Your guide to obtaining a duplicate driving licence in Luxembourg

Losing, damaging, or having your Luxembourgish driving licence stolen or confiscated can be stressful, but thankfully, a replacement is possible under certain conditions. The National Society of Automotive Traffic (SNCA) allows you to apply for a duplicate licence in such cases, ensuring you're not left without proof of your driving qualifications.

In Luxembourg, the law prohibits you from driving a vehicle if you cannot present a valid driving licence when you are stopped. The Luxembourg Highway Code stipulates that a fine of €24 must be paid for failure to show a valid driving licence.

Statistics for 2024: 7424 driving licence replacements

According to SNCA, there were 7424 driving licence replacements registered in 2024, broken down as follows:

• replacements of stolen driving licences: 1,045
• replacements of lost driving licences: 2,727
• replacements of damaged driving licences: 383
• exchange of old pink paper driving licences for card driving licences: 3,269

According to Tanja Goergen, Head of Department Driving Licences, SNCA does not keep statistics on replacements of confiscated abroad driving licences.

Steps to follow for receiving a duplicate of your driving licence

To receive a duplicate of your driving licence, you have to complete an application form and attach the following documents:

• a recent photo;
• a 30 € Chancellor stamp;
• for professional qualification cards, a photocopy (front/back) of the foreign driving licence must be attached;
• in case of the withdrawal/retention of the Luxembourg driving licence, a copy of the retention/withdrawal notice must be attached.

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).

For theft, loss, or withdrawal abroad, the new document will be sent to you by post. Once you receive a duplicate, your previous document loses its validity, and you are obliged to return it to the SNCA if it is found.

For damage and voluntary exchange, you can choose to collect your new driving licence at the counter of: Rue Notre-Dame, Luxembourg (the guichet.lu reception office); Sandweiler; Esch/Alzette or Fridhaff.

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 your right to drive on their territory. As no provision has yet been made at the EU level for seizing a licence, this seizure in another country is not enforceable in Luxembourg. Only seizures of licences by Luxembourg authorities are monitored and enforced by the Grand-Ducal Police.

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.

When you submit 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.

In this case, a request for a duplicate can be made to the SNCA, and a copy of the notice of seizure/confiscation must be attached to the application.

The Ministry of Mobility and Public Works may, if necessary, await the report from the foreign authorities before deciding on the issuance of a duplicate driving licence based on your existing record.

When asked about confiscated foreign driving licences, the Ministry added that holders must wait for the foreign authorities to make a decision. If the licence is returned, the Luxembourg Ministry of Mobility will contact the holder.

If the document is withheld for an extended period, Luxembourgish authorities may issue a new licence.