YOUR FAHRSCHULE S.U.V.
IN DÜSSELDORF

Class B — Manual or automatic

Vehicles

Cars and small vans up to 3,500 kg with no more than 8 seats besides the driver's

Gearbox

If you take your test in a manual, you can drive both. If you take it in an automatic, your licence is limited to automatics

Trailer

A trailer up to 750 kg is always fine. A heavier one only if the car and trailer together weigh no more than 3,500 kg

Minimum age

18, or 17 with BF17 (you can register with us from 16½)

Probationary period

2 years, which is extended to 4 if you break certain rules

Where it's valid

Recognised everywhere in the EU

Class B197 — Automatic driving test

Test

You take the driving test in an automatic and still get a full licence for manual cars too

Manual lessons

At least 10 lessons in a manual car, followed by a short check drive

The advantage

You can drive any car later on, manual or automatic

Minimum age

18, or 17 with BF17 (you can register with us from 16½)

Probationary period

2 years, which is extended to 4 if you break certain rules

Where it's valid

Everywhere in the EU, just like a standard class B licence

Class BF17 — Register from 16½

Registration

You can register with the driving school from the age of 16½

Theory test

At the earliest 3 months before your 17th birthday

Driving test

At the earliest 1 month before your 17th birthday

Driving

Until your 18th birthday, only with an accompanying person named on your licence

Accompanying person

Aged 30 or over, has held a class B licence for 5 years and has no more than 1 point in Flensburg

The advantage

You build up driving experience early, and it can mean cheaper insurance

Classes BE & B96 — Trailer licences

What BE covers

A car towing a heavy trailer of more than 750 kg

BE weight limit

Car and trailer together up to 7,000 kg in total

BE test

A practical test, driving the car with the trailer attached

What B96 covers

Car and trailer combinations up to 4,250 kg, with no test needed

B96 training

All you need is a training course with a theory part and a practical part

Useful for

Camping, leisure or moving large loads

Pre-registration and registration — Step 01 / 08

Pre-register online in about five minutes.

What happens when you register with us?

Registering is your first official step towards the licence. You fill in a short pre-registration form online, and we phone you to arrange your first appointment with us in Düsseldorf. At that appointment we talk through the details: which class you want (B, B197, BF17, BE or B96), how fast you'd like to go, and which documents we collect from you and which ones you bring yourself.

When you register, the only thing you pay is the base fee, which some people call the registration fee. You can book the learning app on top if you want it. Driving lessons, the mandatory drives (Sonderfahrten) and the test fees are charged separately, and you'll find every price on our price list.

Already learning at another driving school? You can switch to us part-way through, and it's straightforward. Your current school gives you a training record (Ausbildungsnachweis), and we carry on from there. That way you keep everything you've already done and don't have to start again from the beginning.

What you need to register

• You can register with us from 16½. The application to the driving licence office can go in six months before your 17th birthday with BF17, or before your 18th without it
• If you're under 18: consent and a signature from your parents or guardians
• Your ID card or passport (for the appointment at the school)
• A recent biometric passport photo (you can bring it later)
• For BF17: the details of your accompanying person or people

How long does registration take?

Pre-registering online takes about five minutes. Your first appointment at the school usually takes 30 to 45 minutes, because we sign the contract, set up the learning app and answer your questions. Once you've signed, you can start theory lessons straight away, often in the same week.

Frequently asked questions

What does registering cost? When you register you pay the base fee, and the exact amounts are on our price list. Driving lessons and test fees are charged later, according to what you actually use, and never as one all-in package.

Can I switch from another driving school? Yes. Ask your current driving school for your training record (Ausbildungsnachweis) and bring it to your first appointment with us. We pick up exactly where you stopped, so you don't lose any theory or driving lessons you've already paid for.

