'Driving licence in Germany in 2026: getting one, exchanging foreign

There are two ways to get a driving licence in Germany: complete the process from scratch or exchange a foreign licence for a German Führerschein. For beginners, theory, practice, first aid, an eyesight test, and exams are mandatory. For holders of licences from countries outside the EU and EEA, the rules depend on the country of issue, but after moving to Germany such licences are usually recognized only for the first six months.

Two scenarios: from scratch or exchange

If you have never had a licence before, you go through the full route via a driving school: theory lessons, practical lessons, an application to the Führerscheinstelle, and two exams.

If you already have a licence, the first step is to understand where it was issued:

• EU or EEA licences are usually recognized in Germany until they expire;
• licences from countries outside the EU/EEA usually remain valid for another six months after you establish your ordinary residence in Germany;
• to continue driving after that period, you need a German Führerschein;
• the exchange conditions depend on the country: in some cases no exams are needed, in others theory, practice, or both parts are required.

For Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and many other non-EU countries, you usually have to take both the theoretical and practical exam. Special temporary EU rules apply to Ukrainian licences for people under temporary protection, so Ukrainian licences cannot be described with one universal scheme: you need to check the situation with the Führerscheinstelle where you live.

Which documents you will need

The exact list is issued by the local Führerscheinstelle, but for category B it usually includes:

• a passport or another identity document;
• Anmeldung or proof of address, if the authority requests it;
• a biometric photo;
• proof of an eyesight test, Sehtest;
• an Erste-Hilfe-Kurs certificate;
• an application for the driving licence;
• for an exchange, the foreign licence and a certified translation if required.

The eyesight test must still be valid: ADAC states that a Sehtest for a driving licence application must not be older than two years. The first-aid course is usually completed in one day and is required before submitting the application or before being admitted to the exams.

Theory

When getting a licence from scratch, the driving school provides the theory course. For category B, the standard is 12 double lessons of basic theory and 2 lessons of category B specific material, for a total of 14 lessons of 90 minutes each.

The theoretical exam is taken on a computer or tablet under the supervision of TÜV or DEKRA. Questions are scored with penalty points. If you fail the exam, you can retake it after a waiting period, and the fees have to be paid again.

For people exchanging a foreign licence, theory lessons may not be required in full, but the driving school and the authority still determine how admission to the exam works. In practice, many people prepare through official apps and study materials in the required language.

Practice

In Germany there is no separate driving practice ground as the main place of training. Lessons and the exam take place in real traffic: city streets, country roads, Autobahn, parking, maneuvers, and safe observation of the road.

For training from scratch, 12 special drives are mandatory:

• 5 hours on country roads;
• 4 hours on the Autobahn;
• 3 hours in the dark.

In addition, regular practical lessons are required. Their number is not fixed by law: the instructor admits you to the exam when they see that the candidate can handle the car safely. For beginners, the final number of lessons varies a lot, and when exchanging a licence sometimes only a few lessons are enough, but even experienced drivers often need time to adapt to the German exam style.

The practical exam for category B lasts 55 minutes. The candidate, instructor, and examiner are in the car. The examiner sets the route and evaluates not only vehicle control, but also observation, speed, priorities, behavior at signs, lane changes, and the safety of maneuvers.

How much it costs

The price depends on the city, the driving school, the number of lessons, and the number of attempts. According to ADAC calculations, example total costs for obtaining a category B licence for the first time are roughly in the range of 2,500 to 4,500 euros. In large cities and with a high number of practical lessons, the total can be higher.

Main cost items:

Cost item	Approximate amount
Driving school base fee	around 350-565 euros
Study materials and app	around 88-119 euros
Practical lessons	depends on the number, often the biggest expense
12 special drives	paid separately, usually more expensive than regular lessons
Driving school exam presentation fee	charged separately for theory and practice
TÜV/DEKRA fees	about 25 euros for theory and about 130 euros for practice
Erste-Hilfe-Kurs, Sehtest, photos, application	additional expenses

When exchanging a foreign licence, the final cost is usually lower if full theory lessons and a lot of practice are not required. But the total cannot be guaranteed: retakes, extra lessons, and the requirements of a specific driving school increase the budget quickly.

Important deadlines

After moving to Germany, licences from countries outside the EU/EEA usually remain valid for six months from the moment you establish your ordinary residence. If a person proves that they will stay in Germany for no longer than 12 months, the authority may extend the recognition period by up to another six months.

The theoretical exam can be taken no earlier than three months before the minimum age for the category. The practical exam can be taken no earlier than one month before the minimum age and only after passing theory. After passing theory, the practical exam must be completed within the set period, otherwise the theory result will lose its validity.

Common mistakes

• Waiting until the six-month period ends and only then starting the exchange.
• Assuming that driving experience will automatically help on the German practical exam.
• Choosing a driving school only by the price of one lesson without comparing the Grundbetrag, exam fees, and the cost of Sonderfahrten.
• Not checking whether a translation of the foreign licence is required.
• Planning a budget without a reserve for extra lessons or a retake.

What to clarify with the Führerscheinstelle

Before registering with a driving school, ask the authority three questions:

1. How exactly are licences from your country of issue exchanged?
2. Are theory, practice, translation, and additional documents required?
3. Can you submit the application in advance while the foreign licence is still valid during the first six months?

That way, you avoid ending up in a situation where the licence is no longer recognized but the exam appointment or the processing of the application still takes several more months.