Apply for a driving licence

You must submit an application for the respective driving licence class to the competent driving licence authority.

A driving licence is issued to anyone who:

• proves that he or she has a normal place of residence in Germany,
• has reached the required minimum age:
  • 24 years for categories A (direct access), D and DE
  • 21 years for categories C, CE, D1 and D1E and for three-wheeled motor vehicles with a power exceeding 15 kW
  • 20 years for category A with a previous possession of category A2 of at least 2 years
  • 18 years for categories A2, B, BE, C1 and C1E
  • 16 years for categories A1, L and T
  • 15 years for category AM (minimum age initially limited until 31.12.2023)
• is suitable for driving motor vehicles,
• has been trained to drive motor vehicles in accordance with the Driving Instructor Act and the legal provisions based on it,
• has demonstrated the ability to drive motor vehicles in a theoretical and practical examination,
• is able to provide first aid and provides the necessary proof of this,
• meets and proves the requirements for eyesight,
• does not hold a driving licence for this category issued in a Member State of the European Union or in another State party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area.

• Application form
• Official proof of place and date of birth (e.g. identity card or passport)
• current certificate of registration, if applicable)
• current biometric photograph (size 45x35 mm, portrait format, frontal photograph). Information and examples can be found in theFoto-Mustertafel (Bundesdruckerei).
• Proof of training in first aid
• For categories A, A1, A2, AM, B, BE, L and T additionally:
  • Eye test certificate or certificate or expert opinion of an ophthalmologist (not older than two years at the time of application)
• For categories C, CE, C1 and C1E additionally:
  • Certificate or expert opinion on physical and mental fitness (not older than one year at the time of application)
  • Certificate or attestation of eyesight (not older than two years at the time of application)
• For categories D, DE, D1 and D1E additionally:
  • Certificate or expert opinion on physical and mental fitness (not older than one year at the time of application)
  • Certificate or attestation of eyesight (not older than two years at the time of application)
  • Certificate of good conduct for submission to an authority
    (service description in Hessen-Finder)

Photo sample board

Certificate of good conduct

• Application for the issue_renewal of a driving licence.pdf

The administrative fee is charged in accordance with the Fee Regulations for Road Traffic Measures (GebOSt).
The amount of the fee depends on numerous different factors.
Information in individual cases is provided by the locally competent authority.

• § 21 Driving Licence Ordinance (FeV)
• § Section 2 of the Road Traffic Act (StVG)
• Fee regulations for road traffic measures (GebOSt)

• Overview of the driving licence classes
• Photo sample board of Bundesdruckerei