Driving instructor license; application

If you want to train learner drivers as a driving instructor, you need a driving instructor license.

Anyone who trains persons who wish to acquire a license to drive motor vehicles requires a driving instructor license. The driving instructor license is issued upon application in category BE and additionally in categories A, CE and DE.

Applicants for the BE driving instructor license category are initially issued with a trainee license. After training and passing an examination, the driving instructor license is issued.

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

• The following documents are required:
  • Official proof of place and date of birth (e.g. identity card or passport)
  • Original driver's license or a certified copy of the driver's license
  • extended certificate of good conduct for submission to an authority (to be applied for at the municipality of residence)
  • curriculum vitae
  • Medical and ophthalmological report or certificate confirming that the requirements for physical and mental aptitude and eyesight are met in accordance with the requirements for a category C1 driving license. Proof can also be provided by a driving license with a valid driving license for driving license categories C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D or DE, provided that this driving license was acquired no more than five years ago or the period of validity of at least one of these driving license categories was extended within the last five years.
  • Proof of the required previous training: At least completed vocational training in a recognized apprenticeship or equivalent previous training.
  • Certificate from the officially recognized driving instructor training center on the duration of the training provided
  • For the issue of the driving instructor license for category BE additionally: Certificate from the training driving school on the duration of the training carried out

The driving instructor license is issued if the applicant

• is at least 21 years old,
• is mentally, physically, professionally and pedagogically suitable and there are no facts that make him/her appear unreliable for the driving instructor profession,
• has at least completed vocational training in a recognized teaching profession or equivalent previous training,
• is in possession of a driving license for the category for which the driving instructor license is to be issued,
• has held a category B driving license for at least three years and, if the driving instructor license is also to be issued for category A, CE or DE, has also held a category A2, CE or D driving license for two years in each case,
• have been trained as a driving instructor within the last three years before the driving instructor license was issued,
• has successfully passed the respective driving instructor examination and
• has the necessary knowledge of the German language to carry out the professional activity.

• Objection
• Complaint

The driving instructor training is a "step-by-step training". In the basic level, the driving instructor license for category BE is acquired first. A two-stage application procedure is required for this. Building on this, driving instructor licenses for categories A, CE and DE can be acquired.

In order to obtain a category BE driving instructor license, a candidate license must first be applied for if the practical driving test and the specialist knowledge test have each been passed successfully.

• To enable the candidate driving instructor to apply the knowledge newly acquired in the officially recognized training centre in the training driving school, he or she is issued a candidate licence with limited training rights for the purpose of further training and testing (teaching tests) by handing over or delivering the candidate licence.
• As part of the application, the above-mentioned documents must be submitted with the exception of the certificate from the training driving school.
• The candidate license expires either when the driving instructor's license is issued or after three unsuccessful teaching tests in theoretical or practical driving lessons or after 2 years from the date of issue.

After completing the driving instructor training and successfully passing the driving instructor examinations, the applicant - if the requirements are met - will receive an unlimited driving instructor license for category BE upon application. The driving instructor license is issued by handing over or delivering the driving instructor license.

• You must submit the application in writing to the district administrative authority responsible for your place of residence or, if this is offered by the competent authority, via the online procedure (see "Online procedure").
• The required evidence and documents must be submitted together with the application.

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

A fee of EUR 40.90 is charged for issuing the driving instructor license.

In addition to the costs of driving instructor training, there are also fees for

• obtaining information from the driving aptitude register (EUR 3.30),
• issuing a certificate of good conduct (payable to the municipality of residence) and
• the fees for the driving instructor training examinations.

Persons who already have a service driving instructor's license (from the German Armed Forces or the police) can obtain a general driving instructor's license under simplified conditions. In addition to the above-mentioned documents, proof of possession of the service driving instructor license (e.g. certified copy of the driving instructor license) must be enclosed with the application.