School transport; applying for free transportation to school

The necessary transportation of pupils on the way to school for

• public primary/middle and special schools;
• public or state-recognized private secondary schools, grammar schools, vocational schools (excluding part-time vocational schools), two-tier business schools and three- or four-tier business schools up to and including year 10, and
• Public or state-recognized vocational schools with full-time teaching

is organized and financed by the school transport authorities.

The responsible bodies for public primary, secondary and special schools are the municipal school authorities of the schools; for the other schools, the districts and independent cities in which the pupil has his or her habitual residence.

Information on free travel to school can be found under "Related topics".

Please give priority to using the online service via the button above for the "Entry form (ticket application)".

You will find the following documents in the Forms section:

• Application for the use of a private motor vehicle.
• Application for reimbursement of travel costs for the use of public transportation.
• Declaration on car pooling (attachment to the application for use of a private vehicle).
• Declaration of habitual residence.
• Reporting lost tickets.

The transportation obligation applies to regular compulsory and compulsory elective classes at the nearest school, provided that the journey to school is not too long for

• Pupils in grades 1 with 4 longer than 2 km and
• is longer than 3 km for pupils in year 5 and above.

Exception:

• Pupils who are dependent on transportation due to a permanent disability are transported free of charge, regardless of the distance.
• Transport can also be provided for journeys to school that are less than these kilometer limits if the route to school is deemed to be particularly difficult or particularly dangerous following a review by the responsible body. The nearest school is the compulsory school or the school to which the pupils are assigned or the school of the chosen type of school, training and subject area that can be reached with the least amount of transportation.

• Application for the use of a private motor vehicle
• Application for reimbursement of travel costs for the use of public transportation
• Declaration on carpooling (attachment to the application for use of a private vehicle)
• Declaration of habitual residence
• Reporting lost tickets

• Act on the exemption from costs for the journey to and from school (Schulwegkostenfreiheitsgesetz - SchKfrG)
• Ordinance on school transport (School Transport Ordinance - SchBefV)

• School in Bavaria - free travel to school

The responsible bodies work together with each other and with the schools. The interests of the pupils, the schools and the responsible bodies must be given due consideration. The principal shall determine the teaching time in accordance with the school regulations in consultation with the responsible body.

The public transport authorities fulfill their transport obligations primarily with the help of public transport. Other means of transportation, e.g. school bus, private vehicle, cab or rental car, are only to be used if this is necessary or more economical overall. The public transport authority may fulfill its transport obligation in individual cases by offering a distance compensation for the reasonable use of private vehicles.

• School transportation; application for reimbursement of school transportation costs