Skip to content
  • broken clouds: 51-84% 6 °C
  • Contrast
  • Easy Language

Applying for a driving instructor licence

Anyone who trains persons who wish to obtain a licence to drive motor vehicles requires a driving instructor licence. The driving instructor licence is issued on application in category BE and additionally in categories A, CE and DE. The applicant initially receives a candidate licence. After training and passing an examination, the driving instructor licence is issued.

The driving instructor licence may only be used together with the driving school licence or as part of an employment or training relationship with the owner of a driving school.

Prerequisite

The driving instructor licence is issued if the applicant

  • is at least 21 years old,
  • is mentally, physically, professionally and pedagogically fit andthere are no facts thatmake him/herappear unreliable for the driving instructor profession,
  • has at least completed vocational training in a recognised teaching profession or equivalent previous training,
  • is in possession of a driving licence for the category for which the driving instructor licence is to be issued,
  • has held a category B driving licence for at least three years and, if the driving instructor licence is also to be issued for category A, CE or DE, has also held a category A2, CE or D driving licence for two years in each case,
  • have been trained as a driving instructor within the last three years before the driving instructor licence was issued,
  • proves their professional and pedagogical aptitude by successfully passing the driving instructor examinations,
  • has the necessary knowledge of the German language to carry out the professional activity.

Responsible department

is the office responsible for driving instructors in your place of residence. This is

  • if you live in a rural district: the local district office
  • if you live in an urban district: the local city council (town hall)

Procedure

Training to become a driving instructor can only take place at a recognised driving instructor training centre. This requires not only theoretical training, but also practical training in a driving instructor training centre.

The duration of driving instructor training is

  • at least 12 months for applicants for a category BE driving instructor licence and includes lessons at a driving instructor training centre and additionally at a training driving school
  • for applicants for a category A driving instructor licence, at least one additional month at a driving instructor training centre
  • for applicants for a category CE or DE driving instructor licence, at least two additional months at a driving instructor training centre
    (if the applicant for category DE has a category CE driving instructor licence, the training period is reduced by one month; this also applies to the issue of a category CE driving instructor licence if the applicant previously held a category DE licence).

Driving instructor training takes place in closed courses at a recognised training centre. An interruption is generally not permitted, with the exception of a maximum one-month period without lessons, which is not counted towards the total duration of the training.

The training is a "phased training programme". In the basic level, the driving instructor licence for category BE is acquired first. A two-stage application procedure is required for this. Based on this, driving instructor licences for categories A, CE and DE can be acquired.

To obtain a driving instructor licence, a candidate licence must first be applied for.

  • In order for the candidate driving instructor to be able to apply the knowledge newly acquired at the officially recognised training centre in the training driving school, he or she is granted a "candidate licence" with limited training rights if he or she has previously successfully passed the practical driving test and the specialist knowledge test.
  • The trainee licence expires either when the driving instructor licence is issued or after three unsuccessful driving tests in theory or practical driving lessons or after two years from the date of issue.

After completing the driving instructor training and successfully passing the driving instructor examinations, the applicant will receive an unlimited driving instructor licence for category BE upon application.

  • You must submit the application to the competent authority for your place of residence in writing or, if offered by the competent authority, as an online application.
  • To apply online, please use the link on this page.
  • You can upload the required evidence and documents as file attachments as part of the online application.

Deadlines

The driving instructor licence should be applied for immediately after passing the driving instructor examination. No learner drivers may be trained without a driving instructor's licence.

Required documents

  • official proof of place and date of birth (e.g.identity card or passport)
  • Original driving licenceor a certified copy of the driving licence
  • extended certificate of good conduct for submission to an authority
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Medical and ophthalmologicalcertificate orcertificate confirming that the requirements for physical and mental aptitude and eyesight are met in accordance with the requirements for a category C1 driving licence
  • Proof of previous training: At least completed vocational training in a recognised apprenticeshipor equivalent previous training.
  • A certificate from the officially recognised driving instructor training centre confirming the duration of the training.
  • For the issue of a category BE driving instructor licence, an additional certificate from the training driving school confirming the duration of the training completed

Costs

A fee of EUR 40.90 is charged for the issue of the driving instructor licence.

In addition, there are fees for obtaining information from the driving aptitude register (EUR 3.30), issuing the certificate of good conduct (payable at the town hall at the place of residence), the costs of driving instructor training and the fees for the examinations as part of driving instructor training.

Miscellaneous

Persons who already have a service driving instructor licence (from the German armed forces or the police) can obtain a general driving instructor licence under simplified conditions.In addition to the above-mentioned documents, proof of possession of the service driving instructor licence (e.g. certified copy of the driving instructor licence) must be attached to the application.

Appeal

  • Opposition
  • Action

Legal basis

Fahrlehrergesetz (FahrlG):

  • § 1 Erfordernis und Inhalt der Fahrlehrerlaubnis
  • § 2 Voraussetzungen der Fahrlehrerlaubnis
  • § 4 Antrag auf Erteilung der Fahrlehrerlaubnis
  • § 10 Erteilung Fahrlehrerlaubnis und der Anwärterbefugnis

Durchführungsverordnung zum Fahrlehrergesetz

Fahrlehrer-Ausbildungsverordnung (FahrlAusbV)

Fahrlehrer-Prüfungsverordnung (FahrlPrüfV)

Release note

Machine generated, based on the German release by: Verkehrsministerium Baden-Württemberg, 11.02.2025