Fahrerlaubnis; Beantragung für begleitetes Fahren ab 17

If you take part in "accompanied driving from 17", the minimum age for obtaining a category B and BE (passenger car) driving license is lowered to 17. Driving school training can be started earlier.

After successfully passing the driving test, the young novice driver receives a test certificate as proof of their driving license in Germany, which is valid for a maximum of three months after reaching the age of 18. However, they may only drive the car until their 18th birthday if accompanied by a person named on the test certificate. The accompanying person must meet certain requirements (see explanations under Requirements).

The accompanying person is the contact person for the young novice driver during the journey and should give advice and instructions if necessary. In this way, the novice driver should be able to gain their first experience on the road under the guidance of an experienced companion. However, the young novice driver is the responsible driver of the vehicle.

After reaching the age of 18, the young driver then receives (on application) the EU card driving license, which is valid throughout Europe.

• Documents for novice drivers
  • valid identity card or passport
  • current biometric photograph
  • Eye test certificate from an officially recognised eye test centre or certificate from the ophthalmologist (not older than two years)
  • Proof of participation in a first aid course
• Documents for accompanying person
  • valid identity card or passport
  • Copy of the valid driver's license

The young novice driver

• may start training at the driving school at the age of 16.5
• requires parental consent both for participation in accompanied driving and for the appointment of accompanying persons
• may take the theory test at the earliest three months and the practical test at the earliest one month before the age of 17
• must, with the exception of the deviating minimum age (in this case 17 years) and the deviating deadlines for training and testing, meet the requirements otherwise applicable to the issue of a driving license (in particular with regard to suitability, training and testing)
• may only drive in Germany up to their 18th birthday together with an accompanying person entered on the test certificate; several accompanying persons may be entered on the test certificate
• must have the test certificate replaced by the EU card driving license within three months of their 18th birthday.

The accompanying person

• must be named on the test certificate
• must be over 30 years of age
• must have held a valid EU/EEA or Swiss category B driving license (passenger car) for at least five years
• must not have more than one point in the driving aptitude register in Flensburg at the time of applying for the driving license (or, if applying for the registration of additional persons intended to accompany the driver, at the time of applying for registration as an additional accompanying person) and
• must observe the "0.5 per mille limit" and the ban on drugs when accompanying.

The fee for issuing a driving license is usually around EUR 45.

For "accompanied driving at 17", there are additional fees for issuing the test certificate (EUR 7.70) and for each accompanying person to be registered (approx. EUR 11 each).

There may also be additional costs for the direct mailing of the driving license (around EUR 5).

The issue of a category B and/or BE driving license in accordance with the regulations for "accompanied driving from the age of 17" must be applied for in writing or in electronic form at the driving license authority. The authority may require a personal appearance.

If all requirements for the issue of a driving license are met, the applicant will first be issued with a so-called examination certificate.

Once the minimum age for category B or BE of 18 years has been reached, the driving license authority finally issues the general driving license (upon application).