Fahrerlaubnis

Road Traffic Act (StVG)

Driving License Ordinance (FeV)

Fee regulations for road traffic measures (GebOSt)

You apply for a driver's license for the first time if you are not yet in possession of a driver's license. Subsequent extensions of your driving license are based on this.

Driving licenses are divided into certain classes. Driving licenses for categories AM, A, A1, A2, B, BE, L and T are issued for an unlimited period. For categories C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D and DE, the license is issued for a maximum of five years.

To obtain your driver's license for the first time, you must complete theoretical and practical training at a driving school. You must also pass a theoretical and a practical driving test (exception for category L, here only theoretical training and test).

Note: You should apply for your driver's license as soon as you start training at the driving school.

You can submit the necessary application to the driving license authority responsible for your place of residence at the earliest six months before reaching the minimum age for the desired driving license category. The competent authority will then check whether there are any concerns about your suitability to drive a motor vehicle. If there are no concerns, the technical testing center will be commissioned to test your ability to drive motor vehicles.

The theoretical test can be taken at the earliest three months and the practical test at the earliest one month before you reach the minimum age. There must be at least one month between the practical and the theoretical test. You must take the practical test within twelve months of passing the theory test. Otherwise, the theory test loses its validity.

If you fail these exams, you can usually retake them after two weeks at the earliest. The number of retakes is not limited.

• valid identity card, valid passport or other identification document
• current, biometric photo in 45x35mm format in portrait format, frontal shot, with neutral background without headgear
• Proof of first aid training
• Name of the owner and address of your driving school
• Proof of an eye test (optician or ophthalmologist; not older than two years at the time of application)

You will be issued a driving license for the relevant category if you

• have your normal place of residence in Germany,
• are qualified to drive motor vehicles,
• have been trained to drive motor vehicles in a driving school,
• have proven your ability to drive motor vehicles in a theoretical and practical test,
• can provide first aid and
• do not hold a driving license in this category issued in a member state of the European Union or another state party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area.
• Depending on the category applied for, a certain minimum age must be met (see § 10 FeV).

You must apply for a driver's license at the driving license office in your place of residence. You can submit the application at the earliest six months before reaching the minimum age required for the respective driving license category. In most cases, the driving school you have registered with will submit the application on your behalf.

After the application has been submitted, the competent authority will check whether there are any concerns about your suitability to drive a motor vehicle.

Against the background of the implementation of a third EC driving license directive, all driving licenses issued from January 19, 2013 will only be valid for 15 years. All driving licenses issued before January 19, 2013 will remain valid for the time being, but must be exchanged by January 19, 2033 at the latest. A new driving test or health check is not planned. The time limit is intended to ensure that only driving licenses that meet all the requirements of the directive are in circulation from January 19, 2033.

• A driving license is required to drive motor vehicles; the driving license serves as proof
• Driving licenses are issued for a limited period in certain classes and in certain cases
• An application for a driving license must be submitted to the driving license authority in your place of residence
• Before a driver's license is issued, both theoretical and practical training must be completed at a driving school and a test must be passed
• An application for the initial issue of a driving license can be submitted at the earliest 6 months before reaching the minimum age for the desired driving license category