BREXIT trapped me in GERMANY

[@RobTheWatcher]

For what it's worth I find your own personal stories much more interesting than that of a - even beautiful - German town. Do more you, Lauren. We're here for the ride.

[@LaureninGermany]

Thank you SO MUCH!!! It’s taken me over a year to pluck up the courage. I just didn’t think people would be interested. The wonderful collaboration with Ashton from the Black Forest Family, and the reactions to that both here and on her channel, gave me the courage and I will admit, it’s so much fun to share like this.

[@RobTheWatcher]

@@LaureninGermany That‘s what I‘m saying. I‘ve been following the Black Forest Family channel from the very beginning. And of course your channel has been popping up in the recommendations frequently. But there was not much „you“ coming across. It was almost like watching a travel video. Only when I saw you on that collab with Ashton did your personality come through and made me subscribe to your channel in an instant. You have such a nice and delightful way about you. I’d be absolutely happy to see more of that!

[@LaureninGermany]

@@RobTheWatcher thank you so much! That’s just great to know. ❤️

[@LaureninGermany]

@@tatjanaeberhardinger2625 thank you!!

[@roddymoore]

Yes, working through the C thing was not groovy.

[@robertzander9723]

The Brexit was not Germany's idea, I know German bureaucracy is horrible and can take a long time to get through everything, but hey how could Germany better welcome you to the country. We are in this together 😁👍😉 But in that case, the English people wanted it so complicated and now we have this weird not helpful mess with a lot of regulations. I know for English people it's tradition to blame Germany for everything bad, but not this time.

[@LaureninGermany]

Well, I’m not English so ich fühle mich hier nicht angegriffen 😉

[@LaureninGermany]

@@Mike-br8zt 😂 I always leave the building when someone attempts to paint me with that brush lol! Unfortunately, half of Wales voted yes, so that’s embarrassing. I understand why, because the propaganda there was abysmal.

[@robertzander9723]

​@@LaureninGermany In the United Kingdom people have the problem that a lot depends on England itself and its citizens and the remaining parts do not get enough citizens together to stand up to it and in this specific case they cannot blame the Germans or a bit later the EU for everything, like in previous years.

[@LaureninGermany]

@@robertzander9723 brauchst Du Dein Recht, Robert?! Hiermit gebe ich es Dir! Schönen Feiertag!

[@donochetti2177]

@@LaureninGermany Why is it "embarrassing"? You should be proud, brexit has been great for us here in the uk.

[@kapuzinergruft]

Being German I used to work in Britain from 1994 til 2001 on and off (all over the place, London, B'hm, Liverpool, Telford, sheffield...), and I enjoyed the freedom of work and travel. The European Union is far from being perfect... but it was and hopefully will be a peace project for all European countries involved. Can we acchieve something more valuble and honourable?

[@LaureninGermany]

Absolutely, it was a civilised agreement that showed we had progressed so far. I think Brexit is simply awful.

[@LaureninGermany]

Thank you!

[@wWvwvV]

your "Führungszeugnis" and "Bestätigung" were perfectly spoken out. "Gutachten".

[@LaureninGermany]

Thank you so much! I try my best with your beautiful language!

[@bianca2817]

[@LaureninGermany]

Awww, I hope everything is ok?! And I‘m so glad if a bit of my silliness cheered you up! 🤗😘🤗

[@MagnificentGermanywithDarion]

I am so happy that you now have your new driver's license. You had to go through a lot of bureaucracy but it all worked out. I enjoyed your vlog style :).

[@LaureninGermany]

Yes, I‘ve finally decided to show myself and not just Germany, Darion. It only took me a year and a half lol! Love my shiny new German driver’s licence!

[@djbarryvolcano9866]

Thanks for the story behind and do care always.

[@LaureninGermany]

Thank you for watching!

[@janheinbokel3969]

You're right with complaining about the overwhelming bureaucracy in Germany - Part of Our Prussian heir -, but this IS also a vile Part of Our worldknown efficiency

[@LaureninGermany]

I had forgotten what a drag it is! Germany is so fantastic to live in, but here´s the price to be paid LOL!

[@geordiegeorge9041]

I am a bit confused. Now I have lived in Germany since 1976, and since 1980 as a civilian. So in 1980 when I applied for a residency permit I was told that I would have to get my driving licence translated by the ADAC, and apply for a German licence. I did all of this without any problem.

[@LaureninGermany]

Maybe the law changed twice in between, because I had never needed to do that, and I am in the ADAC, and have German citizenship…?!

[@geordiegeorge9041]

@@LaureninGermany In 1980 nothing was digital.

[@LaureninGermany]

It´s a mixed blessing.

[@coffee-and-rakija]

Really loved this video and your style too.

[@LaureninGermany]

Thank you! My first time vlogging so much and telling my story rather than a town‘s!

[@coffee-and-rakija]

@@LaureninGermany You town tours etc are super, but the vlog takes life in germany, from your perspective to another level. as a foreigner living for a long time in another country your storytelling resonates with me a lot 👍

[@LaureninGermany]

@@coffee-and-rakija oh, thanks a Million!

[@abee8405]

Dear Lauren, I'm happy you managed to navigate the beauraucracy! It's always annoying. Also, your german accent is so perfect!

[@LaureninGermany]

Thank you! I didn´t realise until this happened just why everyone gets so worked up about it lol!

[@marcofrank2082]

All is well that ends well 😊

[@LaureninGermany]

Yes, thank goodness! But it was a tense month..!

