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BF17 – accompanied driving from 17

Class B from 17; until 18 you may only drive with a named companion (30+, 5 years class B, max. 1 point).

With BF17 you do the normal class B training but may drive from 17 – until your 18th birthday only with a named companion.

Official sourceCurrent law, checked on 05/10/2026
Drive accompanied from
17 years
Apply from age
16 years 6 months
Theory exam from age
16 years 9 months
Practical exam from age
16 years 11 months
Companion
30+, 5 yrs class B, max. 1 point
Test certificate valid
until 18 + 3 months
Create your personal planCalculate costs

Companions and the test certificate

Until your 18th birthday you may only drive with at least one named companion on board. The companion is there to support you and may give short hints, but is not a driving instructor (§ 48a (4) FeV).

Each companion must be at least 30, have held class B for at least 5 years and may have at most 1 point in the driver register at the time of the application. They must not accompany you under the influence of alcohol or drugs (§ 48a (5), (6) FeV). Your parents or guardians must consent to the application.

Instead of a licence card you receive a test certificate (Prüfungsbescheinigung) listing your companions. It is valid in Germany until 3 months after your 18th birthday – always carry it when driving. Your 2-year probation period starts with it.

Training and exams are the same as for class B. At 18 the companion requirement ends; apply for your licence card at the licensing authority in good time (§ 48a (7) FeV).

Driving without a companion can lead to your licence being revoked (§ 6e StVG).

Legal basis: § 48a FeV, § 10 FeV, § 48a FeV, § 2a StVG

Requirements

These rules apply across Germany. Each with its legal basis.

  • Minimum age for BF17

    Official source

    Accompanied driving from the age of 17.

    Legal basis: § 48a FeV · as of 05/10/2026

  • Apply no earlier than 6 months before the minimum age

    Official source

    The application can be submitted at the earliest six months before you reach the minimum age.

    Legal basis: § 21 Abs. 4 FeV · as of 05/10/2026

  • Visual acuity of at least 0.7

    Official source

    Central daytime visual acuity of at least 0.7 (with or without glasses or lenses).

    Legal basis: § 12 FeV, Anlage 6 · as of 05/10/2026

  • Eye-test certificate no older than 2 years

    Official source

    The eye-test certificate must not be older than two years when you apply.

    Legal basis: § 12 FeV, Anlage 6 · as of 05/10/2026

  • First-aid training: 9 teaching units

    Official source

    At least 9 teaching units of 45 minutes at an officially recognised provider; the certificate does not expire.

    Legal basis: § 19 FeV · as of 05/10/2026

  • Basic material: 12 double lessons

    Official source

    At least 12 double lessons of 90 minutes of basic material (6 if you already hold another licence class).

    Legal basis: § 4 FahrschAusbO, Anlage 2.8 · as of 05/10/2026

  • Class B material: 2 double lessons

    Official source

    At least 2 double lessons of class-specific material.

    Legal basis: § 4 FahrschAusbO, Anlage 2.8 · as of 05/10/2026

  • Theory exam: 30 questions, max. 10 error points

    Official source

    Two wrongly answered 5-point questions mean you fail.

    Legal basis: FeV Anlage 7 Nr. 1 · as of 05/10/2026

  • Theory exam no earlier than 3 months before the minimum age

    Official source

    The theory exam may be taken at the earliest three months before you reach the minimum age.

    Legal basis: § 16 Abs. 3 FeV · as of 05/10/2026

  • Retake usually after 2 weeks at the earliest

    Official source

    A failed exam may usually be retaken no earlier than two weeks later.

    Legal basis: § 18 Abs. 1 FeV · as of 05/10/2026

  • Practical exam within 12 months of the theory exam

    Official source

    You must pass the practical exam within 12 months of passing the theory exam, otherwise the theory result expires.

    Legal basis: § 18 Abs. 2, § 22 Abs. 5 FeV · as of 05/10/2026

  • Special drives: 5 rural road, 4 motorway, 3 night

    Official source

    45 minutes each, 12 units in total.

    Legal basis: Anlage 4 FahrschAusbO · as of 05/10/2026

  • Practical exam at least 55 minutes

    Official source

    At least 55 minutes in total, including at least 30 minutes of actual driving.

    Legal basis: FeV Anlage 7 Nr. 2.3 · as of 05/10/2026

  • Practical exam no earlier than 1 month before the minimum age

    Official source

    The practical exam may be taken at the earliest one month before you reach the minimum age.

