Getting a driving license in Germany is pretty easy, although there are different rules depending on your background. Here’s what you need to do before you hit the road.
Strict rules apply when driving in Germany, and you are not allowed to drive a car unsupervised if you are under 18 years old, even if you have a license in your home country.
Driving license in Germany
The German driving license ( führerschein ) meets EU standards. It is a plastic card, similar in size to a credit card. It contains your information, including which vehicles you are allowed to drive. All licenses issued after 2013 are valid for 15 years.
On the front of the card you will find the following:
- your full name
- your picture
- your date of birth
- date of issue and expiration date
- license number
- issuing authority
- your signature
- your driving license class (e.g. B for cars)
On the back of the card you can find a table with information about the different driving classes. There are five main classes of driving license in Germany, namely:
- And – motorcycles and mopeds
- B – cars
- C – any light or heavy commercial trucks
- D – buses with 8 or more seats
- L and T – small and large tractors
Driving licenses are issued by local driving license offices ( führerscheinstelle n) and registered in the Central Driving License Register ( zentrales fahrerlaubnisregister – ZFER).
In Germany, you can drive a motorized vehicle when you are 15 years old and a car from the age of 18. You must always carry your license with you (when driving a vehicle, and you cannot use a temporary license).
There are complicated rules regarding foreign licenses – some foreigners need to exchange their driving license in Germany, while others need a new driving permit to hit the road. However, those who are temporarily in Germany will in many cases not need a new license.
Obtaining a German driving license
If you are registered as a driver in Germany and are 18 years old or older, you can apply for a new license through your local driving license authority ( Fürhrerscheinbehörde ).
In cases where the driving license issued in your country is not recognized in Germany, you may have to attend driving lessons and take written and practical German language exams.
When applying for a driver’s license, you will need to provide the following:
- An official document proving identity, such as an ID card or passport
- Residence permit
- A recent photograph that meets the requirements for German passport photos
- Certificates of any required medical examinations – most licenses require a visual inspection, while bus licenses require an additional examination.
- Proof that you have completed a first aid course
Citizens of some nationalities may also be required to demonstrate that they have completed a first aid training course.
Driving tests in Germany
Passing a driving test in Germany is not as difficult as in some other countries, but the tests are among the most expensive in the world. Germany has two testing organizations: DEKRA and TÜV.
Drivers in Germany who have never had a license will need to register for lessons at a driving school ( Fahrschule ). Before taking the test, you will need to apply for a driver’s license – once your application is approved, your driving school will register you for the tests.
In Germany, you have to pass two exams: first you have to pass a theoretical one and then a practical one. In addition to the tests, you also have to have had an eye examination within the last two years and take a first aid course ( Erste Hilfe ), which you can sign up for through the German Red Cross (link in German).
Theory test ( Theorieprüfung )
The age at which you can take your theory test depends on the type of car you want to drive. You can drive a car three months before the age of 18. You will also need to attend 12 hours of theory lessons (6 if you already have a license).
You will take a computer-based test that consists of questions with images, text and videos related to road signs and situations. Fortunately for foreign citizens, the theory test is available in eleven different languages. If your German is not very good, you can also take the theory test in a foreign language. The following languages are currently available: English, French, Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Croatian, Spanish, Turkish and Standard Arabic. However, the practical test can only be taken in German.
If you are taking the driving test for a category B driving licence, the test consists of 30 questions, which are scored from two to five points for an incorrect answer. You can score a maximum of ten points for an error and can only answer one question incorrectly with a five-point error.
Theory tests in Germany cost around €25, although some schools charge an additional registration fee. When taking the test, you will need to bring your ID card or passport, a certificate of training from a driving instructor, and proof of payment. The results of the theory test are valid for one year – if you do not pass the practical driving test during this time, you will have to take it again.
Practical driving tests in Germany
After successfully passing the theory test, you can take the practical driving test. This costs around €120, although registration may incur additional costs. You can take the test one month before your 18th birthday .