Do I need to have applied for my licence already? You apply for the licence at the driving licence office (Straßenverkehrsamt) or at the Bürgerbüro, the local citizens' office. For classes B, B197, B78 and BF17 we can file it for you on request for an extra charge. Either way, we tell you exactly which documents you need: your ID card, the eye test, the first-aid certificate and a biometric photo. With our checklist, you'll have everything ready in time.

Can I just come in without an appointment? You're welcome to drop by, but we recommend pre-registering online first, because then you won't have to wait.

How soon can I start after registering? You can start theory as soon as the contract is signed. In Düsseldorf the next theory lesson is usually only a few days away.

A tip from Fahrschule S.U.V.

Come to your first appointment with your questions ready. It helps us plan a realistic timetable if we know whether you want a manual or a B197 automatic, how fast you'd like to go and when you'll be short of time, for example in your final year at school or during a semester abroad.

First-aid course and eye test — Step 02 / 08

Two things you need first: a first-aid course (9 lessons of 45 minutes) and an eye test.

What are the first-aid course and the eye test about?

Before you can apply for your licence at the driving licence office (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde), you need two official certificates. One shows that you've done the first-aid course (Erste-Hilfe-Kurs), which the law calls Lebensrettende Sofortmaßnahmen, or LSM for short. The other is a recent eye test (Sehtest). You need both for any car licence, and you can do them whenever it suits you, separately from your theory and driving lessons.

The first-aid course is nine lessons of 45 minutes, and most people do it on a Saturday. It covers what to do first in an emergency: the recovery position, CPR, dressing wounds, making an emergency call and how to behave at the scene of an accident. Approved providers such as ASB, DRK, Johanniter, Malteser and the ADAC run the courses.

The eye test is much quicker. An optician or eye doctor checks that your eyesight meets the class B standard of 0.7/0.7, with or without glasses (Anlage 6 FeV). It takes five to ten minutes, and each test centre sets its own price.

What you need for first aid and the eye test

• Your ID card or passport (needed for the certificate)
• A booking with an approved provider (DRK, ASB, Johanniter, Malteser, ADAC or similar)
• An appointment with an optician or eye doctor for the eye test
• If you wear glasses or contact lenses, bring them to the test

How long do the first-aid course and the eye test take?

The first-aid course is at least 9 lessons of 45 minutes each, which is just under seven hours, and it's usually a one-day course on a Saturday. The eye test at an optician is done in ten minutes. Your first-aid certificate never expires. The eye test, on the other hand, can be no more than two years old when you apply, so don't do it years in advance.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I do a first-aid course in Düsseldorf? In Düsseldorf, the DRK, ASB, Johanniter, Malteser, the ADAC and some private providers run weekend courses regularly. When you register, we'll suggest some current dates.

How long is the first-aid certificate valid? It doesn't expire, because the law sets no time limit for it (§ 19 FeV). The eye test is different: it can be no more than two years old when you apply (§ 12 Abs. 7 FeV).

What does the eye test cost? Each test centre sets its own price. Opticians and eye doctors both check against the same standard: 0.7/0.7, with or without glasses (Anlage 6 FeV).

What happens if I fail the eye test? If your eyesight isn't good enough without correction, you'll be prescribed glasses or contact lenses, and then you take the test again wearing them. Your licence will then show the code 01.06, which means you have to wear them when you drive.

Can I do the first-aid course and the eye test at the same time? Yes, because they're completely separate. Many learners do the eye test at an optician during the week and the first-aid course on the Saturday after.

A tip from Fahrschule S.U.V.

Book both as early as you can. Then the certificates are ready when you apply at the office, and nothing holds you up on the way to the theory test.

Applying to the driving licence office — Step 03 / 08

You apply for your licence at the driving licence office, or for class B we file it for you on request for an extra charge. We tell you exactly which documents you need.

What happens when you apply to the driving licence office?

Your application to the driving licence office (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde) is what opens your test file at TÜV Rheinland, and without it you can't take either the theory test or the driving test. We explain exactly which forms and documents you need and how to apply at the Bürgerbüro or the Düsseldorf driving licence office. You hand the application in yourself.

