Choosing and getting to know an au pair
May my au pair drive a car in Germany?
Short answer
Yes, in principle an au pair with a valid foreign driving licence can also drive a car in Germany. We recommend that our au pairs also apply for an International Driving Permit while still in their home country. For driving licences from non-EU/EEA states, the entitlement to drive generally applies for six months after establishing residence in Germany. An extension of up to a further six months can be applied for at the relevant driving licence authority.
Last updated: 12.08.2026
A driving licence is there – but does driving actually fit your everyday life?
Many of our au pairs already hold a driving licence from their home country. Even so, having a driving licence does not automatically mean that the au pair should safely drive your car with your children through German traffic from day one.
Depending on their country of origin, au pairs may be used to driving on the left, different traffic rules, different road signs or entirely different road conditions. That is why we recommend that host families first get an impression for themselves, after arrival, of how safely the au pair actually drives.
A shared drive without children, a few practice drives on quiet roads, or additional driving lessons at a German driving school can be useful here. Especially if the au pair is later going to regularly drive your children to school, to leisure activities or to appointments, safety should always come before convenience.
And sometimes driving by the au pair is simply not the best solution.
If, for example, you yourself can drive your child to a therapy session or a doctor's appointment, the au pair can take on other tasks at home in the meantime: looking after a sibling, folding the washing, peeling potatoes for dinner or laying the table.
That way you come home and still have real relief, without your au pair having to drive your children before you truly feel safe about it.
If you would like or need to use the au pair regularly as a driver, please also check in advance with your car insurer whether, and under what conditions, the au pair is insured as a driver of your vehicle.
The local driving licence authority is responsible for the specific recognition and, where applicable, extension of the foreign driving entitlement. As the requirements can depend on the country of origin and the particular licence, we recommend having this checked individually there.