The following driving licence categories exist in the Federal Republic of Germany:
| Driving licence category as from 2013 | Vehicle definition | Driving licence category until 2013 |
|---|---|---|
Category AM
| Two-wheel mopeds with
with or without a sidecar. This also applies to motorized cycles meeting these requirements. | M |
Three-wheel mopeds with
| S | |
Light quadricycles with
| S | |
Category A1
| Motorcycles with
with or without a sidecar. | A1 |
Three-wheel motor vehicles with
| B | |
Category A2
| Motorcycles with
with or without a sidecar. | A (power restricted) |
Category A
| Motorcycles with
with or without a sidecar. | A |
Three-wheel motor vehicles with
| B | |
Category B
| Motor vehicles (except those of Categories AM, A1, A2 and A)
with or without a trailer
| B (BE) |
Category B with code 96 (no separate category) | Tractor vehicle of Category B in combination with a trailer with
| BE |
Category BE
| Tractor vehicle of Category B in combination with a trailer or semi-trailer with a maximum authorized mass of the trailer over 750 kg but not more than 3,500 kg. | BE |
Category C1
| Motor vehicles (except those of Categories AM, A1, A2 and A)
with or without a trailer with a maximum authorized mass not exceeding 750 kg. | C1 |
Category C1E
| Tractor vehicle of Category B in combination with
| BE |
Tractor vehicle of Category C1 in combination with
| C1E | |
Category C
| Motor vehicles (except those of Categories AM, A1, A2 and A)
with or without a trailer with a maximum authorized mass not exceeding 750 kg. | C |
Category CE
| Tractor vehicle of Category C in combination with a trailer or semi-trailer with a maximum authorized mass exceeding 750 kg. | CE |
Category D1
| Motor vehicles (except those of Categories AM, A1, A2 and A)
with or without a trailer with a maximum authorized mass not exceeding 750 kg. | D1 |
Category D1E
| Tractor vehicle of Category D1 in combination with a trailer with a maximum authorized mass exceeding 750 kg. | D1E |
Category D
| Motor vehicles (except those of Categories AM, A1, A2 and A) which are constructed and designed for the carriage of more than 8 passengers in addition to the driver, with or without a trailer with a maximum authorized mass not exceeding 750 kg. | D |
Category DE
| Tractor vehicle of Category D in combination with a trailer with a maximum authorized mass exceeding 750 kg. | DE |
Category T
|
which in both cases are designed to be used for agricultural or forestry purposes and are actually used for such purposes (both types of vehicles may be combined with a trailer). | T |
Category L
|
| L |
No driving licence, but merely a test certificate, is required for the following motor vehicles:
Two-wheel, single-seater motorized cycles not exceeding 25 km/h (motor-assisted bicycle; special seats for children aged less than seven years may be fitted).
Neither a driving licence nor a test certificate is required for the following vehicles:
Motorized invalid carriages, single-seater vehicles designed for use by physically disabled persons with
- an electric motor,
- an unladen mass not exceeding 300 kg including batteries but excluding the driver,
- a maximum authorized mass not exceeding 500 kg,
- a maximum design speed not exceeding 15 km/h,
- a maximum overall width of 110 cm.
- Transitional provisions and special rules apply to older motorized invalid carriages with a speed exceeding 10 km/h (test certificate required).
- Tractors designed to be used for agricultural or forestry purposes, self-propelled machines and floor conveyors (e.g. fork-lift trucks and the like), in all cases with a maximum design speed not exceeding 6 km/h, plus single-axle tractors and machines controlled by pedestrians using handles.
Carriage of passengers
For the carriage of passengers in taxis, hire cars, ambulances and passenger cars, a supplementary passenger carrying vehicle licence is required in addition to a general driving licence if the service is provided for hire or reward or on a commercial basis or if authorization is required for this service under the Carriage of Passengers Act.
Table: Comparison of driving licence categories before 1999 and as from 2013
| Driving licence category before 1999 | Vehicles | Driving licence category as from 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | All motorcycles (no power restrictions) | A |
| 1a | Motorcycles up to 25 kW, not exceeding 0.16 kW/kg | A2 |
| 1b | Motorcycles up to 125 cc, not exceeding 11 kW Maximum design speed of 80 km/h for 16- and 17-year old riders | A1 |
| 2 | Motor vehicles exceeding 7,500 kg Road trains with more than three axles | C and CE |
| 3 | Motor vehicles not exceeding 7,500 kg Road trains with up to 3 axles (i.e. a single-axle trailer may be towed; axles less than 1 m apart are regarded as one axle) | B, BE, C1 and C1E |
| 2, 3 | Depending on the maximum permissible weight of the vehicle + driving licence for the carriage of passengers by bus/coach | D, DE, D1, and D1E |
| 4 | Two-wheel mopeds and motorized cycles up to 50 cc/50 km/h | AM |
National driving licence categories for vehicles not covered by the Directive
| Driving licence category before 1999 | Vehicles | Driving licence category as from 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Invalid carriages, machines up to 25 km/h, tractors up to 32 km/h, with trailers up to 25 km/h | L |
Notes:
- Two-stage driving licence for motorcycles
The former Categories 1a and 1 have been subsumed into the new Category A. However, this is still a two-stage licence. Any person who first obtains a driving licence in a less powerful vehicle category is granted easier access to the next higher driving licence category (example: any person who first gains two years of experience in Category A1 – light motorcycles not exceeding 11 kW – only has to pass a practical test, but not a theory test, to obtain a Category A2 licence – motorcycles up to 35 kW. This creates an incentive to first gain experience operating less powerful two-wheel vehicles. - Dividing line between the passenger car and heavy goods vehicle categories
The dividing line between the passenger car category (3/B) and the heavy goods vehicle category (2/C) has been lowered from 7,500 kg to 3,500 kg maximum authorized mass. Anyone wishing to drive vehicles between 3,500 and 7,500 kg has to obtain at least a Category C1 driving licence. Holders of Category 3 driving licences are covered by rules designed to protect their acquired rights (see "grandfathering"). - Trailer driving licences
Drivers wishing to tow a trailer with a maximum authorized mass of over 750 kg but not more than 3,500 kg require a separate trailer driving licence, Category E. There is an exception in Category B, which is significant primarily for caravan and horse box owners: A driving licence of this category will also suffice for trailers with a maximum authorized mass greater than 750 kg if the maximum authorized mass of the combination does not exceed 3,500 kg. What is more, on 19 January 2013, a new Category B driving licence with code 96 was introduced, which is primarily of interest for operating smaller motor vehicle/caravan combinations. It can be issued for vehicle combinations formed from a motor vehicle of Category B and a trailer with a maximum authorized mass exceeding 750 kg if the maximum authorized mass of the vehicle combination is over 3,500 kg but not more than 4,250 kg. Code 96 may only be assigned if the applicant already holds Category B driving licence or has fulfilled the licensing requirements for this category. In order for code 96 to be entered into the Category B driving licence, only a driver training, but no test, is required. - Two-stage driving licence in category T
The minimum age for Category T is 16 years. Drivers under the age of 18 may only drive tractor vehicles up to 40 km/h (with trailer).