German Cabinet Approves Driver's License Reform to Lower Costs

The theoretical exam question pool will be reduced by one-third from 1,169 to 840 questions. Practical tests will shorten from 55 to 40 minutes, with actual driving time decreasing from 30 to 25 minutes.

Key Changes

Learners will be allowed to practice with close relatives like parents or grandparents. 'What the license ultimately costs will be regulated by the market,' Schnieder noted, predicting lower prices due to simplified processes.

The average cost for a Class B license currently stands at €3,400, though driving instructor representatives say most students in North Rhine-Westphalia pay €2,200-€2,800 if passing on their first attempt.

20-year-old Lena Schlegel from Düsseldorf welcomed parental practice sessions: 'That would have made things easier for me.' However, instructor representative Kurt Bartels raised safety concerns about untrained supervisors.

Mixed Reactions

The coalition government insists the changes won't compromise training quality or road safety. 'We're delivering concrete improvements for driving students while reducing bureaucratic burdens on schools,' officials stated.

Costs have risen faster than general inflation, with a 5.8% increase in 2024 versus 2.2% for consumer prices overall. The government aims to implement reforms by January 2027.

Opponents warn that eliminating mandatory special drives could reverse decades of progress in reducing youth traffic fatalities. They strongly oppose 'amateur training by amateurs.'