On average, a practical driving test takes 45 minutes. At the beginning, the examiner will usually check your identity and ask you to perform a safety check on the car, such as checking the engine oil level. You will then drive the car – the examiner will assess your ability to drive carefully and calmly. They will also take into account your basic driving skills, parking, steering, acceptable speed, awareness of traffic and other road users, highway driving and other skills. It can be a nerve-wracking experience, but there are many ways you can try to stay calm.
Not every mistake you make will result in a failure, as the examiner will take into account the overall impression of your driving. However, there are certain mistakes that your examiner will automatically fail you for. These include:
- Ignoring the advantage
- Causing danger or damage
- Do not stop at red lights or similar police signs.
- Violation of the overtaking ban
- Changing lanes without first checking traffic.
You will know the results of the test immediately, and if you pass, the examiner will issue you a driver’s license.
If you fail the test, you can retake it two more times, with only two weeks between each attempt. However, if you fail the third test, the intervals between them will increase. There is no limit to the number of times you can take the practical driving test.
Probationary period
After passing the driving test, you will receive a German driving license and can drive in Germany. However, if you have obtained your license for the first time, you will have to undergo a probationary period for the first two years of driving.
During your probationary period, you are not allowed to drive after drinking alcohol. You may also receive additional points on your license if you commit any traffic violations. You may be fined, have your probation extended, or have your license revoked for repeated bad behavior.
German driving lessons
To get a German driving license, you must take driving lessons at a registered driving school. Farschule-123 allows you to search for the nearest driving school and filter by the type of vehicle you want to learn to drive, and you can also find theory lessons in a number of foreign languages. Each driving school can set its own rates, so they vary from country to country. Driving schools must be transparent about their prices; the costs must be announced at the office and adhered to.
There is no official minimum number of lessons you must complete before applying for your driving test, but your driving instructor must be satisfied that you can drive safely. Additionally, your practical lessons should cover several situations, including driving over rough terrain, at night, and on the highway.
If you’re short on time, many driving schools offer intensive courses that can get you your license in just a few weeks. These courses usually last two weeks with full-day lessons – they may even include accommodation and meals, but this will increase the cost.
Driving with a foreign driver’s license
If you have an EU, EEA or international driving licence, it is valid in Germany and you do not need to exchange or translate it. However, you will need a new German driving licence when it expires. If your driving licence was issued in a country outside the EU or EEA, it will usually be valid in Germany for the first six months. After that, you must obtain a German driving licence. This also applies to licences issued in the following countries:
- Andorra
- Hong Kong
- Monaco
- New Zealand
- San Marino
- Switzerland
- Senegal
If the license was issued outside the EU/EEA, you can use your Ukrainian driver’s license in Germany for the first six months. This starts from the moment you register your address with the German authorities. In some cases, you will have to translate your driver’s license into German. If this is the case, it must be translated into German by an internationally recognized automotive organization or a sworn translator.
It works a little differently if you have a UK driving licence. In this case you will convert it to an EU/EEA licence within six months. It is currently possible to exchange a UK licence for a German one without a theory or practical test.
Exchange of a foreign ID card in Germany
If you are not from the EU/EFTA region and Ukraine is not included, then you need to exchange your driving license within six months of arriving in the country. You can do this at the local driving license office ( Führerscheinstelle ), which you will find in your local government or town hall.
Usually you have to pay a fee, which depends on the authorities. In Hamburg, for example, it can cost 43–73 euros.
To exchange a license, you must provide supporting documents. This usually includes:
- An identification document, such as your passport
- Address confirmation
- Passport photo
- Your original license with a foreign license statement is still valid
- Certified German translation of your foreign driver’s license
- Confirmation from the Office for Foreigners confirming your residence
- Certificate of completion of a first aid course
Additional medical tests are also required, depending on the category of license you are going to obtain:
- To get a category A or B driving license, you need to pass an eye test.
- To obtain a class C or D license, a medical certificate confirming sufficient clarity of vision is required.
- If you are 50 years of age or older and applying for a Class D permit, you will need an additional medical certificate confirming that you are able to handle stress and that your orientation skills, concentration, attention, and reaction speed are acceptable.
