Replacing a driving licence that was stolen, lost, damaged or confiscated abroad

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Summary:

A driving licence that was stolen, lost, damaged or confiscated abroad can be replaced under certain circumstances by applying for a duplicate to the SNCA.

Who is concerned: All holders of a driving licence residing in Luxembourg.

As the holder of a driving licence, you must apply for a duplicate:

  • if you have lost, accidentally damaged or destroyed your licence; or
  • if your licence and documents were stolen; or
  • if your driving licence was confiscated by the police authorities abroad.

You must apply for the duplicate as soon as possible.

The law prohibits you from driving a vehicle if you cannot present a valid driving licence when you are stopped.

The driving licence is issued by your country of residence. It is only possible to have one driving licence from one Member State at a time.

Who is concerned

All persons who have their residence in Luxembourg and hold:

  • a Luxembourg driving licence; or
  • a driving licence issued by a Member State of the European Economic Area (EEA), and which has been registered in Luxembourg;

and whose driving licence was stolen, lost, damaged or confiscated abroad.

If you have moved to another EU Member State, you will have to replace or exchange your stolen, lost, damaged or confiscated Luxembourg driving licence in your new country of residence. You will then receive a driving licence from the country of residence. The licence becomes subject to the rules in said country with respect to the validity of the licence, the medical examinations, etc.

Prerequisites

If you are a national of a Member State of the EEA residing in Luxembourg and your driving licence was not issued by the Luxembourgish authorities, you must contact the authority that issued the permit in order to receive a certificate of authenticity before you can begin the replacement process with the National Society of Automotive Traffic (Société nationale de circulation automobile - SNCA).

How to proceed

Loss or theft of the driving licence or damaged licence

You must submit the application form for a duplicate copy of a document / driving licence (see 'Online services and forms') to the SNCA, Driving Licence Office (Service permis de conduire).

You must also enclose with your application:

  • a recent 45×35 mm ID photo (please note that it is possible to take a photo at the 3 SNCA sites or at the Guichet.lu reception desk);
  • a tax stamp of EUR 30:
    • obtained from the Registration Duties, Estates and VAT Authority (Administration de l’enregistrement, des domaines et de la TVA - AED); or
    • directly purchased and paid in the premises of the SNCA or at the Guichet.lu reception desk;
    • in the event of a damaged licence: a photocopy of both sides of the national or foreign driving licence.

You will receive your new licence by post within a few days.

The form and supporting documents can be sent by post or be delivered by hand:

  • directly at the counter of the SNCA in Sandweiler, Esch-sur-Alzette or Fridhaff; or
  • at the reception desk of Guichet.lu at the following address: 11, rue Notre-Dame / L-2240 Luxembourg-Ville (opposite the Knuedler).

The SNCA does not issue any documents that can be used as a temporary licence.

If your driving licence is lost or stolen abroad, you are advised to go to a police station as soon as possible to report the loss or theft. Consulates abroad do not issue duplicate driving licences. The regulations of the country in which you are staying determine whether the document issued by the police authorises you to drive a vehicle on its territory or to return the vehicle to Luxembourg, without being exposed to legal proceedings.

Confiscation of a Luxembourg resident's driving licence by the police authorities abroad

In the case of certain offences committed abroad, the local police can seize your licence and thus withdraw you the right to drive on their territory.

The restitution of the licence (depending on the seriousness of the offences committed) is possible under certain conditions. However, you will be prohibited from driving in the foreign country for a defined period of time.

When you surrender your driving licence to the police after a roadside check, you receive a copy of the notice of seizure/confiscation, which contains the information needed to recover your driving licence.

A request for a duplicate can be made to the SNCA via the application form for a duplicate copy of a document /driving licence with the stated reason 'seizure/confiscation of my driving licence abroad' ('le retrait/la rétention de mon permis de conduire à l’étranger').

The copy of the notice of seizure/confiscation must be attached to the application.

The Ministry of Mobility and Public Works reserves the right to wait for the report from the foreign authorities, if necessary, and to decide on the issue of a duplicate driving licence based on your existing driving licence record.

Online services and forms

Who to contact

Related procedures and links

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