What you need to do where in Hamburg, what it costs and who can help – with sources and check dates.
Data coverage for Hamburg: basic data
For Hamburg, we currently show the responsible authority, published fees, the test centre and driving school locations from OpenStreetMap. We are adding driving school prices, first-aid and eye-test providers step by step. The authority’s information is always binding.You apply to the office for your main place of residence – at the earliest 6 months before the minimum age.
LBV Hamburg
The application is usually submitted through the driving school; hamburg.de also offers the online service “Antrag auf Erteilung einer Fahrerlaubnis” (application for the issue of a driving licence).
Source: hamburg.de · as of 05/10/2026
The application is usually submitted via the driving school. hamburg.de also offers the online service “Antrag auf Erteilung einer Fahrerlaubnis” (application for a driving licence).
Source: hamburg.de – first-time driving licence · as of 04/10/2026
Driving licence offices of the LBV: LBV Mitte and LBV West.
Source: LBV Hamburg – locations · as of 05/10/2026
Everything about applying for a driving licence in Hamburg →
Class B application (first issue)
Veröffentlicht als Spanne „zwischen 45,90 EUR – 74,50 EUR“; der höhere Wert gilt mit Eintragung der Schlüsselzahl 197.
Source: hamburg.de (GebOSt; Betrag laut Fahrerlaubnisbehörde) · as of 05/10/2026
€45.90
one-off
BF17 application (accompanied driving)
Source: hamburg.de (GebOSt; Betrag laut Fahrerlaubnisbehörde) · as of 05/10/2026
€61.90
one-off
Theory exam (TÜV/DEKRA), per attempt
Source: gesetze-im-internet.de (GebOSt Nr. 401.1 + 401.3 (21,00 € netto)) · as of 05/10/2026
€24.99
per attempt
Practical exam, class B, per attempt
Source: gesetze-im-internet.de (GebOSt Nr. 402.3 (109,10 € netto)) · as of 05/10/2026
€129.83
per attempt
Total cost, class B
Estimate€2,347 – €6,764
Probably around €3,863 – including official fees, 12 special drives, statistically expected re-takes, first aid and eye test. Driving school prices here are market ranges, not offers.
In Hamburg, exams are conducted by TÜV Hanse.
Fail rates, class B (Hamburg vs. Germany)
Share of failed exams 2025
Theory exam
Practical exam
Exams are counted, not people: anyone who sits an exam several times is counted several times. The figures apply to the whole federal state and say nothing about individual driving schools.
Source: Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt, FE 7 (dl-de/by-2-0), own calculation
The driving licence office (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde) for your main place of residence is responsible – in Hamburg: Landesbetrieb Verkehr (LBV) Hamburg – Fahrerlaubnis (Führerscheinstelle). The application is usually submitted via the driving school. hamburg.de also offers the online service “Antrag auf Erteilung einer Fahrerlaubnis” (application for a driving licence).
Source: Authority service page
The authority lists €45.90 for the first issue of a class B licence. For BF17 it lists €61.90 (BF17 application fee incl. 1 companion). As of 05/10/2026. Exam fees and the driving school’s costs come on top.
Source: Authority fee notice
The theory and practical tests are conducted by the technical inspection centre (Technische Prüfstelle): TÜV Hanse. Your driving school arranges the date for the practical test.
Uniform nationwide: €24.99 for the theory exam and €129.83 for the class B practical exam, each per attempt. On top of that comes your driving school’s exam presentation fee (Vorstellungsentgelt), which it sets itself.
Source: Fee schedule (GebOSt)
At the earliest 6 months before the minimum age: from 17 years and 6 months for class B, from 16 years and 6 months for BF17.
Source: § 21 Abs. 4 FeV
We have no information from the authority on processing time. Submit your application as early as possible – at the earliest 6 months before the minimum age.
In German, English, French, Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Croatian, Spanish, Turkish, Modern Standard Arabic. From 1 April 2027 also in Kurmanji and Ukrainian.
Source: FeV Anlage 7 Nr. 1