[@hansmarheim7620]

Oh my God! I cant open KZbin anyone without getting a Lauren Francis video in my face! I love it of course, but what about videoes about Mozart, geopolitics, economy, Ukraine, Ruzzia , Norway, the army, ww2, the old space race and Starship? And even Elon Musk ??? 😉 SEO

[@LaureninGermany]

I shall endeavour to build all these things into my next video- I‘ve got two in so far…

[@unterhaltsameluhrick5338]

Brexit is such a unnessesary mess. I hope you survive burocracy here in Germany. Like your content.

[@LaureninGermany]

Thank you! I agree, so unnecessary. I can’t believe how difficult the Brexiteers have made so many wonderful freedoms.

[@HH-hd7nd]

@@LaureninGermany And the worst part is that they made many things worse than they needed to be even while leaving the EU. Staying in the Single Market and Customs Union would have taken care of all the problems with the NI border and trade in general for example. The Brexiteers left not only the EU but all sorts of cooperation treaties as well - like Erasmus for example, that satellite program I always forget the name of or the shared database for criminals etc. Neither of that would have been necessary - the UK could have left the EU but stayed a member of all these programs. The people driving Brexit are either insane or outright evil to make the lives of so many way worse than necessary.

[@LaureninGermany]

@@HH-hd7nd I couldn’t agree more. I simply cannot understand the lack of thought that went into these kind of details.

[@jasbindersingh2441]

So giving people a vote on whether they would like their country to be in the eu... is messy ??? More clean and tidy had no vote be given - like they do in the rest of euro land. Tbh , rather have a vote , albeit a "messy" vote than no vote at all. Guess the Germans- at least the eu supporting kind would just rathet not allow a vote at all ...far more cleaner and....convenient

[@LaureninGermany]

@@jasbindersingh2441 no, no one said giving people a vote is messy. We are saying the handling of the result is messy.

[@martinwilliams9776]

Hallo Lauren. Gruss aus Wales. Brexit? Herr Farage ist ein Dummkopf. Wish I had bought a bike whilst living in Germany. Great for keeping fit.And you really do notice and learn so much about your surroundings. Yes get an e-bike. Good luck with that. Viel Spass in Deutschland. Ich habe leider viel Deutsch vergessen.

[@LaureninGermany]

Aahhhh! Grüße in die Heimat! Oh yes! An e-bike is something I would like to try out. I hope things aren’t too bad over there?

[@martinwilliams9776]

@@LaureninGermany Nicht schlecht danke👍Hope to visit Germany again for a cyclying or hikking holiday.Machs gut👍

[@karlheinz9432]

8:40 Ohh! Foderglauchau.

[@LaureninGermany]

Bravo! So ein schönes Schloss in Glauchau.

[@pgoessnitzer]

Glad that after all that pain you finally got your driver's license. However I'm sorry you had to give up the bus driving segment of your original license. I hate dealing with "red tape", period!

[@LaureninGermany]

It´s always really stressful because I am so worried I´ll do something wrong by mistake and everything will go crazy! (I´m a bit dramatic about it, I know!)

[@leighevans1489]

OMG what a drama Brexit has become. Pity about the bus driving career lol

[@LaureninGermany]

I think Germany dodged a bullet with my bus driving career lol! Yes, Brexit is so sad, not many winners that I can see.

[@lindenbeck]

A friend of mine had to apply for the French citizenship. Stupid Brexit

[@LaureninGermany]

I hope it worked out for them.

[@michaelkuschnefsky362]

I love my home country, but German bureaucracy just sucks. Even for locals. Excuse my choice of words. But I'm a simple person and always say directly what's on my mind.

[@LaureninGermany]

It really was a runaround. I didn´t make it clear enough for foreigners, I think. You know - proof of address must be mit Stempel, etc etc....

[@michaelkuschnefsky362]

@@LaureninGermany Ich denke, diese art der Bürokratie kommt noch aus der Preussenzeit. Es gibt einen sehr schönen alten Spielfilm, der Hauptmann von Köpenick und er zeigt sehr deutlich die Tücken dieser Bürokratie. Ich bin hier geboren und aufgewachsen, aber bis man hier alles zusammen hat was man braucht, ist es nur ein gerenne. Und dann lassen sie sich Zeit, aber wehe, du antwortest nicht gleich, dann sind sie hinter dir her. Sorry , aber meine Englischkennnisse sind nicht die besten, daher schreibe ich in meiner Muttersprache.

[@LaureninGermany]

@@michaelkuschnefsky362 das passt, deutsch lese ich hier gerne! Ja, ich muss immer am Spielfilm „Kehraus“ denken. Dieser unnötige Hochdruck…

[@51pinn]

Dear Lauren, How are German officials supposed to know that the Welsh are much better people than the pirate nation of the English? And once we have such a fantastic woman like you in our hands, we won't give her up either. You will certainly understand that and while it is your art not only to sing wonderfully but also to make wonderful videos about Germany, it is the special German art to make the bit of paperwork as complicated as possible. Nobody can do that better than us. Let your husband explain it to you - our goal in life is just:Von der Wiege bis zur Bahre - Formulare- Formulare (From the cradle to the grave - forms - forms). Best regards

[@LaureninGermany]

Lol that made me laugh, thank you!

[@matekochkoch]

The law never changed. Before Brexit not exchanging your licence had no consequence.

