Table of Contents
Driving School Munich
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First Aid Class in English
Free Theory App in English
Free Theory Book in English
Free Eye Test
Translate your licence to German
Driving License Conversion (Umschreibung)
Check below to know what rule applies to which US state.
US States
No Test
Alabama |
Arizona |
Arkansas |
Colorado |
Delaware |
Idaho |
Illinois |
Iowa |
Kansas |
Kentucky |
Lousiana |
Maryland |
Massachussetts |
Michigan |
New Mexico |
Ohio |
Oklahoma |
Pennsylvania |
South Carolina |
South Dakota |
Texas |
Utah |
Virginia |
Washington State |
West Virginia |
Wisconsin |
Wyoming |
Puerto Rico |
Theory Test
Connecticut |
Florida |
Indiana |
Minnesota |
Missouri |
Nebraska |
North Carolina |
Oregon |
Tennessee |
Washington DC |
Theory Test & Driving Test
Alaska |
American Samoa |
California |
Georgia |
Guam |
Hawaii |
Maine |
Montana |
Nevada |
New Hampshire |
New Jersey |
New York |
North Dakota |
Rhode Island |
US Virgin Islands |
Vermont |
Other Countries
Countries with straight driving license swap
Albania |
Andorra |
Australia |
Bosnien & Herzegowina |
Canada |
Faroe Islands |
Gibraltar |
Guernsey |
Isle of Man |
Israel |
Japan |
Jersey |
Kosovo |
Moldova |
Monaco |
Namiba |
New Zealand |
San Marino |
Serbia |
Singapore |
South Africa |
South Korea |
Switzerland |
United Kingdom |
USA (See individual state) |
Using a foreign driving licence in Germany
Which countries have a special agreement with Germany for the exchange of driver's licenses?
Driving Licenses issued in Andorra, Australia, Canada, Channel Islands & Isle of Man, Croatia, French Polynesia, Israel, Japan, Monaco, Namibia, New Zealand, San Marino, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, and Switzerland states can make a straight swap for a German license.
US States with a full reciprocity agreement with Germany
The majority of US States have with full reciprocity (without further requirement) Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington State, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Licence Exchange with Theory Test
Citizens from Connecticut Florida Indiana Minnesota Missouri Nebraska North Carolina Oregon Tennessee and Washington DC must only take a Theoretical Test (which can be taken in English)
Licence Exchange with Theory Test and Driving Test
However people from the following states must pass the theory test and driving test to get the licence: Alaska American Samoa California Georgia Guam Hawaii Maine Montana Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New York North Dakota Rhode Island US Virgin Islands Vermont.
Exchanging a foreign driver's licence in Germany
Citizens from all other countries (not listed above) with a valid driving license must take a theoretical driving test and a practical exam but they are exempt from theory lessons and compulsory driving lessons
Gather your documents for exchanging your foreign driving license
Register with Driving School
Application form (from local driving licence authority) stamped by the driving school
First Aid Course certifcate (book your first aid course here)
Biometric photo 35mm x 45mm
Eye test certificate
Foreign Driver’s Licence
Passport
Application fee (usually around €40-60)
Meldebestätigung: Your first registeration in Germany (including date of entry and country of origin, obtain this from the Ausländerbehörde.
All the required documents need to be taken to the local driving licensing office.
