Pass and drive off: New procedure for obtaining a driving licence

After passing their driving test, candidates will no longer have to wait for their driving licence to be issued, but will receive a certificate immediately afterwards that entitles them to drive straight away.

27 February 2026

The district of Waldeck-Frankenberg is taking a further step towards a modern and citizen-oriented administration - also in the area of issuing driving licences. In future, candidates who pass their driving test will no longer have to wait for their driving licence to be issued, but will receive provisional proof of their driving licence immediately after the test, entitling them to drive straight away.

Issuing driving licences - faster, simpler and more customer-friendly
The district's transport department has recently started using the innovations of the so-called §22a procedure for issuing driving licences to simplify processes even further, shorten processing times and significantly improve service for customers. The procedure is based on a pilot project that was initially trialled in Wiesbaden and largely maps the issuing of driving licences digitally.

The focus here is on seamless collaboration between driving schools, test centres and driving licence authorities. Test requests, feedback and official decisions are transmitted electronically and processed automatically. "In this way, we are making the issuing of driving licences faster, simpler and much more customer-friendly," emphasises District Administrator Jürgen van der Horst. "Our citizens benefit from less bureaucracy, shorter waiting times and immediate mobility after passing the test."

Less effort, more service
Digitisation eliminates numerous paper-based work steps, personal visits to collect documents are no longer necessary and digital plausibility checks also help to identify and avoid errors at an early stage. This not only makes the process faster, but also safer and more reliable.

For many applicants, this means considerable time savings. Journeys to the authorities are reduced, appointments can be better planned and the driving licence is available immediately after a successful test - a great advantage, especially for young people, trainees and working people.

The new process also has clear advantages for the district administration itself: The reduced use of paper, printing and dispatch saves resources and contributes to environmental and climate protection. At the same time, internal processes are organised more efficiently and employees are relieved. "We are deliberately using the opportunities offered by digitalisation where it can help people in concrete terms," says Petra Gerhold, Head of the Traffic Department. "The §22a procedure is a good example of how modern technology can make everyday life easier - for citizens as well as for the administration."


Keywords:

Traffic department Driving licence office Apply for a driving licence online