[@LaureninGermany]

Sorry, I don’t understand? The law changed, my licence was valid, then it was not, as a resident.

[@uliwehner]

@Lauren, i am not sure if this makes you feel better in any way, but i had to get a new American driver's license after i moved to the US. They did keep my old cardboard one, too. I took the theoretical test, which was super easy, and then i rode around the parking lot in my own car, did not hit anything, and Voila! i had an american license. Now, when i go back to germany if drive around with my american license, no issue at all. At least as long as i don't move back....

[@LaureninGermany]

Hi Uli! It feels strange when they keep your precious licence, doesn’t it? How funny the test sounds. I don’t know if I would have passed. (lol) Honestly, I didn’t mind having to swap it. I had it on my to-do list, because I had read that we all need the new card version- I just was super shocked that my license had become invalid because of Brexit. Also, that I couldn’t drive for a month while it was processed was horrible. I’m just so glad I didn’t need to do a German driving test- that’s so expensive! I would love to do the ADAC advanced drivers course. Maybe I would finally drive on the left, I mean right. (The last part was a joke. Honest)

[@hansmarheim7620]

Something very similar happened to me in Denmark 😂 And by the way Brexit was stupid. Both for the Uk and Eu. Norway is a different story. Love this vid as well. Monday i start a new project and will not have much time for KZbin. That is why I try to give your channel an extra push this weekend. "To give it a skull" as the Danes sayI Wish both your channels great success ❤️🇸🇯🇬🇧🇩🇰! And of course 🇩🇪 Allways remember SEO 😉

[@LaureninGermany]

I‘m glad you told me or I‘d have thought I did something. I will sort out SEOs and have some plans, I know you might think I‘m just saying this, but your suggestions were really helpful. And I knew you deleted it! I was searching for ages, three times!

[@hansmarheim7620]

@@LaureninGermany Tusen Takk. I allways gives likes and comments to my favourite KZbinrs. You all create content and the least we, the public, can do is giving a like. It is kind of shame that people watch your videos, and dont even bother to press the like button. Not only your videos, but all videoes people watch.

[@LaureninGermany]

Exactly. I absolutely hate asking, but people don´t think of it if I don´t and it makes a lot of difference.

[@hansmarheim7620]

@@LaureninGermany It is like if the public should just watch a concert without giving applaus. Just so primitive and ignorant.

[@LaureninGermany]

In my statistics I can see that 75% of my viewers haven´t subscribed. I´m terrible at maths, but I think my channel would have 20k subscribers if they did all subscribe. Imagine that!

[@mariezp]

Ah, the hoops to jump through and the paperwork! We have been looking at some of the similar types of requirements needed here in the USA to get my daughter's drivers license. Thanks to the German bureaucracy though, you have us beat on the number of steps you had to take to finally obtain your freedom. So glad everything fell into place and that you are able to get back out be driving legally again. In addition, I do always enjoy seeing the lovely villages and will be looking forward to your coming videos. Lauren, thank you for entertaining us with another nice video. 👍

[@LaureninGermany]

Thanks for watching, Mariezp! What a drama!

[@Alfadrottning86]

Well, i am legally allowed to drive a car. I have - so far - wrecked every car i owned .. and also 2 that i did not own. But i am allowed to drive in Germany .. i think? (i am an EEA/EFTA citizen)

[@LaureninGermany]

I have a friend who is a solicitor, and she drives a sports car. She wanted me to borrow it to "look good" for an event. I said I would never, ever drive her car. All mine had a dent in exactly the same place from the garden gate. Now I do not have a garden gate. LOL

[@rudolfclemens8798]

The bureaucracy in all countries is a huge water head. The rules are so contradictory that no normal person can understand them. That's why we need more bureaucrats who know how to deal with all these rules. At the end all countries do what they want. Only Germany abides by all the rules and finally has to pay for everything, that's our fate.

[@LaureninGermany]

More burocrats???.... argh....!!!! But I think you are right about Germany, what you wrote.

[@benttranberg2690]

I guess the only thing they didn't want was an arm and a leg.

[@LaureninGermany]

Haha! You’re right! It wasn’t too expensive, thank goodness.

[@pkorobase]

Phew, that was a lot of documents the Führerscheinstelle expected. 🙃 and its a pity you lost your bus driving license.

[@LaureninGermany]

I know right?! And I thought I was so well prepared, and had everything with me..! Nope, off I had to go. It’s not too bad about the bus driver licence, because I would have to refresh it every few years at some point and I am not really enthusiastic about that.

[@Opa_Andre]

Oh dear Lauren, caught in the clutches of German bureaucracy. I wouldn't worry about the specific bus drivers license, unless you want to transport people professionally. I assume that you don't do that, because you would have to present a new medical certificate every six months to renew the license. Otherwise you were lucky, because your British driver's license was recognized and it took only one week because of the "express" issuance, which is really fast in terms of German bureaucracy. I know at least one American family in Germany, where the woman's driver's license was not recognized due to the issuing state in the US and she now has to make it completely new, which is known to be very expensive and time-consuming here in Germany.

[@LaureninGermany]

Good morning Opa Andre, yes, the constant renewal that would come with it was the last straw - I had waited a month by then! The express helped, but it had already been checked by the police and processed to a degree by the time I said I would verzicht auf den Omnibusführerschein. I was soooo relieved not to have to retake my entire driving licence. It´s really an expensive and time-consuming thing here, you are right. I just didn´t want to lose anything I was entitled to, but I am simply glad to have my licence at all!

