Driving licence: extension

You must submit an application for the first issue of a driving licence.
The driving licence authority will determine whether there are any concerns about your suitability. This takes a certain amount of time, which is why the application should be submitted at the latest at the beginning of the driving school training.
Only after the examination of the applicant can a driving licence be issued. The application shall lapse if the theory test has not been passed within twelve months of receipt of the test order or the practical test has not been passed within twelve months of passing the theory test.
As a rule, the driving licence is handed over upon passing the driving test.
The application for a driving licence is generally valid for two years. It expires if the theory test is not passed within twelve months of receipt of the test order or the practical test is not passed within twelve months of passing the theory test.

The responsibility lies with the administrative district and the independent city in which you have your residence.

• Holder of a driving licence
• the tests required for the new category of driving licence(s) have been passed
• normal residence in Germany
• Minimum age required:
  • 24 years for direct access to class A
  • 21 years for categories D, D1, DE or D1E
  • 18 years for category A for entry in stages and for categories B, BE, C, C1, CE or C1E
  • 15 years for classes A1, A2, L, AM and T
• suitable for driving motor vehicles
• trained to drive motor vehicles in accordance with the Driving Instructors Act and the legislation based on it
• Ability to drive motor vehicles demonstrated in a theoretical and practical test
• Ability to provide first aid
• not in possession of a driving licence of this category issued in a Member State of the European Union or in another State party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area

• Copy of identity card
• If applicable, copy of the driver's license
• original signature on a specific form
• a photograph (biometric) that complies with the provisions of the Passport Ordinance of 19 October 2007 (Federal Law Gazette I p. 2007, 2386)
• Certificates of suitability for classes A1, A2, AM, L, T, B, BE:
  • Proof of instruction in life-saving emergency measures
  • Eye test
• ... for categories C1, C1E, C and CE:
  • Proof of first aid
  • ophthalmological report
  • medical opinion
• ... for categories D1, D1E, D and DE:
  • Proof of first aid
  • ophthalmological report
  • medical opinion
  • Opinion on special requirements
  • Certificate of good conduct of document type "0"

The fees are determined by the respective authority according to your schedule of fees.

• Driving licence categories A1, A2, AM, L, T, B, BE, A must be issued without a time limit.
• Driving licences for categories C, C1, CE, C1E, D1, D1E, D and DE are limited to five years from the date of issue.

Further information can be obtained from any driving school or driving licence authority.

Text checked by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Transport

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.