I did both tests in Germany, it is nearly 600 Euro just to "exchange" the license, and is by far one of the most expensive, maddening, and frankly unnecessary hoops that the German authorities make foreign residents go through. I'll say that the written test is a good idea, but the driving lessons, etc. are utterly stupid.

It is one thing if all this is required and is 30 Euro, like it is in the U.S., but another thing to go through a driving school, and pay this firm money to go through all of this.

The license is, however, without an expiration date.

I lost a fair amount of respect for Germany and the Germans going through this process.