Driving license; application for accompanied driving from 17

If you take part in "accompanied driving from 17", the minimum age for obtaining a category B and BE (passenger car) driving license is lowered to 17. Driving school training can be started earlier accordingly.

After successfully passing the driving test, the young novice driver receives a test certificate as proof of their driving license in Germany, which is valid for a maximum of three months after reaching the age of 18. However, they may only drive the car until their 18th birthday if accompanied by a person named on the test certificate. The accompanying person must meet certain requirements (see explanations under Requirements).

The accompanying person is the contact person for the young novice driver during the journey and should give advice and tips if necessary. In this way, the novice driver should be able to gain their first experience on the road under the guidance of an experienced companion. However, the young novice driver is the responsible driver of the vehicle.

After reaching the age of 18, the young driver then receives (on application) the EU card driving license, which is valid throughout Europe.

Via the online service of the button "Appointment booking for driver's license and vehicle registration authority" you will be forwarded directly to the page where you can select your request and book an appointment.

You will find the following documents for this service in the Forms section:

• Accompanied driving at 17 - declaration of participation for chaperones.

Under the further links you will find the reference to our topic page "Driving license authority".

The young novice driver

• may start training at a driving school at the age of 16.5
• requires parental consent both for participation in accompanied driving and for the appointment of accompanying persons
• may take the theory test at the earliest three months and the practical test at the earliest one month before reaching the age of 17
• must meet the other requirements for the issue of a driving license (in particular regarding suitability, training and testing) with the exception of the different minimum age (in this case 17 years) and the different deadlines for training and testing
• may only drive in Germany up to their 18th birthday together with an accompanying person entered on the test certificate; several accompanying persons can be entered on the test certificate
• must have the test certificate replaced by the EU card driving license within three months of their 18th birthday.

The accompanying person

• must be named in the inspection certificate
• must be over 30 years old
• must have held a valid EU/EEA or Swiss category B driving license (passenger car) for at least five years
• must not have more than one point on the driving aptitude register in Flensburg at the time of applying for the driver's license (or, if applying for the registration of other persons intended to accompany the driver, at the time of applying for registration as an additional accompanying person) and
• must observe the "0.5 per mille limit" and the ban on drugs when accompanying a driver.

• valid identity card or passport
• current biometric photo
• Eye test certificate from an officially recognized eye test center or certificate from an ophthalmologist (not older than two years)
• Proof of participation in a first aid training course

• valid identity card or passport
• Copy of valid driver's license

• Accompanied driving at 17 - Declaration of participation for chaperones

The fee for issuing a driving license is usually around EUR 45.

For "accompanied driving at 17", there are additional fees for issuing the test certificate (EUR 7.70) and for each accompanying person to be registered (approx. EUR 11 each).

In addition, there may be further costs for the direct mailing of the driver's license (around EUR 5).

• Road Traffic Act (StVG)
• § Section 48a Ordinance on the Admission of Persons to Road Traffic (Driving License Ordinance - FeV)

• Novice drivers and "accompanied driving from 17"
• Driving license authority

  Central page of the driving license authority

The issue of a category B and/or BE driving license in accordance with the regulations for "accompanied driving from the age of 17" must be applied for in writing or in electronic form at the driving license authority. The authority may require a personal appearance.

If all the requirements for the issue of a driving license are met, the applicant is first issued with a so-called test certificate.

When the minimum age for category B or BE of 18 years is reached, the driving license authority finally issues the general driving license (upon application).

• Driving license; application for a driving license and extension of an existing driving license