For many, having a German driver’s license is a ticket to freedom as you can drive without speed limits on the Autobahn. But getting a license is expensive, with costs currently at several thousand euros. And since it’s Germany, there are many rules and regulations. So, what goes into getting a German driver’s license? American Euromaxx reporter Meggin Leigh finds out.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
00:33 The driving school car
01:21 The driving lesson can begin
03:33 Why is the German driver’s license so expensive?
05:01 German rules and signs
05:46 Special training on the Autobahn
07:05 How did Meggin do?
#Autobahn #Germany #DriversLicense
——————————————–
CREDITS
Report: Meggin Leigh
Camera: Christl Pullman
Edit: Marcel Epple, Philippe Gnannt
Supervising Editor: Mirja Viehweger
——————————————–
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Learning to drive in Germany
can be quite challenging. Can we go home now? 100%? 80. 80? I received my German driver’s license in
the year 2000 and I never looked back. The question is,
can I still pass the driving test? And how much more difficult
is getting a German driver’s license compared to an American one?
That’s what I want to find out! So, I’m going to head out
with instructor Marcel Monsler from the Schwarz driving school in
the western German city of Wiesbaden. And this is our car:
A specially-outfitted Mercedes B-Class. Lessons and the driving test take
place in an officially-certified car. Ohhh, when you want to keep me
from going fast? That’s bad! This is a stick shift. What if
I don’t know how to drive a stick? Luckily, that is not an issue for me,
so our driving lesson can begin… What’s the most challenging thing,
driving in Germany, for new drivers here? Is this right before left here? Yes! Ohhh that’s what you’re testing me! So, you’re supposed to stop, look,
and there’s nothing indicating. This is the key, to know that if there is no sign
on a side street, the rule is right before left. Meaning, those coming from
the right, have the right of way. The minimum driving age in Germany
is 18 with a few exceptions. New drivers must complete a first aid course,
12 hours of special driver’s training and 14 90-minute sessions of classroom
instruction plus the written exam to get a license. It’s so boring driving slowly! Anyone coming? What?! Oh! You didn’t see me! But nobody was coming. Alright, where I am going now?
Parking? Parallel? Here we go! Oops! I need a tighter spot.
That’s the problem. It’s too big. Alright, I’m tired of this exercise.
Let’s move on to the next thing! Volker Finsterseifer owns and
runs Schwarz driving school. He’s been in the business for over 35 years
and says costs for getting a driver’s license have gone up because today’s youth
aren’t paying attention in the car. The average price for a German
license is around €3,000 euros. When I was growing up, we sat in the back of
the car and asked, “Dad, are we there yet?” We didn’t pay attention to what
he was doing. We didn’t care. So I don’t understand how these technical aspects
would play a role in pushing the prices up. So, this is the book of rules for when
you are learning how to drive in Germany. These two still get me. I think this one means, you have the right of way
at the next street but not on all the streets. And this one means you have
the right of way from right… See, I still don’t know what it means. Germany has over 400 different traffic signs,
some with very specific meanings, which makes driving here even more complicated
if you’re unfamiliar with them. Meanwhile, the extra special training on
country roads, the Autobahn and at night which must take place before the practical
driving test, also pushes up the costs. Alright, so here we are on
the Autobahn with no speed limit. What is the most important thing you tell
your students about driving on the Autobahn? I’ll go faster! 100! I’m going 100 km/h! What? How? I’m not used
to driving a stick shift! Another major difference in
the US to Germany, when we take the test in the US,
we drive our own cars. And actually at the time that
I did my driver’s license, I failed it three times because my
mom’s car didn’t pass inspection. Currently, 27 US states have reciprocal agreements
with Germany, so no test is required. Police can’t do anything,
because there is no speed limit. When I turned in my Ohio license
for a German one, I only had to take the written and driving
tests, and passed on the first try! But a refresher course, like
today’s, is always welcome! So, how’d I do? Even though I consider myself
a pretty good driver, there were some surprises during my driving
experience today that caught me off guard. And according to Marcel, I wouldn’t have passed
because of that parallel parking situation. But basically, this opened my eyes once again
about how many rules there are in Germany and I totally recommend taking at least
one hour of driving if you are coming here. If you would like to see
my other report about driving on the Autobahn with the
Autobahn police then click right here!
49 Comments
Why suddenly the klezmer music in 3:10?
