DRIVING LICENSE CLASSES
Overview of driving license classes in Germany
driving license classes
| Class | Description | acquisition | Presupposes | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AM | Two- or three-wheeled motor vehicles and four-wheeled light motor vehicles with a maximum design speed of up to 45 km/h | from 16 years (Austria from 15 years) | – | – |
| A1 | Motorcycles with a displacement of up to 125 cm³, an engine power of up to 11 kW and a power-to-weight ratio of up to 0.1 kW/kg and three-wheeled motor vehicles with a power of up to 15 kW | from 16 years | – | AM |
| A2 | Motorcycles with an engine power of up to 35 kW and a power-to-weight ratio of up to 0.2 kW/kg, which are not derived from a vehicle with more than twice the engine power | from 18 years | – | A1, AM |
| A | Motorcycles over 50 cm³ or over 45 km/h, including with sidecars, and three-wheeled motor vehicles with an output of more than 15 kW | From 20 years of age with at least two years of driving experience in class A2 | A1, A2, AM | – |
| B1 | Multi-lane motor vehicles up to 550 kg empty weight | depending on the country from 16 or 18 years | – | AM |
| B | Multi-lane motor vehicles up to 3.5 t permissible total weight and a maximum of 9 seats (including driver) | From 17 years (accompanied driving) or from 18 years | – | AM, B1 |
| C1 | Multi-lane motor vehicle up to 7.5 t permissible total weight, maximum 9 seats (including driver) | from 18 years | B | – |
| C | Multi-lane motor vehicles with a permissible total weight of over 7.5 t, maximum 9 seats (including driver) | From 18 or 21 years depending on the country | B | C1 |
| D1 | Buses with up to 16 seats (including driver) and a maximum length of 8 m | from 21 years | B | – |
| D | Buses with more than 9 seats (including driver) | From 21 or 24 years depending on the country | B | D1, D1E |
| BE | Trains consisting of a B-tractor and a trailer with a permissible total weight of more than 0.75 t (provided the train does not fall under class B) | From 17 years (accompanied driving) or from 18 years | B | – |
| C1E | Trains consisting of a C1 towing vehicle and a trailer over 0.75 t and trains consisting of a B towing vehicle and a trailer over 3.5 t permissible total mass | from 18 years | C1 | BE |
| CE | trucks and articulated lorries | from 18 years | C | BE, C1E |
| D1E | Trains consisting of a D1 towing vehicle and a trailer with a permissible total mass of more than 0.75 t | from 21 years | D1 | BE |
| DE | Trains consisting of an express tractor and a trailer with a permissible total weight of more than 0.75 t | From 21 or 24 years depending on the country | D | BE, D1E |
In Germany, there are different driving license classes that allow drivers to drive different types of vehicles. Each class has specific requirements regarding the minimum age, the previous knowledge required and the type of vehicles that can be driven. The most important driving license classes are summarized below.
motorcycles
The AM class allows drivers to drive two- or three-wheeled motor vehicles as well as four-wheeled light motor vehicles with a maximum speed of up to 45 km/h. To obtain this driving license, you must be at least 16 years old (in Austria from 15 years).
The A1 class is intended for motorcycles with a displacement of up to 125 cm³ and an engine power of a maximum of 11 kW. Here too, the minimum age is 16 years. The A2 class allows the driving of motorcycles with an engine power of up to 35 kW and a certain power-to-weight ratio, with the minimum age being 18 years. A driver of the A2 class can acquire the more comprehensive A class after two years of driving experience , which allows access to motorcycles with unlimited power.
Multi-lane motor vehicles
The B1 class allows the driving of multi-track vehicles up to 550 kg unladen weight and is available from 16 or 18 years of age, depending on the country. The B class is one of the most used, as it allows the driving of vehicles with a total mass of up to 3.5 t and a maximum of 9 seats, including the driver. Here the minimum age in Germany is 17 years (for accompanied driving) or 18 years.
For heavier vehicles, there are the C1 and C classes. The C1 class allows you to drive vehicles with a total mass of up to 7.5 t, while the C class is for vehicles over 7.5 t. The minimum age is 18 or 21 years, depending on the class.
buses
There are D1 and D classes for driving buses . The D1 class includes buses with up to 16 seats and a minimum age of 21 years. The D class allows you to drive buses with more than 9 seats, with the minimum age being between 21 and 24 years, depending on the country.
driving license classes for trailers
The BE class allows you to drive vehicle combinations consisting of a class B towing vehicle and a trailer with a total weight of more than 0.75 t. You can acquire this class from the age of 17 or 18. For larger trailer combinations, classes C1E and CE come into play, which allow you to drive combinations with a higher permissible total weight. The driver must be at least 18 years old, depending on the class.
Furthermore, there are the D1E and DE classes, which offer special regulations for trains consisting of D1 and D tractor units with corresponding trailers, whereby the minimum age here is also between 21 and 24 years.
This system of license classes provides a structured way for drivers to obtain the necessary qualifications to safely and legally drive different types of vehicles. It is important to know the requirements and previous knowledge in order to obtain the appropriate license.