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Driving license; application for a driving license and extension of an existing driving license

If you want to drive a motor vehicle on public roads, you need a driving license that entitles you to drive this vehicle. The driving license is proof of your driving license.

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Procedure details

If you want to drive a motor vehicle on public roads, you need a driving license that entitles you to drive this vehicle. You can apply for a driver's license at your local driver's license authority in the district office or city. You can also submit the application to the local authority. The same applies if you already hold a driving license but wish to drive vehicles belonging to a different driving license category (extension).

When you apply for a driving license, you must specify the driving school where you will be trained.

Theoretical and practical training will be provided by the driving school you have selected, which will then present you for the driving test at the TÜV after the driving license authority has issued a test order. After taking and passing the test, which is usually divided into a theoretical and practical driving part, the driving license for the category(ies) applied for can be issued if all other requirements are met. The same applies to the extension of an existing driving license.

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

  • have your normal place of residence in Germany,
  • have reached the required minimum age,
  • are qualified to drive motor vehicles,
  • have been trained to drive motor vehicles in accordance with the Driving Instructors Act and the legal regulations based on it,
  • have demonstrated their ability to drive motor vehicles in a theoretical and practical test,
  • are able to provide first aid,
  • 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 and
  • are in possession of a different category of driver's license for certain license categories.

Further details are regulated in §§ 7 ff of the German Driving License Ordinance (FeV).

  • valid identity card or passport
  • Current biometric digital photograph (frontal view)
  • Vision test certificate issued by an officially accredited vision testing center or a medical certificate issued by an ophthalmologist (no more than two years old)
  • Proof of participation in a training course in first aid
  • Additional documents will be required for the following driver's license categories: C, CE, C1, C1E, D, DE, D1, D1E

Application or extension: approx. 40 - 45 euros

Status: 29.04.2025
Editorial responsibility Bayerisches Staatsministerium des Innern, für Sport und Integration
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