To do this, you need to submit a so-called “driver’s license application” to your local authority. Driving licence categories (Your driving school will often assist you with this.) Regarding your upcoming tests, we want to make communication between you and TÜV SÜD as easy as possible – please include your email address in this application.
Which driving licence categories do you not yet possess?
Here is an up-to-date table:
| Class | Description |
AM | light two-wheeled motor vehicles of category L1e-B according to Article 4(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 168/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2013 on the approval and market surveillance of two- or three-wheel vehicles and quadricycles (OJ L 60, 2.3.2013, p. 52),three-wheeled mopeds of category L2e as defined in Article 4(2)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 168/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2013 on the approval and market surveillance of two- or three-wheel and quadricycle vehicles (OJ L 60, 2.3.2013, p. 52),light quadricycles of category L6e as defined in Article 4(2)(f) of Regulation (EU) No 168/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2013 on the approval and market surveillance of two- or three-wheel vehicles and quadricycles (OJ L 60, 2.3.2013, p. 52)Minimum age: 15 years – only within Germany until the age of 16. Included classes: none. |
A1 | Motorcycles (also with sidecar) with an engine capacity of up to 125 cm³ and an engine power of no more than 11 kW, where the power-to-weight ratio does not exceed 0.1 kW/kg, and three-wheeled motor vehicles with symmetrically arranged wheels and an engine capacity of more than 50 cm³ in the case of internal combustion engines or a design-related maximum speed of more than 45 km/h and with a power output of up to 15 kW.Minimum age : 16 years Included class: AM |
A2 | Motorcycles (including those with sidecars) with an engine power of no more than 35 kW, where the power-to-weight ratio does not exceed 0.2 kW/kg, and which are not derived from a motorcycle with an engine power of more than 70 kW.Transitional law: Driving licences of class A restricted, which were issued before 19 January 2013, are automatically considered class A (unrestricted) after two years.Minimum age: 18 years. Included classes: A1 and AM. |
| A | Motorcycles (including those with sidecars) with an engine capacity of more than 50 cm³ or with a design-related maximum speed of more than 45 km/h.Minimum age: 24 years (for direct entry), 20 years (with at least 2 years of prior possession of class A2)Three-wheeled motor vehicles with a power output exceeding 15 kW and three-wheeled motor vehicles with symmetrically arranged wheels and an engine capacity exceeding 50 cm³ in the case of internal combustion engines or a design-related maximum speed exceeding 45 km/h and with a power output exceeding 15 kW.Minimum age: 21 years. Included classes: A2, A1 and AM. |
| B/ BF17 | Motor vehicles – excluding motor vehicles of categories AM, A1, A2 and A with a permissible total mass not exceeding 3,500 kg, designed and constructed for the carriage of no more than eight persons in addition to the driver (also with a trailer with a permissible total mass not exceeding 750 kg or with a trailer exceeding 750 kg permissible total mass, provided that the permissible total mass of the combination does not exceed 3,500 kg and, within Germany, three-wheeled motor vehicles, in the case of a motor vehicle with an engine power of more than 15 kW, however, only if the holder of the driving licence is at least 21 years old.Minimum age: 18 years (17 years for participants in “Accompanied Driving at 17”) Included classes: AM and L Visit Example Website |
| B1 97 | The new national key number B197, introduced on 1 April 2021, offers the possibility of driving manual cars even if the driving test was taken in an automatic vehicle, provided the following conditions are met:10 driving lessons of 45 minutes each in a vehicle with a manual transmission.A 15-minute test drive with a driving instructor in a vehicle with a manual transmission.Issuance of a corresponding certificate (proof of shifting competence) by the driving school. |
BE | Vehicle combinations consisting of a category B towing vehicle and a trailer or semi-trailer, provided that the permissible total mass of the trailer or semi-trailer does not exceed 3500kg.Minimum age : 18 years (17 years for participants in “Accompanied Driving at 17”), prior possession of driving licence category B requiredIncluded classes : none |
| B96 | Vehicle combinations consisting of a category B towing vehicle and a trailer with a permissible total mass of the trailer exceeding 750 kg and a permissible total mass of the vehicle combination exceeding 3,500 kg but not exceeding 4,250 kg.Minimum age : 18 years (17 years for participants in “Accompanied Driving at 17”), prior possession of driving licence category B requiredIncluded classes : none |