    Legal basis: § 17 Abs. 1 FeV · as of 05/10/2026

  • Companion at least 30 years old

    Official source

    Companions must be at least 30, have held class B for 5 years and may have at most 1 point in the driver register.

    Legal basis: § 48a FeV · as of 05/10/2026

  • Test certificate valid until 18 + 3 months

    Official source

    Within Germany, the test certificate is valid until three months after your 18th birthday.

    Legal basis: § 48a FeV · as of 05/10/2026

  • Probation period of 2 years

    Official source

    Your first driving licence starts a probation period of two years.

    Legal basis: § 2a StVG · as of 05/10/2026

The process in 17 steps

The order most learners follow. The full process page has the details of each step.

Process in detail →

What does it cost?

Example calculation for Germany

Estimate
low
€2,347
likely
€3,661
high
€6,602

Using Germany-wide market ranges, statistically expected exam attempts and official fees. Your costs depend on your school and your progress.

Calculate costs →How the costs add up →

Exam statistics

Theory

33.3%

Practical

24.0%

Share of failed exams in 2025, Germany-wide. Counts exams, not people.

Source: Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt, FE 7 (dl-de/by-2-0)

Planned reform Draft – not in force

The reform plans no substantive change to BF17 itself. Training and exams would change as for class B (draft, not in force): theory without compulsory attendance or minimum hours, special drives without a fixed number, a shorter practical exam (at least 40 minutes, 25 of them driving) and new theory scoring (max. 3 error points). Planned start: 1 January 2027 and 1 July 2027.

Status of the 2027 reform →

Frequently asked questions

When can I start BF17?

You can apply from 16 years 6 months. The theory exam is possible 3 months and the practical exam 1 month before your 17th birthday. You may drive from 17 – until 18 only with a named companion.

Who can be my companion?

Anyone aged at least 30 who has held class B for at least 5 years, has at most 1 point in the driver register and is named on your test certificate (§ 48a FeV).

How many companions can I have?

There is no legal limit. Every companion must be listed on the test certificate; you can have more added later at the licensing authority for a fee.

Is the training different from class B?

No. Theory lessons, special drives and exams are the same as for class B.

What happens when I turn 18?

The companion requirement ends. Get your licence card in time: the test certificate is only valid until 3 months after your 18th birthday.

Can I drive abroad with BF17?

The test certificate is generally only valid in Germany. According to ADAC, Austria accepts it until your 18th birthday. Check before you travel.

What happens if I drive without a companion?

Your licence is revoked. For a new licence the probation rules apply, including a mandatory course (§ 6e StVG, § 2a StVG).

What does BF17 cost?

Training and exams cost the same as for class B. The application fee is slightly higher because the test certificate and the companion checks are added (GebOSt no. 202.8, 202.9).

How does the theory exam work?

You answer 30 questions on a computer at TÜV or DEKRA. You pass with no more than 10 error points; two wrong answers to 5-point questions mean you fail. Besides German, the exam is available in 12 languages: English, French, Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Croatian, Spanish, Turkish, Standard Arabic (FeV Annex 7).

How long is the practical exam?

At least 55 minutes, including at least 30 minutes of actual driving and basic manoeuvres (FeV Annex 7).

What do the exams for BF17 cost?

Exam fees are fixed by law: €24.99 for the theory exam and €129.83 for the practical exam – per attempt (GebOSt, incl. VAT). On top of that, your driving school charges its own fee for presenting you at each exam.

What happens if I fail?

You can usually retake the exam after 2 weeks at the earliest (§ 18 FeV), and the exam fee is charged again. In 2025, 33.3% of theory exams and 24.0% of practical exams for BF17 were failed across Germany (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt; counts exams, not people).

How long is a passed theory exam valid?

After passing the theory exam you must pass the practical exam within 12 months, otherwise the theory result expires (§ 18, § 22 FeV).

Sources

Legal bases and data this page is built on.

Legal basis: § 10 FeV, § 48a FeV, § 5a FahrschAusbO, § 17a FeV, § 48a FeV, § 12 FeV, Anlage 6, § 19 FeV, § 21 Abs. 4 FeV, § 22, § 22a FeV, § 4 FahrschAusbO, Anlage 2.8, FeV Anlage 7 Nr. 1, § 16 Abs. 3 FeV, § 18 Abs. 1 FeV, § 18 Abs. 2, § 22 Abs. 5 FeV, Anlage 4 FahrschAusbO, FeV Anlage 7 Nr. 2.3, § 17 Abs. 1 FeV, § 2a StVG

Source: GebOSt (fee schedule for road traffic measures) · as of 05/10/2026

Not legal advice. Your licensing authority's information is binding.