First you collect the documents: a recent biometric passport photo (the same kind as for an ID card, so no selfies and no shadows on your face), your first-aid certificate, the eye test and your ID card. With our checklist, you'll have everything ready before you go to the office.

Once you've applied, the office checks your documents, requests your record from the central traffic register (probationary period, points, any earlier licences) and then releases your test file. We can only book your theory test after that release, not before. So until it comes through, you can't move on to the tests, however far you've got with theory and driving.

Documents for your application

• A recent biometric passport photo (35 × 45 mm, plain background, looking straight ahead)
• First-aid certificate (LSM)
• Eye test certificate
• Your ID card or passport
• For BF17: details and consent of your accompanying person or people

How long does the application take?

The driving licence office in Düsseldorf says it takes an average of twelve weeks to process a first licence. It can accept your application six months before your 17th birthday (with BF17) or your 18th birthday, and that's exactly why applying is the first step and not the last. Your theory and driving lessons carry on as normal during that time, because only the tests themselves need the office's approval.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the application take in Düsseldorf? The office itself says twelve weeks on average. You're allowed to apply up to six months before your 17th or 18th birthday, so if you apply at the start, the wait doesn't cost you a single day. If you do the theory first and only apply afterwards, those weeks are added on at the end.

Can I have theory or driving lessons before the office approves my application? Yes. You can take theory and driving lessons at any time once your training contract is signed. Only the official tests, theory and practical, depend on the office's approval.

What does the photo need to look like? It has to be strictly biometric, following the rules of the Bundesdruckerei: 35 × 45 mm, a plain background, no smile showing teeth, no sunglasses and no strong shadows.

What does the application cost? In Düsseldorf the office charges €45.90 for a first licence. That fee isn't part of our registration fee, and you pay it directly to the city.

What happens if I move house? If you move to a new address within Germany, you have to tell the office, and your application may then be passed on to the office responsible for your new area. If a move is coming up, keep us posted.

A tip from Fahrschule S.U.V.

Get the photo, eye test and first-aid certificate done on the same weekend. Then you can hand in your application the week after and go to theory lessons at the same time, without the office holding you up.

Theory lessons — Step 04 / 08

12 compulsory double lessons on the general topics plus 2 for your class, in person at our school, on the days that suit you.

What happens in theory lessons?

Theory lessons teach you everything you need to know on the road: traffic signs, right of way, speed and distance, driving with the environment in mind, how to handle difficult conditions such as darkness, fog and ice, and the topics specific to class B, the car licence. You have to complete 14 double lessons of 90 minutes each. Twelve cover the general topics that apply to every class, and two cover what's specific to class B.

At Fahrschule S.U.V., theory follows a fixed weekly timetable. You choose the lessons that fit your day, whether that's after school, after work or on a Saturday. Each double lesson deals with one clear topic, for example right of way, eco-friendly driving or the mandatory drives, so you learn the material in blocks that make sense. That's quite different from the learning app, where you're on your own in front of a screen.

You can also book the learning app, which has all the official test questions. We recommend using it for 15 to 20 minutes every day, because it reinforces what you heard in class and gets you ready for the questions in the test. Theory lessons run from Monday to Saturday, with none on Sundays, and the theory timetable always shows the latest dates.

What you need for theory lessons

• A signed training contract
• If you want it: the learning app, which you can book as an extra
• 12 double lessons on the general topics (compulsory for every class)
• 2 class-specific double lessons (for class B, the topics that are specific to cars)
• If you already hold another class: only 6 double lessons on the general topics, plus the class-specific ones

How long does the theory part take?

How quickly you finish depends on how many lessons you go to each week. The theory timetable shows how often lessons run during the week.

Frequently asked questions

How many theory lessons do I need? For a first class B licence you need 12 double lessons on the general topics and 2 class-specific double lessons, so 14 double lessons in total, or 28 lessons of 45 minutes. If you already hold another class, 6 general double lessons plus the 2 class-specific ones are enough.