| C1 | Motor vehicles , excluding vehicles of categories AM, A1, A2, A, D1 and D with a permissible maximum mass exceeding 3,500 kg but not exceeding 7,500 kg, and designed and constructed for the carriage of no more than eight persons in addition to the driver (also with a trailer with a permissible maximum mass not exceeding 750 kg).Minimum age: 18 years, prior possession of driving licence category B required. Included categories: none. |
| C1E | Vehicle combinations consisting of a towing vehicle ofClass C1 and a trailer or semi-trailer with a permissible total mass exceeding 750 kg, provided that the permissible mass of the vehicle combination does not exceed 12,000 kg,of class B and a trailer or semi-trailer with a permissible mass of more than 3 500 kg, provided that the permissible mass of the vehicle combination does not exceed 12 000 kg.Minimum age: 18 years, prior possession of driving licence category C1 required. Included categories: BE and D1E, provided the holder is entitled to drive vehicles of category D1. |
| C | Motor vehicles , excluding vehicles of categories AM, A1, A2, A, D1 and D with a permissible maximum mass exceeding 3500 kg, designed and constructed for the carriage of no more than eight persons in addition to the driver (also with a trailer with a permissible maximum mass not exceeding 750 kg).Minimum age: 21 years, prior possession of driving licence category B required. Included categories: C1 |
| CE | Vehicle combinations consisting of a category C towing vehicle and trailers or a semi-trailer with a permissible total mass exceeding 750 kg.Minimum age: 21 years, prior possession of driving licence category C required. Included categories: BE, C1E, T and DE, provided the holder is authorized to drive vehicles of category D. |
| D1 | Motor vehicles , excluding vehicles of categories AM, A1, A2, A, designed and constructed for the carriage of no more than 16 persons in addition to the driver and whose length does not exceed 8 m (also with a trailer with a permissible total mass not exceeding 750 kg).Minimum age: 21 years, prior possession of driving licence category B required. Included categories: none. |
D1E | Vehicle combinations consisting of a towing vehicle of class D1 and a trailer with a permissible total mass of more than 750 kg.Minimum age: 21 years, prior possession of driving licence category D1 required. Included categories: BE |
| D | Motor vehicles , excluding vehicles of categories AM, A1, A2, A, designed and constructed for the carriage of more than eight persons in addition to the driver (also with a trailer with a permissible total mass not exceeding 750 kg).Minimum age: 24 years, prior possession of driving licence category B required. Included category: D1 |
| DE | Vehicle combinations consisting of a towing vehicle of class D and a trailer with a permissible total mass of more than 750 kg.Minimum age: 24 years, prior possession of driving licence category D required. Included categories: BE, D1E |
| T | Tractors with a maximum design speed of no more than 60 km/h and self-propelled work machines with a maximum design speed of no more than 40 km/h, which are designed and used for agricultural or forestry purposes (each also with trailers).Minimum age: 16 years at 40 km/h (bbH) and 18 years at 60 km/h (bbH). Included classes: L, AM |
L | Tractors designed and used for agricultural or forestry purposes, with a maximum design speed not exceeding 40 km/h, and combinations of these vehicles and trailers when driven at a speed not exceeding 25 km/h, as well as self-propelled agricultural machinery, self-propelled feed mixers, forklifts, and other industrial trucks, each with a maximum design speed not exceeding 25 km/h, and combinations of these vehicles and trailers. Minimum age: 16 years. Included categories: none. |
Driving licence categories
A driving licence of category C1 also entitles the holder to drive vehicles with a permissible total mass of more than 3500 kg but not more than 7500 kg, and which are designed and constructed for the carriage of no more than eight persons in addition to the driver, with in particular the following special purpose, which is decisive for the approval of the vehicle types:
- Fire department vehicles
- Police vehicles
- Emergency vehicles of the rescue services recognized under state law,
- Emergency vehicles of the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW),
- Emergency vehicles of other disaster relief units,
- Ambulances, emergency medical vehicles and medical vehicles,
- Bulletproof vehicles,
- Postal, radio and telecommunications vehicles,
- Specialized sales vehicles,
- Wheelchair-accessible vehicles
- hearse and
- Motorhomes.
This applies accordingly to driving licences of classes C1E, C and CE.
