Driving permit

Tomorrow is Epiphany (Heilige Drei Könige), and is a public holiday in Germany. This means a lot of people are taking today off as well. Before the day of the three kings visiting baby Jesus, I had to go take care of our driving permits.

Getting a driver's license in Germany is a lengthy, difficult and costly process. For locals, they have to go to driving schools (Fahrschule), take mock exams after mock exams, take real theory and driving tests, and perhaps one to two thousand Euros (or more) later, they will get a license. For those who want to spend less money, to get a license more quickly, or have difficulties getting a license in Germany (such as those who have their licenses revoked after DUI citations), they may go get one in Czech Republic or Poland, which issue licenses that are recognized within the EU.

Those arriving in Germany with a valid US or Canadian driver's license may or may not need to take the tests before they can drive legally. If they stay for less than 6 months, nothing needs to be done (i.e. tourists without an International Driver Permit can still drive legally during that period). Those who plan to stay for longer than 6 months can trade in their Yukon, Northwest Territories, Wyoming, South Dakota...driver's license for a German one without any further testings. But if they come from the big provinces or states such as British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, California, Texas, and New York, they have to take some combinations of theory and practical tests. The German authority seems to value skills to maneuver around moose, bears and other forms of wildlife over those to navigate treacherous landscapes among faunas (in the form of pedestrians) and predators (in the form of cyclists) in concrete forests. (The real story is that there are bilateral agreements between different states and provinces, and not between federal states).

The gray area is for those who live in Germany for more than 6 months but less than a year (which is our case). We could get an extension of the 6-month grace period up to a year (for a fee, of course). Two months ago, the foreigner service office at my lab drafted a letter to the licensing authority to request for such an extension for Glenda and me. About a month ago, I received a positive response in writing and a fee of 40€ will be levied for each request. But there was no information on how to pay the fee!

Since I still have not received further instructions, I decided to go to the licensing office and pay the fee in person this morning. The scene at the office was similar to any DMV office in North America - people were chain-smoking outside the front entrance, while long lines were formed inside. After getting bounced from the information desk to another office on another floor of the building, I was told by a very friendly lady that I would receive an invoice in the mail in the future.

Wenn (When)? Perhaps in the middle of January, maybe in February, but she didn't know...