1Personal Responsibility

In Germany, the right to drive is not automatic — it is a privilege granted by the state, and it comes with strict age requirements that vary by license class. Understanding these requirements is the very first step on your journey to becoming a licensed driver.

For the most common license class, Class B (passenger cars up to 3,500 kg), the minimum age is 18 years. However, Germany offers a special program called "Begleitetes Fahren ab 17" (BF17), or accompanied driving from age 17. Under BF17, you may begin driving at 17, but only with an approved accompanying person sitting in the passenger seat. This person must be at least 30 years old, have held a Class B license for at least 5 years, and have no more than 1 point in the Flensburg register. The accompanying person is not a driving instructor — they are there for guidance and safety. They may not be under the influence of alcohol (0.5 BAC limit applies to them as well).

For motorcycles, the system is more graduated. Class AM (mopeds and small scooters up to 45 km/h) can be obtained at 15 in most German states. Class A1 (motorcycles up to 125 cc and 11 kW) requires a minimum age of 16. Class A2 (motorcycles up to 35 kW) requires 18, and the unrestricted Class A requires 24 — unless you have held A2 for at least 2 years, in which case you can upgrade at 20.

Commercial vehicle licenses have higher age requirements: Class C (trucks over 3,500 kg) and Class CE (trucks with trailers) require a minimum age of 21, though 18 is possible with special professional qualifications. Class D (buses) also requires age 21 minimum, reduced to 18 under certain professional training conditions.

It is crucial to understand that these are minimum ages for the license itself. You may typically begin your driving school training (Fahrschule) about 6 months before reaching the minimum age, and you can take the theory exam 3 months before and the practical exam 1 month before your birthday.

Driving a vehicle requires a baseline level of physical and mental fitness. German law takes this seriously — before you are granted a license, you must demonstrate that you can safely operate a vehicle without endangering yourself or others.

The eyesight test (Sehtest) is mandatory for all license applicants. For Class B, the test is relatively straightforward: you must achieve a visual acuity of at least 0.7 (70%) in each eye, tested with both eyes together. The test is performed by an optician (Optiker) or ophthalmologist (Augenarzt) and costs around 6-7 euros. If you wear glasses or contact lenses and achieve 0.7 with correction, you pass — but your license will carry the restriction code "01" meaning you must always wear your corrective lenses while driving. For commercial license classes (C, D, CE), a more comprehensive ophthalmological examination is required, including tests for color vision, field of vision, twilight vision, and sensitivity to glare.

Beyond eyesight, the general physical fitness requirement means you must be free of conditions that would significantly impair your ability to drive safely. This includes severe cardiovascular conditions, neurological disorders (such as uncontrolled epilepsy), severe mental health conditions, and substance dependency. You do not need a full medical exam for Class B — the assumption is that you are fit unless there is evidence to the contrary. However, if the licensing authority (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde) has reason to doubt your fitness, they can order a medical-psychological assessment (MPU), commonly known as the "Idiotentest."

The MPU is also required in specific situations: if your license was revoked due to alcohol or drug offenses, if you accumulated 8 or more points in Flensburg, or if there are serious doubts about your character fitness to drive. The MPU is expensive (often 400-700 euros), involves both medical and psychological evaluation, and has a pass rate of only about 50-60%. It is something you want to avoid at all costs.

If you have a physical disability, this does not automatically prevent you from driving. Many adaptations are available — hand controls, left-foot accelerators, steering knobs — and your license will be issued with specific restriction codes that match the adaptations installed in your vehicle.

Every driver license applicant in Germany must complete an approved first aid course (Erste-Hilfe-Kurs) before they can receive their license. This is not a formality — German law recognizes that every driver is a potential first responder at an accident scene, and the duty to render assistance (Pflicht zur Hilfeleistung) is enshrined in law. Failure to help at an accident scene is a criminal offense under Section 323c of the German Criminal Code (Strafgesetzbuch).

The standard first aid course lasts 9 teaching units (each 45 minutes), typically completed in a single day of about 7.5 hours. The course covers essential life-saving techniques: checking for responsiveness and breathing, calling emergency services (112), placing an unconscious but breathing person in the recovery position (stabile Seitenlage), performing CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) with chest compressions and rescue breathing, using an AED (automated external defibrillator), controlling severe bleeding with pressure bandages, and managing shock. You will also learn about the specific context of road accidents — how to secure an accident scene with a warning triangle, when and how to move an injured person from a vehicle, and how to remove a motorcycle helmet from an unconscious rider.

The course is offered by organizations such as the Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (German Red Cross), Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB), Johanniter, Malteser, and DLRG, as well as private providers. Costs typically range from 30-50 euros. The certificate you receive does not expire for license application purposes — once you have it, it is valid indefinitely.

It is worth noting that the first aid course is the same for all license classes since 2015. Previously, Class B applicants only needed a shorter "Lebensrettende Sofortmaßnahmen" (life-saving immediate measures) course of 8 units, but this was standardized. The comprehensive course applies equally whether you are applying for a car, motorcycle, truck, or bus license.

Beyond the legal requirement, the skills you learn in this course could genuinely save a life. Statistics show that proper first aid in the first minutes after an accident dramatically improves survival rates. Take the course seriously — you may never need these skills, but if you do, you will be grateful you paid attention.

When driving in Germany, you must carry certain documents with you at all times. These are not optional — police can and do check for them during routine traffic stops, and failing to produce them can result in fines or even being prohibited from continuing your journey.

The most fundamental document is your driving license (Führerschein). Since January 2013, all new German licenses are issued in the EU credit-card format. You must carry your license whenever you drive. If you are stopped and cannot produce it, you face a fine of 10 euros for not having it on your person. If you do not have a valid license at all (never obtained one, or it was revoked), the consequences are severe: driving without a license (Fahren ohne Fahrerlaubnis) is a criminal offense under Section 21 StVG, punishable by up to one year in prison or a fine.

The vehicle registration document (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I, formerly Fahrzeugschein) must also be carried in the vehicle at all times. This document proves that the vehicle is properly registered and roadworthy. If you are the vehicle owner, you also have Part II (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II, formerly Fahrzeugbrief), but this should be stored safely at home — it proves ownership and should never be kept in the car, as a thief could use it to sell your vehicle.

Third-party liability insurance (Kfz-Haftpflichtversicherung) is mandatory for every vehicle registered in Germany. This is not optional — it is illegal to operate a vehicle without it. The insurance covers damage you cause to other people, vehicles, and property. The minimum coverage is set by law, but most policies offer higher limits. Your insurance is linked to your vehicle registration — the Zulassungsstelle (registration office) will not register your vehicle without proof of insurance (the eVB number — elektronische Versicherungsbestätigung).

You must also ensure that your vehicle displays a valid registration plate (Kennzeichen) and that the vehicle has passed its regular technical inspection (Hauptuntersuchung or HU, performed by TÜV, DEKRA, GTÜ, or KÜS). The HU sticker on your rear license plate shows when the next inspection is due. New vehicles get their first HU after 3 years; after that, it is every 2 years. Driving with an expired HU of more than 2 months results in a fine; more than 8 months overdue brings a fine and a point in Flensburg.

Finally, you should (but are not legally required to) carry your European accident report form (Europäischer Unfallbericht), your insurance details, and a warning triangle and first aid kit — the latter two are legally required to be in the vehicle at all times.