If you want to obtain a German driving licence, you will have to cover a lot of different costs: driving lessons, study books, medical exams, and the actual test fees. Depending on how many lessons you need, the total amount could be any sum between 1,000 and 3,000 euros.
Fees for driving lessons differ depending on city you live in and the driving school you choose. Some driving lessons are mandatory for beginners (e.g. highway, night or overland trips). It will be up to your instructor to decide how many lessons you need. You can't register for the driving test until your instructor is convinced that you are a safe driver. Compared to the cost of driving lessons, the fees for the actual theory and driving tests are comparatively low.
What is a theory test?
One part of the German driving test is the theory exam. You will need to pass this before you can do the driving test. You can take the theory test in 12 different languages: German, English, French, Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Croatian, Spanish, Turkish and Arabic (only in some federal states). The theory test is made up of 30 mostly multiple-choice questions. There may be several correct answers to one question. If you receive more than ten minus points, you will fail the test.
Theory and driving exams are held by authorized testing institutions (e.g. DEKRA in Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia). You will need to present the following documents to be allowed to take the theoretical exam:
- ID or passport
- appointment letter
- training certificate issued by your driving school (if you never had a driving licence before)
The results of the theory test are valid for one year. If you have to take the driving test again and twelve months have already elapsed, you have to repeat the theory test. In order to prepare for the theory test, you can use websites like www.lehrboegen.de or www.fuehrerschein-bestehen.de which offer exercises in various languages. In addition to that, you can use apps and other online tools. Few apps are for free, so ask your driving instructor first which one they recommend.
What is a driving test?
If you have passed the theory exam, you can take the driving test. It normally takes between 30 to 45 minutes during which you have to demonstrate your ability to drive. Usually the examiner sits in the back seat. They will assess your driving skills based on safety and competence. Your teacher will sit next to you, so they take control in case of an emergency. If you don't pass the exam on the first go, you can repeat it three times after a two-week interval respectively. There is no limit to the number of times you can repeat the exam.
Can I lose my driving licence?
In Germany, there are a lot of traffic rules. Germans themselves often talk about the "jungle of traffic signs" ("Schilderwald"). As there are rules, there are also penalties for not following the rules. All penalties are registered by a specific public body in Flensburg. Its official name is Register of Driver Fitness ("Fahreignungsregister" or "FAER"). If you have eight or more penalty points, you will lose your licence. Minor traffic offences which don't affect road safety aren't registered. You can reduce your penalty points once every five years. If you are riding a bicycle and don't respect the rules, you can collect penalty points, too.
Depending on which rule you didn't respect, you will receive a different penalty starting with a fine ("Verwarngeld" or "Bußgeld") and ending with the loss of your licence ("Führerscheinentzug"). You can find a summary of the most common fines in English here.
If you lost your licence because you drank alcohol before driving a vehicle, you will have to take a medical and psychological exam ("Medizinisch-Psychologische Untersuchung" or "MPU") which is colloquially referred to as "idiot's test". Read more about the MPU on the website of TÜV Süd or Dekra[/color]
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