[@AnastaziaValvaine]

cool, I worked in London for several years before Brexit came into force. As a German. When Brexit came (was a shock for me at the time), I continued to work anyway. Because I had made friends here, liked London and the surrounding area (and I ended up speaking "Cockney accent"..), i was more or less "very British" after 6 years of work. Then my German company closed their English office for tax reasons and Brexit. That was the next blow, I was more or less forced to leave. I did not have the opportunity to apply for a second citizenship. I've back in Munich since early 2020 and very sad about it. Missed my daily Irn-Bru here in Germany.. That's why you're lucky - compared to me. i think you have the same situation as me, only in reverse. Abo + Like...!

[@LaureninGermany]

I am so sorry that happened to you. That´s just awful. How utterly stupid of GB to lose people who are so appreciative of being in Britain because of this move. Thanks so much for the abo & like, I really appreciate it. xx

[@DisAssembleAll]

Tja, mit dem Fuehrerschein nehem die Deutschen das ziemlich genau, immerhin kann man damit auf der Autobahn dann 300 Fahren... LOL

[@LaureninGermany]

Nicht mit meinem Autos 😂

[@caleidoscopepatchamamalove3082]

Good morning geliebte Lauren 🙋‍♀️😍- schallendes Gelächter hier nach Deiner Aufzählung- so,so,so typisch deutsche Bürokratie 🤣😂🤣🤣 //Kannst Du denn jetzt ( Busführerschein) einen zukünftigen großen Camping - Bus fahren?

[@LaureninGermany]

Hello my dear! Genau deswegen wollte ich mein Busführerschein behalteb, falls ich irgendwannmal einen großen Camping-Bus fahren möchte, aber als ich gesehen habe, irgendwannmal muss man diesen ständig neu machen... wohnen auf Tiny muss sein! Zumindestens auf der Reise!

[@caleidoscopepatchamamalove3082]

@@LaureninGermany stimme Dir s o! sehr zu! Kämpfe darum,; dass Du ihn nicht nocheinmal komplett neu machen musst. Das ist rausgeschmissenes Geld. Du könntest mit sehr wenigen Stunden zur praktischen Prüfung; also eigentlich: Nachprüfung zugelasssen werden. A) weil Du schon lange fährst B) schon lange mit der deutsche STVO vertraut bist und Dich im deutschen Strassenverkehr auskennst. Schreib die deutsche Botschaft an, lb. Lauren. Nur Mut! 😍

[@axelurbanski2774]

@@LaureninGermany bis zum Alter von 50 Jahren hast du Ruhe. Dann muss der erneuert werden mit einer medizinischen Untersuchung.

[@LaureninGermany]

@@caleidoscopepatchamamalove3082 ach, ich bleibe jetzt bei der Kunst! Da gibt’s genug zum Kämpfen…

[@LaureninGermany]

@@axelurbanski2774 Wahnsinn, wie sie meinen die Leute schon mit 50 verfallen! Ohje, nicht so optimistisch…!

[@notroll1279]

I guess most countries have their bureaucratic nooks and crannies. I'm German and when I went to France to study for a year in 1989, my university told me to get a carte de séjour, i.e. a paper saying I legally stayed there. I decided to skip it - but another German ventured into this and had to fetch (among other stuff) medical certificates, a landlord's certification and his mother's affidavit about his monthly allowance - all in French and at stupidly close deadlines. He said that by the time he realized what nightmare this was going to be, there was no way back as the French authorities now knew he existed and where he could be found if and when they wanted to harrass him. I later learned that Luxembourg students were advised by some national student organisation to skip that nonsense in France but to get a registration when studying in Germany: Much easier to do - and necessary to borrow books in the university libraries... So we were officially approved as being less bureaucratic and more reasonable than the French by a neutral country... oof!

[@LaureninGermany]

Ha! I understand this feeling...I remember there were a few short hours when Wales was "better" than Germany at football, we were further in the EM...

[@rmamon2554]

I am so happy to live in a Country where getting a Strafregisterbescheinigung is no Problem. Yes we have many problems here but getting a Strafregisterbescheinigung is easy. Walk into your next police office and order one. Show your Passport or any other valid ID and its there in with the speed of a Laserprinter. Mine looked a bit boring, no offensive actions, no night in prison, a blank sheet not even with the remark 'citizen of the year'.

[@LaureninGermany]

citizen of the year - lol! That would be nice... Do you live in Germany? Is this something different to the thing I had to get?

[@bianca2817]

I'm sorry for flooding Your Kommentarspur (😁) again!! 🌹💋🌹

[@LaureninGermany]

Never be sorry, it’s great for my channel and wonderful for me! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@mattesrocket]

And I feel so ashamed of all this rude wise guys of my country, who obviously have some major frustration problem and let it out in youtube comment lines, against friendly people, usually commenting in a way, that doesn't really fit propperly to the before said content, but just want to degrade the other to weirdly make themselves feel better. It annoyes me so much, this mass of rude comments on all youtube cannels I follow.

[@LaureninGermany]

Thank you so much, Mattes! I really appreciate that. I will concentrate on the genuinely lovely people who comment on my videos. They bring me a lot of joy. We can have civil discussions and stay friendly and this means a lot to me. It’s one of the main reasons why I do KZbin! ❤️

[@Mike.Muc.3.1415]

Your UK bus license should be still registered there. Just get them the Führungszeugnisse and ask for updating your German licence.

