Are you a new member of the KMC and unsure where to start to get your international driver’s license? Here’s the way I got it and the exact steps I went through to get my newfound “International Fuhrerschein”!
Useful Link
- ADAC Info
- Kaiserslautern District Office Info for NATO members
- Ramstein AB Driving in Germany Fact Sheet
- International Driving Permit Wikipedia Page
- German International Driving Permit Wikipedia Page
Things to Have
- Passport-style photo
- Military ID
- USAREUR driver’s license
- Base driving office form
- €15.30 credit card or cash
First Stop
The first stop will be to get a passport-style photo. I was able to get 4 at Mom’s shop on Ramstein Air Base. You can also use automated machines like at the BX or elsewhere on the base. Make sure you have a straight face and plain normal clothing.
Second Stop
I went to the Ramstein USAREUR driver’s license office because I’m stationed on Ramstein AB. Please consult your local base’s driver’s office on your base to see where you need to go if you’re not stationed on Ramstein AB. The Ramstein office had papers in the hall for each area of the KMC – Kaiserslautern, Pirmasens, and Kusel Counties and towns from each of those areas to find where you live. Kaiserslautern County is where I live so I picked that specific paper. I filled out the paper for my area and then asked for help. I was helped as a “walk-in” and it only took about 5 minutes once they took my paper, military ID, and USAREUR driver’s license. They stamped and dated my paper and told me which office in town to go to for my county. You must go to the city office within 7 days of the dated paper.
Third Stop
I had to go to the Kreisverwaltung Kaiserslautern building near downtown for my region. The small office in the building for the international license is right next to the entrance on the ground floor. You walk in and immediately turn left into a small office right by the entrance door. You’ll see a sign that says “Kasse, Auslanderbehorde, Fuhrerscheinstelle, Internationale Fuhrerscheine, International Drivers License”. Make sure you check with the base office to find out which city office you have to go to for your region.
You’ll need your signed military paper from the base driver’s office, a passport-sized photo without a smile and in regular plain clothes, military ID, USAREUR driver’s license, and €15.30 paid via credit card or cash. It took about 10 minutes and a signature and I was on my way.