Beginners
Those you dont have licence from abroad have a legal requirement to take the 12 (45min) compulsory driving lessons and 14 (90 min) theory lessons
14 Theory Classes in English
Personal requirements / risk factor human
- Physical abilities
- Limitations of physical abilities
- Alcohol
- Illegal drugs and medication
- Emotions
- Self-image; driving ideals and driving roles
Legal framework
- Driving motor vehicles, driving license
- Registration of vehicles, vehicle documents
- Vehicle inspections
- Insurances, loss of insurance coverage
Traffic signs and traffic facilities
- Basic rule § 1 (StVO)
- Traffic signs
- Danger sign
- Regulatory sign
- Directional sign
- Traffic facilities
- Symbols
Road transport system and its use
- Traffic routes and their meaning
- Road markings
- Road use
Right of way
- Definition
- Left turn / priority of oncoming traffic
- Right before left
- Traffic signs regulating the right of way
- Turning right of way
- Traffic circle
Traffic regulations/ Railroad crossings
- Traffic control by traffic lights
- Green arrow sign
- Permanent light sign
- Traffic regulation by police officers
- Interconnections right of way / traffic regulations
- Special traffic situations
- Railroad crossings
Speed, distance and environmentally friendly driving
- Speed – Meaning
- Choice of speed
- Speed regulations
- Stopping distance
- Safety distances
- Environmentally conscious driving at intersections and junctions
Other participants in road traffic: characteristics and behavior
- Road users – overview
- Public transport
- Passenger cars
- Motorcycles
- Large and heavy vehicles
- Cyclists
- Pedestrians
- Children
- Elderly and disabled people
- Traffic calming measures
Traffic behavior
- during driving maneuvers, traffic observation
- Driving in, starting
- Side-by-side driving
- Passing
- Overtaking
- Turning
- Reversing
- Turning
- Swerving
Stationary traffic
- Stopping and parking
- Stopping bans
- Parking bans
- Parking time monitoring devices
- Getting in and out
Behavior in special situations
- Lighting
- Tunnel
- Behavior towards special vehicles
- Behavior after a traffic accident
- Towing, towing and towing to a vehicle
- Warning signs
Lifelong learning / Consequences of violations against traffic regulations
- Numbers, data, facts
- Older drivers
- Middle-aged drivers
- Novice and young drivers
- Young drivers – measures taken by the legislator
- Punishment of misconduct
Technical conditions environmentally conscious handling with motor vehicles
- operational safety
- Road safety
- Other vehicle technology
- Electronic aids
- Driving physics
- Use of the brakes
- Environmentally friendly handling of the motor vehicle / traffic bans
Driving with solo vehicles and trains, passenger and freight transportation
- Assembling trains
- Connecting and disconnecting
- Driving with trains
- Passenger transport
- Freight transport
- Vehicle dimensions
- Social regulations
Make an appointment at the driving license office
German driving permits must be deposited in the driver’s permit office or driving licence office of the state in which you’d like to reside. Make your appointment online or in person. The German license is exchangeable to another EU or EAA by making an appointment. Here’s an online guide to Germany’s biggest cities of expatriates.
Theoretical test
You take the theory test on a tablet, 30 questions from the total pool of over 1200 possible questions will be asked. To pass you must have no more than 10 error points. Some questions have 5 error points. Once the führerscheinstelle approve your application you may take your theory exam. To help with the prepration we have an App and Book to help you prepare for the written exam. You can prepare your German driving license theory exam by using an internet app or mobile application.
Take driving lessons
Driving lessons generally last 45 minutes, whereas they typically book two courses for maximum output. When your teacher feels sure you can pass practical tests you will be assigned a practical test.
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Take the practical driving test
The examiner may ask you questions before starting the driving test. During your driving test your driving instructor sits next to you. The assessor gives you instruction on driving. The examination usually lasts around 45 minutes and, if you pass, the examiner tells you immediately afterwards.
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Pick up your German license and hand in your foreign license
You usually need to give up your foreign license and this is passed over to the licence issuing authority.
What is B197?
If you pass the B197 test (Driving Test in Automatic plus an additional 10 driving classes with English speaking driving instructors in a manual) then you can drive a manual with an automatic licence in Germany
The B197 program allows students to take the driving test driving an automatic vehicle which will be easier. An additional 10 driving classes must be taken with a manual vehilce to unlock key number B197, allowing you also to drive cars with a manual transmission.
Advantages of B197 Program
- Quicker, cheaper, easier to pass the driving test in an automatic
- Less stressful test
- Fleixibliy when buying a car (can choose manual or automatic)
- Learn to drive a manual car with less pressure
Disadvantage of B197 Program
An additional compulsory 10 driving classes in a manual vehicle
Further Requirements
If you are going for the theoretical exam and theoretical test for the German driving license, don’t take it easy. Almost all students get fail in this multiple-choice exam on their firsts try. To preparing for theoretical test, there is English speaking driving school and several textbooks, guides, and software packages available for exam preparation.
