Fahrerlaubnis: Erweiterung um Klasse D, D1, DE oder D1E beantragen

If you want to drive buses, you must have your driving license extended to category D, DE, D1 or D1E at the driving license authority. These extended driving license categories are limited to 5 years.

To drive buses or vehicle combinations consisting of a bus and a trailer, you need an extended driving license for category D, DE, D1 or D1E. You can apply for the extension of your driving license at the driving license authority in your place of residence. If your driving license is extended to include categories D, DE, D1 and D1E, it will be issued for a limited period of 5 years. You must apply for an extension before this period expires.

Depending on the category, the extended driving license entitles you to drive various buses. To apply for an extension, you must meet various requirements.

Class D driving license:

• Motor vehicles for the transportation of more than 8 persons in addition to the driver
• Trailers with a total weight of up to 750 kg
• Required driving license: B
• Minimum age: 24 years or 20 years if you drive buses professionally

Class DE driving license:

• Motor vehicles for the transportation of more than 8 persons in addition to the driver
• Trailers with a total weight of more than 750 kg
• Required driving license: D
• Minimum age: 24 years or 20 years if you drive buses for a living

Class D1 driving license:

• Motor vehicles for the transportation of a maximum of 16 persons in addition to the driver
• Maximum overall length: 8m
• Trailers with a total weight of up to 750kg
• Required driving license: B
• Minimum age: 21 years or 18 years if you drive buses professionally

Class D1E driving license:

• Motor vehicles for the transportation of a maximum of 16 persons other than the driver
• Maximum overall length: 8m
• Trailers with a total weight of more than 750kg
• Required driving license: D1
• Minimum age: 21 years or 18 years if you drive buses professionally

• Valid identity card or passport with current registration certificate
• Current biometric photo (size 45x35 mm, portrait format, frontal view)
• Eye test certificate (not older than 2 years)
• Proof of physical and mental aptitude (not older than 1 year)
• Current driving license
• Details of driving school
• Proof of participation in first aid training
• Police clearance certificate (not older than 3 months)
• Performance psychology report (not older than 1 year)

• Your main place of residence is in Germany.
• You have a driver's license with the required category.
• You have reached the minimum age for the respective category.
• You are physically and mentally fit to drive a bus.
• You have successfully completed the theoretical and practical training and test for driving a bus - the scope of which varies depending on the category applied for.

The fee is based on the scale of fees for road traffic measures (GebOSt).

If the driver's license is sent directly to your home address, an additional shipping fee will be charged.

If you wish to use your driver's license for commercial purposes, you must comply with the regulations on professional driver qualification (BKrFQG).

• Driving license with a limited period of validity Extension by categories D, D1, DE or D1E
• An existing driver's license can be extended to include additional driving license classes D, D1, DE, D1E, colloquially known as "bus classes"
• each D class entitles the holder to drive different buses
• Different requirements necessary depending on the D class
• Driving license limited to 5 years
• Responsible: competent driving license authority

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