Important deadlines: This is how it works with the driver's license for an 18th birthday

Created: 01/05/2022, 1:39 PM

When looking for a suitable driving school, empirical values ​​among friends and acquaintances can also be helpful.

© Christin Klose / dpa-tmn / illustration

Anyone who is 18 is considered to be of legal age before the law and can then travel by car without an accompanying person.

What has to be done so that the “rag” is on the birthday table on time for the 18th?

For many young people, a driver's license * is just as much a part of their 18th birthday as a big party.

However, if you want to get a driver's license when you come of age, you have to start early enough with driving lessons and applications.

Because the driving license is not made by the way.

Driving license: observe important deadlines

“If you want to get your driver's license quickly, you have to show a lot of initiative.

Theoretically, however, it is possible to get a driver's license in around six months, ”says Marcel Bieck, driving trainer at Auto Club Europa (ACE).

However, especially at the dates for the practical exam, there are long waiting times that have been extended by the corona pandemic.

Most of the learner drivers start with the theoretical training and start with the practical driving lessons after the successful examination.

"One should keep in mind that there are deadlines in many places at the offices for registering for a driver's license," says Bieck, who also runs a driving school.

In the Oder-Spree district, for example, you can apply for a driver's license a maximum of six months in advance.

It is therefore not possible, for example, to register at the age of 17 and then take the exam a year later at 18.

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Driving license: how do I find the right driving school?

At the very beginning of driver training is the search for a suitable driving school.

The choice is huge.

“The first step would be to ask around in your circle of friends and ask about their experiences,” says Bieck.

A good driving school makes it possible for those interested to get a taste of things.

Learner drivers, on the other hand, should not be blinded by new and large cars.

“Some driving schools rely on particularly prestigious or high-quality driving school cars - and they usually have them paid for.

“If you want to save money, you learn better on an older VW than on a brand-new Audi,” says Gerrit Reichel from the Automobile Club Verkehr (ACV).

After the driving school search, an eye test and the first aid course are due.

Without these two proofs, no application for a driver's license can be made.

Both can also be done beforehand.

However, if you are not yet 18, you need a declaration of consent from your parents.

"The actual application to the responsible office is usually submitted by the driving school.

The processing time is usually three to four weeks, ”says Bieck.

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Number of driving lessons depends on skills

At the same time, the actual driver training can begin, which comprises 14 theory hours of 90 minutes and a mandatory twelve special driving hours for overland, motorway and night.

How many additional driving lessons are required depends on the applicant's ability.

Driving schools generally have flexible prices, while the test fees at Tüv and Dekra are subject to a fixed fee schedule.

"The prices for one driving hour are between 30 and 70 euros," says Reichel.

Driving schools in the city usually have higher hourly rates than providers in rural areas.

“How many driving lessons are necessary depends not least on the student's willingness to learn and skills.

You should expect a total of 15 to 20, ”says Reichel.

The bottom line is that the costs for a class B driver's license are around 1500 to 2000 euros.

Automatic and switch

It gets more expensive if the driver's license training is only completed in a car with an automatic transmission.

Since April 2021, it has also been possible to drive cars with manual transmission afterwards.

"However, an additional ten driving hours must be proven with a switch," says Bieck.

There is no longer a pure automatic driver's license.

The new regulation is mainly due to the spread of e-cars, which in principle do not have a manual transmission.

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The difference between town and country

If you live in the city and want to get your driver's license at a cheaper driving school in the country, you need the approval of the authorities.

"You have to get approval from the road traffic authority at your main residence," says Alexander Schnaars from ADAC.

Because this is about road safety and the differences in road traffic between urban and rural areas.

"The legislature wants to prevent as far as possible that a driver who acquires a driver's license, who participates in big city traffic in his actual place of residence, takes the test in a region with little traffic," he says.

Even a driving license obtained abroad is not automatically valid in Germany.

Driving licenses from other EU countries do not have to be converted.

For the basic recognition, however, a proof is required that the owner can prove a stay of 185 days in the other country, so Schnaars.

“So you can't get your driving license cheaply during your vacation in the Czech Republic if you haven't lived there for 185 days,” he says.

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Driving license on the Schnellxpress

In general, the ADAC advises against express variants that promise a driver's license in just a few weeks.

“Learning takes time, and you should take it.

Holiday driving schools are therefore not recommended for road safety, ”says Schnaars.

According to driving instructor Marcel Bieck, those who want their driver's license on the table on time for their 18th birthday should start with the first preparations such as a driving school search and first aid course around three quarters of a year in order to complete the driver training thoroughly and stress-free.

Any follow-up checks must also be taken into account.

"If you fail the practical exam the first time, a second exam is possible after 14 days at the earliest," says Bieck.

Since every driving school can only register a limited number of appointments, it often takes longer.