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.

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 instructions 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.

Novice drivers lack the necessary experience in road traffic. Nevertheless, there is often an increased willingness to take risks. In order to reduce the risk of accidents, "accompanied driving from the age of 17" was introduced.

After the usual driving training in a driving school and the theoretical and practical test, a special test certificate is issued as a driving license. It is subject to the condition that the driver may only drive when accompanied by the registered person. The test certificate is only valid in Germany.

Accompanying persons must be at least 30 years old and have held a class B or class 3 driving license for at least five years. The accompanying person must also have their driving license with them during the accompanying journey and must not be under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Accompanying persons may also have a maximum of 1 point in the central traffic register in Flensburg. They must therefore give their consent to obtaining information or submit a self-disclosure form that is not older than 3 months.

Young people can apply for a driving license for "accompanied driving" at the citizens' office at the earliest 6 months before reaching the age of 17 and start driving training. The test certificate is issued at the earliest when the young person reaches the age of 17. The 2-year probationary period begins when the certificate is issued. After reaching the age of 18, the test certificate must be exchanged for a card driver's license within 3 months. The probationary period continues.

The young novice driver

• may start training at the 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 the age of 17
• must, with the exception of the deviating minimum age (in this case 17 years) and the deviating deadlines for training and testing, meet the requirements otherwise applicable to the issue of a driving license (in particular with regard to suitability, 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 may 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 on the test certificate
• must be over 30 years of age
• 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 in the driving aptitude register in Flensburg at the time of applying for the driving license (or, if applying for the registration of additional 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.

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 requirements for the issue of a driving license are met, the applicant will first be issued with a so-called examination certificate.

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

The applicant must appear in person and bring the required documents.

• Documents for novice drivers
  
  • valid identity card or passport
  • Current biometric photograph
  • 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
• Documents for accompanying person
  
  • Valid identity card or passport
  • Copy of valid driver's license

• Identity card or passport
• Passport photo
  (biometric)
• Name of the driving school
• Eye test
  Valid for 2 years
• First aid certificate
  If you do not yet have a driving license (e.g. driving license category M or A1)
• Driver's license
  with previous possession of a driving license
• Copy of the index card from the issuing authority
  If your previous driver's license was not issued in Erlangen. You will receive a copy of the file card from the authority that issued the driver's license upon request.
• "Declarations of consent" from parents and accompanying persons
  Fill out and submit the form

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).

There may also be additional costs for the direct mailing of the driving license (around EUR 5).

52.40 euros (plus 10.30 euros per accompanying person to be registered)

Note: Accompanying persons can also obtain the information from the central traffic register at the Federal Motor Transport Authority themselves. The information must not be older than 3 months at the time of application. In this case, only 7 euros will be charged for the accompanying person concerned.