[@LaureninGermany]

Thanks, Mike, but that ship has sailed - it´s ok. I probably wouldn´t have needed it.

[@HenryAusLuebeck]

♥

[@LaureninGermany]

und, Carlos...? Hast Du gesehen, genau welche Stadt ich gehighlighted habe?

[@HenryAusLuebeck]

@@LaureninGermany natürlich habe ich das. Hach, ich liebe Lübeck ♥️♥️♥️

[@TheyHadADay]

That sounded a very annoying and complex scenario for you. Happy you finally got it all sorted out

[@LaureninGermany]

Thank you. Yes, but it was, indeed. It was very unsettling. I am looking forward to seeing your Guernsey video, just need to actually have a coffee break!

[@juricarmichael2534]

What a fuss about the bus!! No fingerprints, blood test or old socks as a smell test? 🤦 Da hat der "Amtsschimmel" aber laut gewiehert.

[@LaureninGermany]

Lol! Das musste ich mir gerade langsam übersetzen ! Schon gel?!

[@caleidoscopepatchamamalove3082]

Alle Infos und Stastenliste bei: >> ADAC

[@LaureninGermany]

Ja, die ADAC Websiten haben mir geholfen, als ich denn alles nachschauen musste!

[@AliceGoss]

Oh what a palaver. Brexit, I hate Brexit and all it stands for. Made my life so much more difficult. Took a lot to get my bus licence and wouldn't want to lose it.

[@LaureninGermany]

Oh no, I‘m sorry- are you in GB? Brexit is heartbreakingly bad, I think.

[@AliceGoss]

@@LaureninGermany yes I'm in GB but often travel around Germany. Just come back from Bavaria. Loved it.

[@gerdpfitzenmayer7021]

I fully understand how you felt. I lost my driving license due to an accident for 9 months, 3 till court hearing and 6 as my penalty. I live in a little village and luck to me i had a colleague who took me to and from work in her car that time. To get the license back i had to take a first aid course and an eye test but i also have problems with my left eye, so i didn't get my old driving license back (for vehicles up to 7.5 tons) but only for vehicles up to 3.5 tons and they almost forgot my small motorbike license for 125ccm bikes. German bureaucracy...

[@LaureninGermany]

Isn’t it awful?! And when you see how some people drive, speeding past like maniacs, Lichthupen, not a care for other people. I’m so sorry this happened to you.

[@gerdpfitzenmayer7021]

@@LaureninGermany it's okay, it happened in 1999/2000. Some years have gone now, it doesn't bothers me much now.

[@erikweber8514]

I've a similar story after Führerscheinentzug: my female doc (Hausäztin) hesitated to give me some form (forget the name if this paper) because she, well, did not read it, so it was difficult to convice the Sprechstundenhilfe about the matter. She, the Sprechstundenhilfe, finally relized the matter and the Praxispartnerin later gave me the form. The funny side effect was: now I have the motorbike license for 125 ccm. I think there was somewhere in my record a note about my half-finished Motorradprüfung in 1997. The whole process took about 6 month. In 2018/19.

[@LaureninGermany]

@@erikweber8514 when they make a huge fuss- and then mess up! Which happens a lot…!

[@Phiyedough]

I would have thought when they took your old licence they should give you a temporary document that states you are a qualified driver. That is how it works in Croatia but I'm not sure if that would be accepted in other EU countries. I also decided to relinquish certain groups when I recently renewed my licence, as they were wanting me to go to a private doctor 1.5 hours drive from me, for a medical. I did that 1.5 hour drive, only to be told to come back tomorrow at 7 am! In my case it was mainly the group for driving 7.5 tonne lorries, something I've only done once in the last 40 years.

[@LaureninGermany]

Exactly- that is my reasoning, too. Although, I wanted to keep it, some things aren’t worth the hassle.

[@Andreas_Cologne]

Temporary Document 👍

[@Zippipus]

It was the case that a temporary paper licence (covering Germany only) would be issued whilst the UK was still in the EU - totally hassle free and done locally (no DVLA!). But now the UK is no longer in the EU the process is more akin to re-taking your driving test from scratch, understandably, since there is no longer any assurance of equivalence.

[@LaureninGermany]

@@Zippipus it wasn’t that bad, thank goodness! That would have been awful and not understandable at all, since I have been driving in this country as a resident for many years. And it would have been soooo expensive! 😅

[@Zippipus]

@@LaureninGermany To me, the main difference is that here in Germany you can physically sit opposite someone and I’ve always found those in authority more than willing to help, in contrast to the hands-off, anonymous approach in the UK.

[@arnodobler1096]

Oh first 😍 I´m happy for you

[@LaureninGermany]

Yay! You are my first „first“ Arno! Are you happy that Brexit trapped me in Germany…? Lol!

[@arnodobler1096]

@@LaureninGermany At least something good! lol 😍🤣

[@arnodobler1096]

@@LaureninGermany All's well that ends well!👍

[@LaureninGermany]

@@arnodobler1096 absolutely! But after a month of stressing about it 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@arnodobler1096]

@@LaureninGermany Yes I can imagine that!🥴🥵 Half a year ago I saw a video here where Brexit supporters, living in Spain, were upset about the consequences - there my sympathy was limited, honestly!

[@youtubeaxel9030]

Being German or becoming German (unfortunalty) has some side effects. One is the level of burocracy.... But finally, you have made it.... And who wants to do something like driving busses.....?🤣 Liebe Grüße aus der Südpfalz!

