A fresh grant: the application, timing and what follows
After withdrawal the licence is not returned — it is granted anew under the rules for a first grant. Apply early, because the authority’s examination takes time.
✓ Verified: 02/08/2026
WHAT TO DO
AUTHORITY
Fahrerlaubnisbehörde / Straßenverkehrsamt
Municipal authority
The driving licence office belongs to your district or city administration. Enter your postcode and we will show yours.
The final step usually drags not because it is difficult but because of waiting. After withdrawal the licence is not returned but granted anew, and that grant follows the rules for a first licence. The practical conclusion is to begin the procedure before the formal period expires.
For the future it is worth looking at legal expenses insurance including traffic law cover: it covers disputes with authorities and in court in future cases, though not proceedings already under way. Tariffs are compared by Check24↗.
File early. The authority will not start before it may, but neither will it speed up because a deadline has passed — and a complete package is usually the difference between one month and six.
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Max recommends:
I waited for the blocking period to end and only then filed the application. By the time everything was checked and issued, several more months had passed that could have run in parallel.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Under which rules is a licence granted again?▾
The regulation states it directly: for a fresh grant after a previous withdrawal or surrender, the provisions for a first grant apply. It is therefore a regular grant procedure rather than the return of an old document.
When should the application be filed?▾
Usually before the blocking period expires, because the authority’s examination takes time. The exact moment depends on your own decision, and processing times differ between authorities, so it is worth asking yours.
Will I have to sit the tests again?▾
Not always. It depends on the time elapsed since the withdrawal and on the circumstances: after a longer break the authority may require a test of knowledge and skills. What governs is the decision in your case rather than a general rule.
What applies after the fresh grant?▾
Entries about the earlier withdrawal remain in the register for the prescribed periods, and further offences during that time are assessed differently from a first one. In practice, treat the period after getting the licence back as a continuation of the procedure rather than its end.