Since April 1, 2021, you can also apply for a Class B driver's license with the key number 197. In this case, you complete your driver training and driving test in a vehicle with automatic transmission and receive the qualification to drive vehicles with manual transmission.

Please note that you must make your decision (class B or B197) when you register at the driving school and when you apply to the driver's license authority.

Application

• You must submit the application in person (for identification and signature purposes).
• You can apply for your first driver's license at the earliest 6 months before reaching the minimum age.

Issuance

• If you have only applied for one class (e.g., B or A1), the license will be issued immediately after you have passed the test by the examiner.
• If you have applied for several classes, the examiner will only issue the test certificate. With this, you can apply for a provisional driver's license at the driver's license authority (additional fee: €11.20 or €12 during the probationary period). The provisional driver's license is valid for a maximum of 3 months and is only valid within the Federal Republic of Germany.

Collecting your card driving license from the driver's license authority

• in person
• by an authorized person

• Your primary residence is in Mainz.
• When applying for a Class B driver's license for the first time, you do not need to hold a driver's license of any other class.

• When issuing a driver's license for the first time, we generally issue it for a 2-year probationary period. Driver's license classes AM, L, and T are exempt from the probationary period.
• You must have passed the theory test before you can take the practical test.
• You may take the theory test at the earliest 3 months and the practical test at the earliest 1 month before reaching the minimum age.
• The application expires if
  • you have not passed the theory test within 12 months of the test request being received.
  • you have not passed the practical test within 12 months of passing the theory test.

• Schedule of fees for road traffic measures (opens in a new tab)
• Regulation on the licensing of persons for road traffic (opens in a new tab)

approximately 6 to 8 weeks

• Current biometric photo (size 45x35 mm, portrait format, frontal view), no digital code possible!

Note:
Since May 1, 2025, the rule applies that you must submit a digital passport photo to the registration authority for passport photos for identity cards and passports. However, this requirement does not apply to the driver's license authority and therefore does not affect the application for driver's license documents. Please also note that the driver's license authorities do not have the technical equipment to take photos on site. You must therefore submit passport photos in analog form, preferably together with the complete application documents, to the driver's license authority.

• Application for a driver's license (provided by driving schools)

When applying for class AM 15, additionally

• Declaration of consent from parents or legal representatives or guardians
• If only one parent has custody, you must provide proof of this.
• Copy of the identity card of the parents or legal representative

Collection of the card driving license from the driver's license authority:

in person

• Letter from the driver's license authority
• Identity document

by an authorized person

• Letter from the driver's license authority
• Identification documents of both persons
• Written power of attorney

• Initial issuance of a driver's license: €45.90
• Issuance of a provisional driver's license: €11.20 or €12 during the probationary period