[@youtubeaxel9030]

@@Mike-br8zt Fast. Landau.

[@LaureninGermany]

I‘m secretly relieved that I won’t be let loose on the unsuspecting bus-taking German people! And proud to have survived another brush with German bureaucracy 😂 Grüße zurück in die schöne Südpfalz!

[@LaureninGermany]

@@Mike-br8zt aha- sounds like I should get myself there for a visit!

[@youtubeaxel9030]

@@Mike-br8zt Südpfalz = Living where others spent their holidays.....😉 Greetings to Sydney!

[@youtubeaxel9030]

@@LaureninGermany Yes, please do that! Would be a pleasure for me to introduce the Südpfalz to you..... Just let me know when.... BTW Do you like wine?

[@Be-Es---___]

Good that they are thoroughly checking if you are able do drive a possible lethal machine.

[@LaureninGermany]

Well, it’s taken them a while to get around to it. I‘ve been here for years! And it still wouldn’t be a problem if I am just driving through.

[@berndb3141]

I'm sorry that happened to you. Our burocreacy is something else. Rules and regulations are needed sometimes but we have to many of them. Also, I start to think that Brexit is detrimental for everybody involved.

[@LaureninGermany]

I agree. I do not see any benefits for anybody at all. But probably for the unscrupulous politicians there are.

[@wikingagresor]

@@LaureninGermany I personally see only benefits for the UK due to Brexit, and I'm not British.

[@LaureninGermany]

@@wikingagresor I hope you’re right! That would be fantastic.

[@juliambada]

So sorry this happened to you! I also heard at the last minute that I’d have to change my British driving license. But in my German city they were really nice about it and told me they give people another 6 month grace period. I was naughty and gave them a biometric photo that was older than 6 months and I don’t think they asked for a police certificate of good character. Did you have an older British driving license than the British version of the EU driving license? I personally shed a little tear when I gave up my British licence. I don’t have British citizenship nor residency. But the Uk was my home for almost 18 years and now another little bit of that is gone.

[@LaureninGermany]

Oh I was really sad to give up my licence, too! That piece of paper meant a lot to me. I wish they would have just stamped it and let me keep it. But what a drama the whole thing, I am so glad it’s sorted. At least I hope it’s sorted…

[@juliambada]

@@LaureninGermany They actually send it back to the DVLA in Swansea! 😢

[@LaureninGermany]

No way...?! Well, at least it goes home...

[@roddymoore]

This is a frustrating country at times, but after 20 years, you get used to it. As an ami, from a state whose driving licenses are not recognized by Bavarian authorities, I just did the public transport thing for 10 years. I finally got my German driving license after having to go through everything a German does, which includes paying a lot of money for classes, test fees and so on. And I drive less than 6000km a year. I guess it was an ego thing for me. By the way, you don't need make up, I bet your partner would agree. Thank you for your videos.

[@LaureninGermany]

Aw, thanks! That was nice of you! You poor thing, I‘m so lucky I didn’t have to do the whole test, especially as I couldn’t work during the C thing.

[@VolkerHett]

The German driving license is intended for 200 mph on the autobahn so proper eyesight might not be totally useless :D

[@LaureninGermany]

I don’t quite know how to take your comment, Volker.

[@VolkerHett]

@@LaureninGermany The requirement to have your eyesight tested for a driving license. With a healthy dose of irony about german regulations.

[@LaureninGermany]

@@VolkerHett you have to have good eyesight in Britain, too. It was about a particular thing about my eyes. That’s what I was worried about.

[@VolkerHett]

@@LaureninGermany I passed my eyesight test in 1978 when I got my German driving license and it is still valid today without any further tests. There is the irony! My company requires tests every other year for "screen workers" i.E. all of us. So I know I need glasses, but I'm not required to wear them. Pretty stupid in my eyes 😊

[@parthsavyasachi9348]

When i am driving at 200 mph my eyes are firmly closed 🤣🤣

[@Salzbuckel]

Very sorry for you!!! Germany is great in not informing people, what to do, and then punish them with a lot of opst icals. I remember, when i had booked flights to new zealand , i wanted to renew may passport, just in case my journey would extend for some accidental reason. What did the lady ant the office do? She within the blink of an eye, stamped my valid passport invalid and punctured 3 five- star formed wholes through the whole book with a heavey pressing mechanism just behind her. That went so fast, that i would not be able to jump over the counter, to prevent her from doing so. My jaws dropped, and i first got speechless. Then she said a new passport would arrive in about 4 weeks, but my and my girl friends round the world ticket and given holiday should start in 2 weeks and last one month. All the accumulated overtime holiday and the money spent for the tickets and the expectation of a one time in the life journey : Gone within two seconds for no reason!!! As we say here, i did set "heaven and hell in motion" and luckily, very very luckily got may new passport on the last day before the flight, but only if i skipped the pre flight accommodation at the airport hotel. And now i am frightened because of your case, because i did everything needed in preparation to renew my old large cardboard drivers license into the new check card sized plastic card, but i forgot to show up in time at the Führerscheinstelle. Oh, oh, oh!!!! just by law i also have no valid drivers license, i must hope the officials will be tolerant, as i know they by themselves were not able to handle all the renewing in time they had given bey themselves. Long live bureaucracy. !! Good luck for you!!!

[@LaureninGermany]

Oh NO! How awful that must have been! She obviously just started to „proceds“ and hadn’t understood…! Thank goodness it worked out, but I can imagine the Vorfreude was gone. Yes, go asap, and I hope they will be accommodating- let me know!

