Get a German driving licence (driving school) in Germany

If your licence can't simply be exchanged, you'll learn to drive through a registered driving school (Fahrschule) in Germany and pass both a theory and a practical exam. German training is thorough — and not cheap — with a set number of compulsory lessons, including special drives on the motorway and at night.

⏱️Budget roughly €2,500–3,500+ all-in. From signing up to passing usually takes 3–6 months.

Good to know — wherever you live

• ✓You enrol at a Fahrschule, which registers you for the theory (Theorieprüfung) and practical (praktische Prüfung) tests and guides you through the paperwork.
• ✓Certain lessons are mandatory: a fixed number of theory sessions plus special drives (Sonderfahrten) on the Autobahn, on country roads and at night.
• ✓You'll also need a first-aid course (Erste-Hilfe-Kurs), an eyesight test and a biometric photo before the licence is issued.
• ✓The theory test is available in several languages including English in most regions — ask your Fahrschule when you sign up.
• ✓If your existing foreign licence only needs converting rather than re-sitting, use the licence-exchange route instead — it's far cheaper and faster.