area or not. More information on the young driver training course.

How to exchange your driver’s license in Luxembourg?

The application can be made immediately upon arrival in Luxembourg or within 1 year after taking up residence in the Grand Duchy. During this year, the holder of a foreign license will be able to drive in the Grand Duchy with his foreign license . However, he will be subject to a control and to sanctions if he exceeds the imposed deadlines.

In order to have his license retranscribed and obtain a Luxembourg driver’s license, the driver must apply to the SNCA in Sandweiler.

To do this, he/she will:

• Complete a specific application form with the SNCA driver’s license department
• provide a valid photocopy of both sides of the foreign driver’s license,
• a passport photo,
• a certificate of residence dated less than one month obtained from the local authority of residence,
• a photocopy of a valid identity document.

The form “Application for a Luxembourg driver’s license” can now be completed online via the “MyGuichet” website. More information on the Guichet.lu website.

Validity and renewal of the Luxembourg driver’s license

Finally, once you have registered or retyped your license, don’t forget to ask about its validity period.

In Luxembourg, the period of validity of a driving license depends on its category and its date of issue. Although the SNCA often warns you when it’s time to renew, be sure to get informed!

You want to drive in Luxembourg with your car? Make sure that your vehicle is in good administrative standing and that you follow the rules of driving on Luxembourg roads.