[@Salzbuckel]

😁

[@fritzfux6135]

She had to make your old passport invalid. It is forbidden to have two passports (German ones) unless you fall under certain circumstances. Which does not apply here. ( Passgesetz Paragraph 1 Abs 3) Good that it worked out nevertheless

[@LaureninGermany]

@@fritzfux6135 it was about my driving licence, not my passport?

[@Salzbuckel]

@@fritzfux6135 Like you did, the was on her pass on doing without thinking and consequences, primitively ( comes from latin and means first doing) acting like german executive members are taught. This is the lemma that takes whole nations to tare down by short thinking or in the end no thinking burocrathy. Second thought of her should have been, when and how will the exchange old vs new passport going to happen. And her first thought should have include the decision what consequences brings it my decision acting immediately in the meantime until the new passport is not available right now in some drawer behind her. There is a time frame; ist it for some use, or is it for creating unneccesary obstruction. Making a person unable to travel, who still has a valid passport if i wait and let the lid passport go until the real exchange can happen, as the passport laws says.I had to use lawyers to propell the new passport make out of regular order and submit it out of the order delivery on time. The lady did not follow the rules or laws, she illegally disrupted my freedom of travel by not thinking and shortening her duty to lets get it from the table quickly. That was not quickly at all and not cheap for anyone but her as a person.

[@kathawenzel8033]

Dear Lauren, I felt for you in this quite uncomfortable situation! I´m coming from the Black Forest´s Family Channel and just found out about you and your channel! Which is awesome I think! As a native Welsh person, may I ask you a question which literally "brennt mir unter den Nägeln" (burns under my nails) since the vote for the Brexit? I´m aware that the Scottish voted against it, but there is a particular fact that is bothering me about voting for the Brexit since it happened and which is a very controversial topic in my household ( we are a multi-cultural couple, Germany and Russia with a lifestyle experience through nearly all continents, we would say open minded but sometimes just clueless in terms to understand certain actions)... As a reference to Google at that time, most of the people in Great Britain googled what they voted for AFTER they actually voted, despite the fact that there was a lot of analysis provided what that would actually mean for Great Britain in terms of change and economy and so on. So my question is, because I hope you have through connections to Great Britain more of an insight maybe from friends and family, was it the propaganda that were so strong at this time, or just negligence of the predicted negative outcome for Britain's, or nationalism or...WHY? I can´t wrap my head around it to this day why someone votes for something that makes them more miserable...Does this make any sense to you? And do you have maybe your own theory or insight about this? It would be soo appreciated if you share your thoughts on this with me and maybe enlighten me somehow on this topic! Best regards, Katharina

[@LaureninGermany]

In a nutshell, they were clearly misinformed, Katharina. I have a lot of opinions but I am not sure that I want to get so political and potentially negative on this channel. I´m sorry not to share more - I try to focus on positive, uplifting things and unfortunately my feelings about Brexit are not :-(

[@kathawenzel8033]

@@LaureninGermany I'm sorry it wasn't my intention to bother you or get you in a bad mood. I like your positive and uplifting attitude which is also reflected in your videos 😊

[@jackybraun2705]

When I first moved to Germany in the 1970s I was told that I had to apply for a German driving licence within 9 months of registering in my place of residence.. It was very little bother, just had to get a translation from the ADAC and pay a few DM. I didn't have to take a test or produce any of the papers that you mention as far as I can remember. The translation was not a word for word copy of everything in the British licence. In those days the groups of vehicles were different so there was a note on it to the effect that I could only drive up to 3.5 tonnes. When I changed the old paper licence for a plastic cheque card sized one, even the expiry date disappeared, as there was no place on it for that. Now they have introduced expiry dates to German driving licences and I have got another plastic one with an expiration date but the vehicle groups are now more in line with my original licence. I never had to do the first aid course or take a theory test as it wasn't part of the British driving test when I did mine. I'm not sure my British driving licence is still valid in Britain or anywhere but if ever the German one becomes invalid in Britain Incan apply for an International Licence.

[@LaureninGermany]

Your comment made me nostalgic! I remember times when organising life seemed to be more human and less of a rigid system. I know people think it’s important and necessary, but I loved being able to sort things out with people using their common sense and not having to tick boxes just so they’re ticked. (But only if you provide the right paperwork…!)

[@jurgenmuller4430]

Dear Darling, this obsticle about biometric photo for my local identy card happend to me as welll. just updating my local identycard (prolonging) caust me to get a biometric Photo. this in the year 2022. Unbevlieveable. I went out of the office (Bürgerbüro) without any success. Meanwhile a gave up and waiting for better times. rg Jürgen

[@LaureninGermany]

Oh, I hope you get it sorted out soon.

[@rainerm.8168]

If that driver's license thing had happened in Berlin you probably would be still waiting for it (It's June 2023). Because here the civil service doesn't function at all, I mean at all, which is one of the reasons wise people call Berlin a 'failed city'. But that's just politics and your videos are way too nice for that.

