Forklift Licence Lost – What Now?

Anyone who has lost their forklift licence (the driving authorisation for industrial trucks) applies for the replacement document directly from the provider that carried out the original training and issued the document. A re-examination is not required for this.

Step 1 – Identify the training provider Anyone who completed the course with Dekra, TÜV Rheinland, the Jungheinrich Academy or a regional provider should contact them directly. The contact details are often still known from the original registration, or available via the provider's website.

Step 2 – Assemble the evidence The following documents are usually required:

• A copy of your ID (identity card or passport)
• Details of the training date and location (often reconstructible from old emails or payslips)
• Where applicable, a loss report (formally required by some providers)

Step 3 – Apply for the replacement document and pay the fee Most providers issue the replacement document against a processing fee. Cost: as a rule 10–50 euros. Processing time: 5–20 working days, depending on the provider and the state of their document archive.

If the original training provider has become insolvent or ceased trading:

Archive search with the legal successor Many training providers are taken over – the legal successor often continues to hold the records. Research via the commercial register or with industry associations (for example VDMA, BG Handel und Warenlogistik).

Involve the employers' liability insurance association In some cases the responsible Berufsgenossenschaft can provide information or help with reconstructing the record.

Complete new training If no evidence can be obtained any more, repeating the training remains the last resort. People with practical experience can look into the one-day course route.

No – at least not formally. Under DGUV Principle 308-001 and DGUV Regulation 68, in-company authorisation requires proof of completed training. Without the document, the employer formally may not authorise the employee.

Until the replacement document is issued, the employer can document internally that the qualification demonstrably exists (for example through statements from supervisors, old payroll records, or course confirmations in the personnel file). This is not a legal basis but a pragmatic bridging practice, and it should be agreed with the safety officer.

Losing the driving authorisation can largely be avoided through simple measures:

Choose the credit-card format: many providers issue the driving authorisation as a laminated credit-card-sized document (on request or for a surcharge of 5–20 euros). The format is handier and more robust.

Make a digital copy: scan or photograph it immediately on receipt and store it securely.

Central company archive: employers with several forklift drivers should keep copies of all driving authorisations centrally in the occupational safety documentation.

What does a replacement forklift licence cost?

As a rule a processing fee of 10–50 euros with the issuing provider. Costs vary by provider and document format.

Do I have to sit the examination again?

No. The replacement driving authorisation is issued without a further examination, provided the issuing provider still has the records of the original training in its archive.

Is a copy of the forklift licence enough?

In day-to-day operations, many employers accept a copy temporarily. Legally, the original document (or the replacement document) is the correct form of proof.

How long does it take to issue the replacement document?

As a rule 5–20 working days. Often quicker with large providers that have a centralised archive; with small regional providers it can take longer.

Luibl Rental provides qualified forklift drivers with the right machine – at short notice, across Europe, ready for use.

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