Applying for a German driving license can be expensive whether you speak English or not, as according to law, candidates must take a mandatory first driving lesson and other English theory lessons. If you know driving but you need practice for exam preparation, you can ask English-speaking driving instructors if they can offer some special classes or English driving lessons for experienced drivers. Also, licenses for young drivers or someone who drives a truck, bus, or motorcycle have some extra conditions.
Once you become able to exchange your old permit for a German driving license, you need some important following documents.
- An official translation of your foreign driving permit
- An application form for a German driving vehicle license
- A passport or any identity card (and two photos)
- Your German residence permit
- A statement you received from the driving instructor that you passed the written exam or the road test.
- Proof that you have already taken a first-aid class recently
- Proof that you have passed a medical vision test
Basically, German driving licences are valid for 15 years from the date of issue when you take a trial lesson or other driving lessons. To need to make an appointment at an English-speaking driving school to renew the licence. It is hard to renew a foreign driving licence in Germany. If you are an expat with having a foreign driving licence that is about to expire, you need to apply for a German one.
EU driving licenses
Your EU licence will normally remain valid when you take up residence in Germany until it expires.
Exceptions to long-term validity of EU / EEA driving licence
The validity for a driver license from the EU is not valid in all categories of drivers.
FAQ Getting a German Driving Licence
B197 program introduced in April 2021 allows you to take your driving test in an automatic vehicle and with an addtional 10 driving classes in a manual you also qualify to drive a manual vehicle.
B197 helps students pass the driving test quicker (easier to pass in an automatic vehicle). Passing the B197 test also allows you to drive a manual vehicle abroad without restriction.
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No, you cannot take the driving test in English in Germany. You may take the theory test in English, French, Greek, Italian, Croatian, Polish, Portugese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish or Turkish
If you pass the B197 test (Driving Test in Automatic plus an additional 10 driving classes with English speaking driving instructors in a manual) then you can drive a manual with an automatic licence in Germany
The Class B license is a type of driver’s license in Germany that allows the holder to drive a vehicle with a weight of up to 3,500 kilograms and/or a seating capacity of up to eight passengers. 8+1 rule means 8 passengers and 1 driver so 9 seats total.
The automatic car license falls under category BA. Anyone who took and passed their practical driving test in an automatic car is only allowed to drive automatic cars. Now the B197 program allows students to take the driving test driving an automatic and when they take an additonal 10 driving classes in a manual, then qualify to also drive an automatic.Â
Yes, you can take your driving test in an automatic car in Germany. If you pass the test in an automatic car, the B197 will allow you to drive a manual car also.
There is no limit on how many times you can take the test. You will just have to pay the exam fee each time.
Class B driver’s licenses allow the holder to drive passenger cars and/or trucks that weigh up to 3.5 metric tons 3500kg. If you want to haul trailers with more than 750 kg, you must obtain a BE driving licence. This also requires additional driving lessons and a special examination.
A road test in Germany typically lasts between 30 and 75 minutes, depending on the licence category you are applying for. The 12-month timeframe to take your practical test begins after you pass your theory test. Your examiner, who will be assessing your driving skills -will be in the backseat, while your instructor accompanies you up front from the passenger seat.
In Germany, the practical test at the test centre costs €116.93 euros and the theory test is €22.49 euros. If you fail a test, you’ve to pay again the exam fee.
You can get your license in anything from 4 to 12 months. Those who have no licence from abroad must complete 14 theory classes, which are 90 minutes each.
Yes, you can take the driving theory test in English, French, Greek, Italian, Croatian, Polish, Portugese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Turkish and of course German.
In Germany, the practical test at the test centre costs €116.93 euros and the theory test is €22.49 euros. If you fail a test, you’ve to pay again the exam fee.
The minimum age to obtain a driving licence is: 16 years for a restricted motorcycle up to 125 cm³, 17 years for a car with a legal guardian, 18 years for unrestricted car and 21 years for buses and trucks.
You may have the possibility to drive a vehicle without any driving licence or other documents, originating in another country or if you are a resident of Germany and you do not intend to move here, it may also be possible to travel in a foreign country. Usually this is required by providing a translator for the foreign driver license in German. Upon removal from German citizenship the driver is required to keep his/her driving licence for six months (185 days). After this period authorities cannot recognise them anymore. You should therefore apply for a German driver license before the expiry of the license period in order to drive a motor vehicle in Germany.
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