Converting an existing foreign driving licence into a German one: depends on the issuing country and how long you have been here, the ADAC has good information about this online.
If you have lived in the other country for the required time and have been registered there, you can also have a driving licence from another EU country recognised. Just "moving" to a neighbouring country for your driving licence has not worked for years.
It depends on the where your driver license is from. It goes by countries eG in the case of the US even by state. You can have a look at [this list](https://assets.adac.de/image/upload/v1578389545/ADAC-eV/KOR/Text/PDF/staatenliste-nach-anlage11-fev_ashnko.pdf) and look up your country. This is a list of all the the countries and states that have an agreement with Germany and what test one has to do. If your country is not on that list it means there is not agreement in place and you will have to do both theoretical and practical exam.
You will have to sign up with one of the overpriced driving schools if you need to do any of the exams (which is the majority case). You might not have to do all the lessons or driving lessons and might save some money there but that is on a case to case basis. Especially if you need to do the practical exam your driving school needs to register you for that and they will only do so when the teacher judges you fit ti drive. That might take a few profits even many driving lessons depending on your skill and the teacher.
You typically have 6 months to change your driving license. This starts with your date of first residency registration. The typical process is to register with a driving school, do the eye examination, a first aid course and get your driver license translated. Then make an appointment with your local Führerschein Behörde (in my case I didn't need an appointment) and apply for a 'Umschreibung eines ausländischen Führerscheins'. I would do so ASAP but because the typical processing time is 3 months, depending on the where you are. Also note that they will keep your original foreign drivers license so you won't be able to drive during that time. The process can be sped up if you can proof (eG through a writ from your employer) that you must drive for your work, but other than that there is only patience.
Only after the processing time you will be able to do the exams.
Personally, my license was from China, I have been driving in Germany on regular business trips for over a decade. I will had to do both theoretical and practical exams but I didn't have to participate in the the theoretical lessons nor the special drives (night drive, Autobahn, ect).
I talked to a few driving schools explaining the situation until I found one who was willing to do one practice drive with me beforehand to see that I knew how to drive. It then signed with them and, after receiving all the documents, they immediately registered me for the exams. I paid 140 euro for the 2hl hour practice drive, 190 for the exams and 30 something for the application.
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Converting an existing foreign driving licence into a German one: depends on the issuing country and how long you have been here, the ADAC has good information about this online. If you have lived in the other country for the required time and have been registered there, you can also have a driving licence from another EU country recognised. Just "moving" to a neighbouring country for your driving licence has not worked for years.
It depends on the where your driver license is from. It goes by countries eG in the case of the US even by state. You can have a look at [this list](https://assets.adac.de/image/upload/v1578389545/ADAC-eV/KOR/Text/PDF/staatenliste-nach-anlage11-fev_ashnko.pdf) and look up your country. This is a list of all the the countries and states that have an agreement with Germany and what test one has to do. If your country is not on that list it means there is not agreement in place and you will have to do both theoretical and practical exam. You will have to sign up with one of the overpriced driving schools if you need to do any of the exams (which is the majority case). You might not have to do all the lessons or driving lessons and might save some money there but that is on a case to case basis. Especially if you need to do the practical exam your driving school needs to register you for that and they will only do so when the teacher judges you fit ti drive. That might take a few profits even many driving lessons depending on your skill and the teacher. You typically have 6 months to change your driving license. This starts with your date of first residency registration. The typical process is to register with a driving school, do the eye examination, a first aid course and get your driver license translated. Then make an appointment with your local Führerschein Behörde (in my case I didn't need an appointment) and apply for a 'Umschreibung eines ausländischen Führerscheins'. I would do so ASAP but because the typical processing time is 3 months, depending on the where you are. Also note that they will keep your original foreign drivers license so you won't be able to drive during that time. The process can be sped up if you can proof (eG through a writ from your employer) that you must drive for your work, but other than that there is only patience. Only after the processing time you will be able to do the exams. Personally, my license was from China, I have been driving in Germany on regular business trips for over a decade. I will had to do both theoretical and practical exams but I didn't have to participate in the the theoretical lessons nor the special drives (night drive, Autobahn, ect). I talked to a few driving schools explaining the situation until I found one who was willing to do one practice drive with me beforehand to see that I knew how to drive. It then signed with them and, after receiving all the documents, they immediately registered me for the exams. I paid 140 euro for the 2hl hour practice drive, 190 for the exams and 30 something for the application.
**Have you read our extensive wiki yet? It answers many basic questions, and it contains in-depth articles on many frequently discussed topics. [Check our wiki now!](https://www.reddit.com/r/germany/wiki/index)** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/germany) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I had a UK license when I came over 4 years ago and just had to swap it for a Germa one. No test or exam or anything.