Clearly you can pass otherwise no one would have the German license in the first place 🙂
Its only a money trap by Germany and the driving school to roob all of us.
i tookit 6 months ago in munich it costed 4000 and no i didnt take extra unnesseray classes only the standard hours. when you say the average is around 3000, it feels like wrong information
I like how the school owner offers up his hypothesis and then she just points out it's nonsense before they decide to move on.
When I was little did I watch what my dad was doing with the gearstick? No I was too busy reading…
I've driven for many years in my country, when i came to Germany i failed in the practical driving exam, i studied well in the theory exam i got a perfect score, i was confident but still failed, but for me driving here in Germany taught me how to be disciplined, i am amazed how well behaved and disciplined German drivers are. i was so happy when i had my German driving license it feels so good
for those complaining that the rules suck or making it difficult, imagine a country with no speed limit on highways but ranked as one of the less vehicular accidents country, i think this kind of method will discipline drivers and it is good for us who wants to avoid accidents here in germany.
But what do the 2 signs mean???
manufactured complexity, I think it will be best to get fahrschule cars that doesnt have any tech installed in it. just a basic car. Germans are afraid of technology in everything, very ironic. this Fahrschulle are just cashing up making excuses to make more money out of you, to if you argue they get defensive and angry. If you ask them if you can wear a go pro during lesson they wondnt allow (even if you dont get their face and abide in Privacy law), because they will get caught to rigging the system
5:18 and the one below means that the sign is angry at you „)<„
5:39 …take me home to the place i belong😂
Their traffic light seemed odd having them on your side of the street so if you are the first car, you can't see the bloody thing. But how else would they do this?
Too many rules and the germans even do not drive so well as they learned.
determination
attract
only when you learn to complaining all the time……to be rude….selfish…..and ignorant……😮
thanks for yr vd
german driving school is a scam. in the final exam, if they really want to they will let you fail for the tiniest thing. if you can drive in the jungle you can drive anywhere in the world.
Haha, I literally drove through the same streets during my driving test in Wiesbaden and only just passed 😅 This video brought back the memories
Nice to see a country that doesn't give out driver's licenses like CANDY (like in the US)
I passed my test in Cologne in January, total cost roughly €2800 with two practical tests (drove 40 in a 30 🙃). Getting the B197 license probably made it a lot cheaper because we could take the test in an automatic but still learned to drive manual.
if you are just visiting Germany can you drive there with an international driver's license?
I am from Germany and I got my driver's license for around €1900, which was the average back then (2019). The fact that it has become so much more expensive now is crazy. But yeah, the difficulty depends on which city you live in. Tests in a big city are harder than outside, where you don't have as many 'right before left' situations or as much traffic.
I'm sure those stick shifts are going to be very handy once Germany transitions to EVs. Maybe they'll even install fake shifters to force people to use them!
Der Führerschein ist in Deutschland unverhältnismäßig teuer. Sie wollen 400 Euro, nur um sich in einer Fahrschule anzumelden. Und das, obwohl ich schon einen Führerschein aus einem anderen Land habe. Es ist eine sehr teure Fahrprüfung. Und die Regierung sagt immer, dass wir nicht genug Fahrer haben. Sie stellen Fahrer aus anderen Ländern ein, die nicht einmal in der EU sind. Aber als es eine Pandemie gab, stellte sich heraus, dass wir nicht genug Fahrer hatten. Das ist die Schuld der übermäßigen Bürokratie.
Ein Beispiel für dumme Bürokratie: Wenn man rückwärts einparkt, wird einem beigebracht, nur in die Heckscheibe zu schauen (90 % der Zeit), auch wenn man wegen der großen Säulen und der Fahrgäste nichts sehen kann. Man muss trotzdem zurückschauen, das ist ein dummes Führerscheingesetz. Aber der VW Transporter zum Beispiel hat keine Heckscheibe.
Ich habe seit 20 Jahren einen Führerschein, aber ich kann die Prüfung immer noch nicht bestehen. Es geht nicht darum, wie ich fahre, sondern darum, wie ich meinen Kopf für den Prüfer demonstrativ drehen kann.
Do you need a license to drive a tesla as it has fully auto pilot and safty systems to detect collision before it happened?
I received my UK Driver's License in 2020 after paying thousands of Euros, and 3 tests.
