Skip to content
FahrAtlas
en

Class B driving licence (car)

Cars up to 3,500 kg, up to 8 passenger seats. Minimum age 18.

Every step from the eye test to your licence card – with deadlines, fees and legal sources, based on current German law.

Official sourceCurrent law, checked on 05/10/2026
Minimum age
18 years
Apply from age
17 years 6 months
Theory exam
30 questions, max. 10 error points
Special drives
12 × 45 min
Practical exam
at least 55 min
Probation period
2 years
Create your personal planCalculate costs

Theory and practical training at the driving school

Theory lessons: at least 12 double lessons of basic material and 2 class-specific double lessons of 90 minutes each, attended in person and no more than two double lessons a day (§ 4 FahrschAusbO). If you already hold another class, 6 double lessons of basic material are enough. Lessons are usually taught in German – ask schools about other languages.

Practical training: there is no legal minimum number of regular lessons – your instructor decides based on your progress. Required are 12 special drives of 45 minutes: 5 on rural roads, 4 on the motorway and 3 at dusk or night (Annex 4 FahrschAusbO). On average, learners take around 35 lessons including the special drives (BASt).

Exams: you may take the theory exam at the earliest 3 months and the practical exam 1 month before your 18th birthday. Theory and practical training can run in parallel.

After passing: depending on the federal state, the examiner hands you the licence card directly, or you receive a provisional certificate (valid for up to 3 months, Germany only) and the card is sent by post (§ 22, § 22a FeV).

Legal basis: § 4 FahrschAusbO, Anlage 2.8, Anlage 4 FahrschAusbO, FeV Anlage 7 Nr. 1, FeV Anlage 7 Nr. 2.3, § 22, § 22a FeV

Requirements

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

  • Minimum age for class B

    Official source

    Class B from the age of 18.

    Legal basis: § 10 FeV, § 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

  • 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 15 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
€2,344
likely
€3,863
high
€6,778

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

48.2%

Practical

41.4%

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

Planned (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. The practical exam fee is to drop to €94.37.

Status of the 2027 reform →

Frequently asked questions

At what age can I get a class B licence?

You may drive with class B from the age of 18 (§ 10 FeV). You can apply 6 months before, take the theory exam 3 months before and the practical exam 1 month before your 18th birthday. With BF17 you can drive accompanied from 17.

How many driving lessons are compulsory?

The law sets no minimum number of regular lessons – your instructor decides based on your progress. Compulsory are 12 special drives of 45 minutes: 5 rural-road drives, 4 motorway drives and 3 drives at dusk or night (Annex 4 FahrschAusbO).

Can I take the theory exam in English?

Yes. Besides German, the official theory exam is available in 12 languages, including English (FeV Annex 7).

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 class B 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, 48.2% of theory exams and 41.4% of practical exams for class B 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).

Which documents do I need for the application?

An ID card or passport, a biometric photo, an eye-test certificate (no older than 2 years when you apply) and proof of a first-aid course of 9 teaching units. You also name your driving school. You apply at the licensing authority (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde) of your main residence (§ 21 FeV).

How much does a class B licence cost in total?

It mainly depends on your driving school's prices and how many lessons you need. The Federal Ministry of Transport gives an average of around €3,400. Our example calculation with Germany-wide market ranges gives €2,344 to €6,778, most likely around €3,863 – an estimate, not a guarantee.

Is there a probation period?

Yes. Your first licence starts a 2-year probation period (§ 2a StVG). During probation and until you turn 21, zero alcohol applies at the wheel (§ 24c StVG).

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.