Driving School License; Application

In order for a self-employed driving instructor to be permitted to train learner drivers or to have them trained by employed driving instructors, a driving school license is required—in addition to the appropriate driving instructor license. To operate branch locations of a driving school as the owner of that driving school, a branch location license is also required (see Related Topics).

The driving school license is issued upon application for driving school license classes A, BE, CE, and DE. The district administrative authority where the driving school is headquartered is responsible for this.

A driving school license of class BE authorizes—in accordance with the driving instructor’s license—instruction in driver’s license classes B, BE, and L. A driving school license for class A authorizes instruction in driver’s license classes AM, A1, A2, and A. A driving instructor license for Class CE authorizes instruction in driver’s license classes C1, C1E, C, CE, and T. A driving instructor license for Class DE authorizes instruction in driver’s license classes D1, D1E, D, and DE.

A driving school license is granted if

• the applicant has reached the age of 25 and there are no facts that would make him appear unreliable for running a driving school,
• there are no facts that would justify the assumption that the applicant cannot fulfill the duties under Section 29 of the Driving Instructor Act,
• the applicant holds a driving instructor’s license for the class for which he or she is applying for the driving school license,
• the applicant has worked full-time as a driving instructor for at least two years under an employment contract with the holder of a driving school license,
• the applicant has successfully completed a course of at least 70 instructional units of 45 minutes each on driving school business management,
• the applicant has the necessary classroom space, teaching materials, and training vehicles designated for driver training in the relevant driver’s license class.

For holders of a driving instructor license issued in another country that authorizes them to independently instruct driving students in that country, or of a certificate issued in another country attesting to their qualification to independently instruct driving students, the requirements listed in points 3 through 5 above, which relate to professional qualifications, need not be met. The driving school license for the applied-for driver’s license class will be issued to such applicants provided the remaining requirements are met, provided that the requirements for the issuance of a driver-instructor license corresponding to the applicant’s driver-instructor license class or certificate of competence—as specified in the Driver-Instructor Act and the regulations enacted pursuant to that Act—are met.

• Application for a Driving School License
  In the application for a driving school license, the applicant must provide the name and address of the driving school and specify the class of driving school license for which the license is to be issued in accordance with Section 17(2) of the Driving Instructor Act.
• An officially certified copy or photocopy of the driving instructor's license
• Documents regarding employment as a driving instructor pursuant to Section 18(1)(4) of the Driving Instructor Act
• Certificate issued by the provider of a driving school business management course, pursuant to Section 18(1)(5) of the Driving Instructor Act, confirming successful completion of the course
• Statement indicating whether a driving school license has already been issued, and if so, by which authority
• A to-scale floor plan of the classrooms, including details about their facilities
• Statement confirming that the required teaching materials are available
• List of the Number and Types of Training Vehicles
• A certificate of good conduct as defined in Section 30a(1)(1) of the Federal Central Register Act, in accordance with Section 30(5) of the Federal Central Register Act, which must not be more than three months old
• An extract from the Central Business Register that is no more than three months old
• Confirmation from the competent tax authority that tax obligations have been fulfilled
  If the applicant is a legal entity, a partnership, or holds a certificate of qualification from another country (see Requirements), different or additional documents may be required in some cases. In this case, please check with your licensing authority.

Fees and expenses are charged in accordance with the Schedule of Fees for Road Traffic Measures (GebOSt).