In november 2023, I got my license in Automatic here in Germany with the cost of 3900 euros and one of my friends spent 10k to get the license.
I got my drivers license in april and paid 3.400€. insane
The only reason driving licenses cost as much, is that driving schools have finally started acting like the mafia they are, and extorting hapless students – who have absolutely no other option because unlike in literally every single other EU country, in Germany, a driving school instructor is the only one who is allowed to book you a practical test. This might have worked in 2000, but in 2024 it does nothing but enable extortion. This is yet another area where Germany needs to update itself to the standard of today's world, instead of being content living in the world of 2 decades ago.
Her steering wheel control was terrible..
The profit is much greater that is the big difference.. 5000€ for a test is just going to mean so many young people will never have a licence…
She was close to getting her licence taken away 😅
The price 3000 euro is absurd. xd
Ein neues Parallelparkwarnsystem ist eine fantastische Idee! Wenn meine Enkelin parallel einparken möchte, aktiviert sie ein violettes Blinklicht auf dem Dach des Autos, begleitet von einer aufgezeichneten, sich wiederholenden mündlichen Ansage (Sicherheit, Sicherheit, Sicherheit, dieses Fahrzeug beabsichtigt, die Position zu ändern, bitte bleiben Sie frei) und das Durch das kombinierte Blinken und Rotieren der violetten Lampe und die wiederholte verbale Ansage über ein Lautsprechersystem können andere Verkehrsteilnehmer erkennen, dass ihr Fahrzeug eine eingeschränkte Halte- und Parkübung durchführt.
If your performance get you 80% in Germany mine I’m sure it’s gonna go 50%
I watch Meggi's stories but i don't learn anything because I'm just mesmerised by her beauty and can't seem to focus
Yes, the two priority signs are the same in real life. Because the yellow and white sign is also located at every corresponding junction. The biggest difference is that the yellow-white is also used for "abknickender Vorfahrt"
Incidentally, there are also a handful of distance measurements that you should know in order to be able to park with impunity.
Ich hab vor 4 Wochen meinen Führerschein bestanden und habe sowohl die Theorie als auch die praktische Prüfung beim ersten Mal bestanden. Mit den 12 Pflichtstunden (Autobahn, Überland und Nacht) und ungefähr 8 normalen Stunden habe ich 3.200€ bezahlt.
I need to pay twice as much for a the registration and per lesson than 10 years ago because I don't pay attention in the car?
After driving in New York and New Jersey traffic and on highways for 45 years, that instructor better buckle up because he'd be in for the ride of his life, no speed limit, I'm surprised the vehicle isn't governed but he does have his foot pedals, people don't like driving with me because they say I'm too aggressive which I am, depending on traffic conditions, it's fun and so far I've never been pulled over.
Did it in 2400 €. Juhuuu!!! 🎉🎉
Very cool! Stuck at home in MN… No right hand drive over there? All drive in the same direction?
1:39 This should be one of the rules told to every US driver renting a car in Europe – and vice-versa – because it’s the exact opposite. In the US, you have to stop at every “T intersection” and yield to any cars going straight before turning. So she would have had right of way.
As a European-American I think the “right before left” rule is one of the few traffic rules that the Europeans have got wrong. As the instructor himself admits it’s hard for people to internalize, and actually causes many accidents. In this instance it’s illogical – she’s going at speed, the car to the right would anyway have had to brake. I cynically think rules
like these are written so that you can assign blame in retrospect for insurance purposes.
Do you know it actually illegal to drive in any European country without being aware of the rules of the road in that country? If you do not know the traffic signs in Germany and how to drive in Germany you could actually be taken off the road.
Had to spend 10 grand for the license in 2025. More expensive than all my education until PhD
I got my first drivers license in the Netherlands. If there is no sign on the road you drive on (not the side road), right has right away.
I got a drivers license as an American dependent high school student in Heidelberg in 1976. As far as I know and I’m probably wrong, I took the same written test (albeit in English) and road sign test as the Germans would have. The actual driving test was proctored by a US Army E7 who clearly hated his job. Has me drive a large rectangle essentially with no parallel parking, although I knew how to do that. Then in 1981 I got a license as a service member in Wiesbaden. I’m sure things are different now though.
You don't need to pass in Germany… pass in Latvia instead it's an EU license you can just use it in Germany anyway….