German driving license renewal
If you have a German driving license, it is valid for 15 years. After this time, it will need to be renewed. To renew your license, you must be registered with your local German authority. Simply make an appointment with your local driving license authority four weeks before it expires – you do not need to retake any part of the driving test to renew your license. Be sure to bring your current driving license and a recent passport photo.
Renewal usually costs around 24 euros and takes around four weeks. It is not possible to renew a foreign driving license. Instead, you will have to exchange it for a German one.
Lost or stolen driving license in Germany
If your driver’s license is lost or stolen, you must apply for a replacement. In the case of stolen licenses, you must contact the police to report the crime. You will need a theft report, which you must submit to your local licensing authority, as well as proof of identity and a biometric passport photo. Your new license will arrive in approximately four weeks.
For lost driver’s licenses, the process is much the same, except that you will need to write a statement explaining the reason for the loss. If you later find your old driver’s license, you must return it to the licensing authority.
If you lose your foreign driving license, German authorities can still help. They will have to contact the issuing authority in your country, so the process may take longer.
German driving license for other vehicles
There are five main categories of driving licenses in Germany, each with different age restrictions.
Personal transport
| Category | Vehicle type | Minimum age of the future driver |
| AM | Moped | 15 (domestic only); 16 |
| A1 | Motorcycle (cylinder capacity cannot exceed 125 cubic centimeters (cc) and power – 15 horsepower (hp)) | 16 |
| A2 | Motorcycle (power not exceeding 47 hp) | 18 |
| AND | Motorcycle (any other that does not fall into the above category) | 20 (if you have previously owned an A2 motorcycle for two years); 21 for tricycles with a power output exceeding 15 kilowatts (kW); 24 |
| B | Motorized vehicles (e.g. car) (anything not included in class A, weighing not more than 3500 kg and designed to carry up to eight people) | 17 (with supervision, also known as bf17); 18 |
| BE | Class B vehicles with a trailer or semi-trailer (weighing from 750 to 12,000 kg) | 17 (with supervision); 18 |
Professional vehicles
| Category | Vehicle type | Minimum age of the future driver |
| C1 | Motorised vehicles (e.g. heavy goods vehicles (HGV)) (anything other than classes A and D, weighing between 3,500 and 7,500 kg and designed to carry up to eight people. A trailer not exceeding 750 kg is permitted) | 18 |
| C1E | Class C1 vehicles with a trailer or semi-trailer (with a mass of 750 to 12,000 kg) | same |
| C | Motorised vehicles (e.g. heavy goods vehicles (HGV)) (anything other than classes A and D, weighing over 3,500 kg and designed to carry up to eight people. Towing a trailer weighing less than 750 kg is permitted) | 18 (domestic and for educational purposes only); 21 |
| CE | Class C vehicles with a trailer or semi-trailer (weighing from 750 to 12,000 kg) | same |
| D1 | Motorized vehicles (e.g. small buses) (anything not included in class A, designed to carry up to 16 people and no longer than 8 m. Allowed to tow a trailer weighing no more than 750 kg) | 18 (only after completion of vocational training); 21 |
| D1E | Vehicles of class D1 with a trailer or semi-trailer (over 750 kg) | same |
| D | Motorized vehicles (e.g. buses) (anything other than class A and designed to carry more than 8 people. Allowed to tow a trailer weighing no more than 750 kg) | 18 (training, without passengers); 20 (after graduating from vocational school); 21 (after completing basic qualification); 23 (after accelerated basic qualification); 24 |
| DE | Class D vehicles with a trailer or semi-trailer (over 750 kg) | same |
| T and L | Tractors | 16 |
There are also special driving licenses for taxis, forklifts, passenger vehicles, fire brigades. Driving schools throughout Germany offer courses to teach you how to drive all of these vehicles.
When you’re ready to hit the open road, you’ll also need to purchase compulsory car insurance. Germany is home to several car insurance companies, including DA Direkt .