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

If you wish to drive a motor vehicle on public roads, you need a driver’s license that authorizes you to drive that vehicle. You can apply for a driver’s license at your local driver’s license office at the district administration office or the independent city. You can also submit the application to your municipality. The same applies if you already hold a driver’s license but wish to drive vehicles that fall under a different license class (extension).

When you apply for a driver’s license, you must specify which driving school you are attending.

The driving school you select will provide both the theoretical and practical training and, once the driver’s license authority has issued an examination order, will also present you for the driver’s license exam at the TÜV. After taking and passing the exam—which is generally divided into a theoretical and a practical driving portion—the driver’s license for the requested class(es) can be issued provided all other requirements are met. The same applies to the extension of an existing driver’s license.

If you need to make an appointment in person, click on "Make an appointment for the driver's license and vehicle registration authority" to go directly to the page where you can select your request and make an appointment.

Please note the application for a driving license for motor vehicles under Forms.

Under the further links you will find a reference to the page of the "Driving license authority".

You will be issued a driving license for the relevant category if you

• have your normal place of residence in Germany,
• have reached the required minimum age,
• are suitable for driving motor vehicles,
• have been trained to drive motor vehicles in accordance with the Driving Instructors Act and the legal provisions based on it,
• have demonstrated their ability to drive motor vehicles in a theoretical and practical test,
• can provide first aid,
• do not hold a driving license for this category issued in a member state of the European Union or another state party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area and
• are in possession of another driving license category for certain driving license categories.

Further details are regulated in §§ 7 ff of the Driving License Ordinance (FeV).

• Application for a driving license for motor vehicles

• Learner driver training regulations (FahrschAusbO)
• Road Traffic Act (StVG)
• Ordinance on the admission of persons to road traffic (Driving License Ordinance - FeV)

• Driving license authority - Topic page

  Central page of the driving license authority

You must apply to the appropriate authority for a driver's license or an extension of an existing driver's license.

Note: a digital passport photo is not required to apply for / transfer a driving license. As before, a conventional biometric passport photo is required.

• Driving license; application due to expiry of validity
• Driver's license; submission of proof of suitability
• Driving license; application for accompanied driving from 17