Wolfgang Bormann wants to exchange his driver’s license. But he does not get an appointment for this at the moment. He is informed that there is no free appointment available via the city administration’s online appointment system. He couldn’t get through the town hall on the phone, either, complains the man from Chemnitz. Either he hears classical music for hours or the endless loop …
Wolfgang Bormann wants to exchange his driver’s license. But he does not get an appointment for this at the moment. He is informed that there is no free appointment available via the city administration’s online appointment system. He couldn’t get through the town hall on the phone, either, complains the man from Chemnitz. Either he hears classical music for hours or the endless loop is quickly broken off. At the end of July, he contacted the administration with the problem, stating that he had been trying in vain to get an appointment for several days. He did not receive an answer.
The administration confirms difficulties in making appointments in the driving license authority. Online appointments are currently fully booked and the authorities’ number is overloaded. The employees there currently receive between 1,500 and 2,000 calls a day, three times as many as before the pandemic, explains a spokesman. “Unfortunately, this means a longer waiting period is to be expected.” Tens of thousands of driver’s licenses must be exchanged in Chemnitz by 2033. Until when exactly depends on the issue of the old driver’s license or the age of the driver (see information box). According to ADAC, all driver’s licenses issued before January 19, 2013 must be exchanged. The owners receive a forgery-proof proof in credit card format.
The demand for an exchange is high, says the city spokesman. At the moment, the driving license authority is working exclusively by appointment. This has the advantage that there are usually no waiting times on site. Unfortunately, the waiting time for an appointment is currently longer due to the strong exchange demand. This also has to do with the fact that drivers currently want to renew their driver’s license who still have years to do so. “The obligation to exchange only affects some Chemnitz residents this year,” emphasizes the administration. Those born between 1953 and 1958 are affected and have to renew their driver’s license by January 2022. These people should make appointments now. The driving license authorities ask those who need to exchange their driver’s license in 2023 or later to wait. In this way you can avoid overloading and long waiting times, according to the administration.
When making an appointment by telephone, the employees tried to explain that an exchange has years and does not have to be done immediately. This is not possible with online bookings. However, applications for exchanges would not be rejected because they were “ahead of schedule”. This year, 1148 driver’s licenses had been exchanged by the end of July. The administration assumes that the number of applications will increase considerably. The use of additional employees or special opening times is currently not planned with a view to the vacation time, the spokesman said.
The rush is also high in other cities. So there will be special opening times in the driving license authority in Döbeln from the end of August after criticism of long waiting times. In addition, the local authority appealed to citizens to adhere to the deadlines for exchanges.
To exchange your driver’s license, you need to bring your old driver’s license, ID card and a photo, which can also be taken on site at the machine, the spokesman said. If the old paper driving license was not issued in Chemnitz, a copy of the index card from the driving license authority that issued the driving license is also required. The exchange takes about 15 minutes and costs 30.20 euros including direct home delivery.
Pay attention to deadlines – avoid waiting times
With driving licenses with an issue date up to December 31, 1998, the year of birth of the holder is decisive for the exchange period. Before 1953: exchange by January 19, 2033; 1953 to 1958: exchange by January 19, 2022; 1959 to 1964: until January 19, 2023; 1965 to 1970: until January 19, 2024; 1971 or later: until January 19, 2025.
The year of issue applies to driving licenses issued after January 1st, 1999. 1999 to 2001: exchange by January 19, 2026; 2002 to 2004: exchange by January 19, 2027; 2005 to 2007: until January 19, 2028; 2008: until January 19, 2029; 2009: until January 19, 2030; 2010: until January 19, 2031; 2011: until January 19, 2032; 2012 to January 18, 2013: until January 19, 2033. (hfn)