For Dülmen personnel: Getting a driver's license in Germany

By Ms. Jessica Marie Ryan (IMCOM Europe)April 17, 2018

Driving
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CHIÈVRES, Belgium -- This article is a part of series explaining how U.S. personnel get the right licenses to drive in the Benelux. Please see the March 30, 2018 issue of the Gazette on the process of getting a driver's license in Belgium. The process for U.S. personnel in the Netherlands will be explained in a future issue. The link for the process in Belgium is also posted below.

For U.S. personnel working at the Army Prepositioned Stocks site in Dülmen, Germany, the process for getting a driver's license is different than for those living Belgium or the Netherlands. Personnel must get a U.S. Army Europe, or USAREUR, driver's license at U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pflaz in Kaiserslautern, Germany to drive in Germany. In addition, they can also get an international driver's license in other European countries.

GETTING A USAREUR DRIVER'S LICENSE

According to the USAG Rheinland-Pfalz website, to drive in Germany, people must have a valid U.S. driver's license prior to moving to the country. People, age 18 and over, must first complete the training and pass the USAREUR driver's test on Joint Knowledge Online, or JKO, at https://jkodirect.jten.mil (Course IDs: USA-007 and USA-007B). Common Access Card, or CAC, users can log into JKO. CAC users can sponsor dependents without CACs on the website. To access the USAREUR study guide and practice test, go to www.usareurpracticetest.com.

For applicants under age 18 who already possess a valid U.S. driver's license, their sponsor must email a request to usarmy.sembach.usareur.list.rmv-dts@mail.mil to request an exception to policy memorandum. The request should include the sponsor's name, rank, organization, APO mailing address and a copy of the front and back of the applicant's U.S. driver's license.

U.S. personnel must receive a score of 85% or higher. After passing the online test, personnel should then go to the Driver's Testing Station (Bldg. 3213, Room 207) on Kleber Caserne in Kaiserslautern. It takes a minimum of 48 hours for the scores to be processed to the driver's testing station. Personnel will then fill out an application (190-1T), take an eye test and pay a fee for the USAREUR driver's license. The current fee is $20, and, until further notice, only checks or money orders are only accepted for payment. Personnel will receive a temporary driver's license on-site. The hard copy license will be sent to their APO mailing address within three to four weeks. USAREUR driver's licenses are valid for five years. If someone's tour extends beyond five years, they must renew the license and pay the fee.

If the U.S. personnel have motorcycle endorsements on their driver's license, they will have to attend a mandatory four-hour orientation briefing and pass a written test. Uniformed services are also required to have a valid Motorcycle Safety Foundation card. Please contact the driver's testing station in Kaiserslautern to schedule attendance to the briefings.

The USAREUR driver's license is only valid in Germany. In order to drive in other European countries, people must obtain an international driver's license in addition to the USAREUR license.

GETTING A INTERNATIONAL DRIVER'S LICENSE

U.S. personnel must request an application for the international driver's license at the nearest driver's testing station for U.S. government employees. To apply for this license, they must submit the provided application to the rathaus, or city hall, in their town of residence. People must possess the hard-copy USAREUR driver's license before beginning the process for the international driver's license. For the application, personnel must provide a copy of their U.S. driver's license, one EU passport photo (3.5 centimeters by 4.5 centimeters) in addition to paying a fee. Fees will vary per town. For more information, personnel should talk to the rathaus personnel in their town.

MAINTAINING AN U.S. DRIVER'S LICENSE

U.S. personnel are responsible for maintaining a valid U.S. driver's license throughout their overseas tour. If the license expires during their tour, people should renew it before the expiration date. Each state has different rules and requirements on license renewal for U.S. citizens living abroad. People should check their state's official vehicle department, such as the Department of Motor Vehicles, for more information on the application process.

For additional information on getting the USAREUR driver's license, call DSN 314-483-7332/7335 or +49-6371-411-7332/7335 or visit www.rp.army.mil/sponsorship/settlingin.html.

Related Links:

U.S. Army Europe

U.S. Army Garrison Benelux

Related Article: How to get a driver's license in Belgium

USAG Benelux Facebook

U.S. Army Installation Management Command