[@LaureninGermany]

It´s funny you should comment on this video today- this morning I was in the small town Amt, applying for a Reisepass and there was a mistake on a form for one I was picking up for someone. The woman just wrote a note on the form, and I signed next to that. I thought, this wouldn´t happen all over Germany. And thanks for your kind words, much appreciated xx

[@bianca2817]

Falls Du je wieder ein Führungszeugnis brauchst, sag mir bitte Bescheid! Ich bestätige jederzeit Your good Character ❤️💋 Übrigens: Deine Sonnenbrille ist sensationell! 😍👍 Ich hätte Fotos damit erlaubt 😄

[@LaureninGermany]

Die Sonnenbrille ist wirklich Wahnsinn, gel?! Die war ein Geschenk- ich liebe sie! 😂 😎

[@bianca2817]

@@LaureninGermany AB-SO-LUT 😄👍

[@uweinhamburg]

The real question has to be - would anything be different if you had a driver's license from another third country? If not, it has nothing to do with Brexit...

[@LaureninGermany]

I didn’t need to swap it until Brexit. I was allowed to drive for over a decade here until Brexit changed the rules.

[@uweinhamburg]

@@LaureninGermany And you thought a decision like leaving a community wouldn't change anything? You missed my point, though - the question was: are holders of a UK passport treated different to holders of any other third country?

[@LaureninGermany]

@@uweinhamburg yes, I thought I was covered as I had become German. As I said twice in the video, I didn’t think twice about it. And I also have not checked what the situation would be if I came from another country. I think it’s clear that if I am stupid enough to not check what might affect me after Brexit even though I have held German citizenship for years and lived here for decades, I am clearly not proactive enough to bother checking what happens to other nationalities in Germany. Stupid, naive, politically uninterested and paid the price for it.

[@LaureninGermany]

@@iaindw1 I don’t understand, sorry?

[@LaureninGermany]

@@iaindw1 yes, you’re right. There were hardly any comments like that.

[@gfvq12az]

Nice! What was the problem with your eyesight?

[@LaureninGermany]

It was all fine! Thank you!

[@Andreas_Cologne]

"Deutsche Bürokratie" at it's best.🤣🤣🤣

[@LaureninGermany]

I never understood why people thought it was so bad… until I realised how many different places (Ämte) I had to go to to get all the different documents…! Arghhhhh!!!

[@Andreas_Cologne]

@@LaureninGermany Yes, but it's getting better. There are more and more cities with so-called Bürgerzentren (-ämter), where you can do many things at once.

[@LaureninGermany]

@@Andreas_Cologne that’s good. I had to run over to another two places and try to get back before 12, because otherwise I would have needed another lift. And the other document was from a different town. They should provide photocopy machines in those centres, too. So people can get any copies they didn’t know about. I think copy shops aren’t so common these days.

[@blueodum]

I think I'm confused. You can afford a car, but not an e-bike?

[@LaureninGermany]

Well, I certainly can’t afford to buy an e-bike as well as a car. Actually, I have a van, not a car, which I need for work. I’m confused as to why you think if someone can afford one thing, they can afford two.

[@joaomarreiros4906]

Really?British.

[@LaureninGermany]

Do you mean I‘m really British? Yes, that hat screams British, I think, even though it’s Italian! 😂

[@joaomarreiros4906]

@@LaureninGermany Yes, I was being nice.

[@LaureninGermany]

@@joaomarreiros4906 thank you, I appreciate that!

[@robertbass4211]

Rückfallebene Busfahrer ernst? Mach doch mal etwas "typisch" deutsches: Synchronsprecher ernst! Ich höre gerne zu.

[@LaureninGermany]

Vielen Dank! Ne, nicht ernst- ich bin eigentlich Sängerin und Schauspielerin, also die busfahrende Deutsche Bürger sind sicher!

[@robertbass4211]

@@LaureninGermany Die geschulte Stimme hört man deutlich heraus. ... PS: die "großen" Synchronsprecher, Hörbuch- Leser, und Hörspiel- Vortragende, die ich kenne, sind durchweg ähnlich ausgebildet. ... Nur so als Idee für eine Möglichkeit / ein Potential, sollte das Schauspiel Mal nicht genug Brötchen einbringen. BR RB

[@jasbindersingh2441]

Shows how mean Germany is. Here in poland , they decided that all British licenses issued before the the transition period ended... Jan 21 , will be valid in poland until the expiry date on the license....meaning in my case almost 10 yrs. Seems fair to me Wonder why Germany couldn't do the same ?

[@LaureninGermany]

Yes, it’s strange that suddenly a licence that was fine for the whole time I’ve lived here, was no longer valid. That’s why I was taken by surprise- I couldn’t imagine that my licence would suddenly be no longer valid. I have no idea why!

[@sisuguillam5109]

Well... you might still have your drivers license in Poland... while the women in Poland lost their bodily autonomy.

[@LaureninGermany]

@@sisuguillam5109 Franz explained why it was necessary, today, after I told him about this comment. So that the police can easily check my licence if they need to. It’s different if you‘re just driving through, but if you live here, you don’t want to waste police time over and over again.

[@helfgott1]

Well you are British and your guys voted so eat your meal

[@LaureninGermany]

That´s very nice of you, thank you.

[@helfgott1]

Well say thanks to Jonson

[@LaureninGermany]

Is this your Sunday treat to yourself, writing mean comments to me on my video?🤣

[@siggi383]

Oh no. This is so sad. I would die for being driven in a bus by you.

[@LaureninGermany]

😂 then I just have to do it for tips and unofficially! Lol!!!

[@siggi383]

@@LaureninGermany Yes, that's great. Let's do a subscribers' bus tour. 😂

[@LaureninGermany]

@@siggi383 wouldn’t that be fabulous! But I need you guys alive…