BF17: accompanied driving from 17 and the rules for companions

The timeline

• Application: at the earliest at 16 years and 6 months
• Theory exam: at the earliest at 16 years and 9 months
• Practical exam: at the earliest at 16 years and 11 months
• Driving: from your 17th birthday – but only with a registered companion

Training and exams are the same as for class B (theory lessons, 12 special drives, both exams).

Who can be a companion?

Each companion must (§ 48a Abs. 5 FeV):

• be at least 30 years old,
• have held a class B driving licence (or an equivalent one from the EU/EEA or Switzerland) continuously for at least 5 years,
• have at most 1 point in the driver aptitude register (Fahreignungsregister) – the relevant time is the date of the application. If a companion is added later, then since 18 August 2026 the date of that later application counts.

Strict limits for alcohol and cannabis apply when accompanying (among others 0.5 per mille or 0.25 mg/l breath alcohol and 3.5 ng/ml THC). The companion must carry their driving licence.

The companion is a point of contact, not a driving instructor: they may give advice and brief tips, but not teach.

How many companions?

The law does not limit the number. However, each person must be named on your test certificate (Prüfungsbescheinigung). Later additions are possible but cost fees (in Berlin €12.80 for the change to the application).

Documents

• the application for accompanied driving
• for each companion, a separate form with signature, a copy of their ID and driving licence (front and back) and consent to the register enquiry
• the consent of your parents or guardians (Erziehungsberechtigte) to the application and to the companions
• plus everything that is also needed for class B (ID, passport photo, eye test, first aid)

What does BF17 cost?

Fees differ significantly from city to city. In Berlin the application costs €58.70 (including test certificate, card licence and one companion), and each additional companion €5.10. Other cities publish other amounts and sometimes count companions separately – you can find the figures for your city on the relevant city page, for example BF17 in Berlin.

The test certificate

• Instead of a driving licence, after the exam you receive a test certificate, which you must carry when driving.
• It is valid in Germany until three months after your 18th birthday. According to ADAC, it is recognised in Austria until your 18th birthday.
• Your probation period begins when it is handed over.

Important: If you drive without a registered companion, the entitlement to drive (Fahrerlaubnis) must be revoked.

At 18: the card licence

According to the driving licence regulation (Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung), you receive the card licence on application. Deal with it in good time, before the test certificate expires. In Berlin the card is included in the BF17 fee; the Berlin page does not describe in detail how it reaches you – ask when you apply.

Figures for context

In 2025, according to the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt, 33.3% of theory exams and 24.0% of practical exams for BF17 were failed nationwide – significantly fewer than for class B from 18 (48.2% and 41.4% respectively). The statistics count exams, not people, and say nothing about the cause.