Can I do theory lessons online? No. With us, theory lessons only take place in person at the school, so you come along to the dates on the weekly timetable. To prepare at home, you can book the learning app with all the official test questions.

What happens in the school holidays? Theory lessons run from Monday to Saturday, with none on Sundays. Whether there's a lesson on a particular day is always shown, up to date, in the theory timetable on our website.

Do I have to go to every theory lesson? You don't have to attend every lesson, but you do need the minimum number of double lessons for your class. If you miss one, you can make it up in another week, and we record every lesson you attend in your training record.

When can I take the theory test? Once you've done all the compulsory double lessons and the office has released your test file. Only then do we register you with the TÜV.

A tip from Fahrschule S.U.V.

Spend 15 to 20 minutes on the learning app every day, because short, regular practice works better than cramming just before the test. The mock test (Theorie-Vorprüfung) with us then shows you whether you're ready for the real one.

Theory test — Step 05 / 08

30 questions on a computer at the TÜV, and for class B you can have no more than 10 penalty points.

What's in the theory test?

You take the theory test at the TÜV in Düsseldorf. You answer 30 questions on a computer: 20 on the general topics and 10 on your class, which is B. Each question is worth 2, 3, 4 or 5 penalty points if you get it wrong. For class B you can collect no more than 10 penalty points, and you mustn't get two 5-point questions wrong, because then you fail even if your total is under 10.

You have a maximum of 45 minutes. You can mark questions, go back to them later and submit everything at the end. The result appears on the screen straight away, and then the next stage can begin: your driving lessons, including the mandatory drives.

Before the theory test, you take a mock test (Theorie-Vorprüfung) with us, and only after that do we clear you for the test at the TÜV. If you don't pass, you can try again after a two-week waiting period.

What you need for the theory test

• Approval from the driving licence office
• All compulsory theory double lessons completed
• Your ID card or passport on the day (without it you can't take the test)
• The theory test fee (TÜV Rheinland: ⟦24,99 €|https://www.tuv.com/germany/de/f%C3%BChrerschein-theoretische-und-praktische-pr%C3%BCfung.html⟧), which you usually pay at the test centre on the day
• You're old enough: the theory test is allowed at the earliest three months before your 17th birthday (BF17) or your 18th birthday

How long does the theory test take?

You take the test on a computer at the TÜV test centre. Leave yourself some time to get there and to check in when you arrive.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are in the theory test? For class B there are 30 questions in total: 20 on the general topics and 10 specific to your class. You can have up to 10 penalty points. If you get two of the highest-value questions (5 points) wrong, you fail automatically, even if your total is under 10.

What happens if I fail? You have to wait at least two weeks before trying again, and after that you can be booked in again. You pay the test fee each time. After three failed attempts, we recommend going back over the questions in detail to see where things go wrong, and we'll help you with that.

Where do I take the theory test in Düsseldorf? You take it at TÜV Rheinland in Düsseldorf. Once you've passed the mock test with us, we clear you for the test, and you then book the date yourself.

Can I take the test in another language? Yes. The theory test is available in German and 14 other languages: English, French, Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Croatian, Spanish, Turkish, Standard Arabic, Kurmanji and Ukrainian (Anlage 7 FeV).

How long does a theory pass stay valid? You have to take the driving test within 12 months of passing the theory test. If that time runs out, your theory pass is no longer valid and you have to take the theory test again.

A tip from Fahrschule S.U.V.

In the two days before the test, do 50 to 100 questions a day in the learning app, and then go into the test well rested and relaxed. Read every question slowly, because most mistakes come from misreading, especially missing small words like "not" or "except".

Driving lessons — Step 06 / 08

Practice lessons plus the 12 mandatory drives on country roads, on the motorway and at night, at a pace that follows your progress.

What happens in your driving lessons?

The driving lessons are the core of your training. You start with practice lessons on quiet residential streets in Düsseldorf and build up step by step to harder situations such as city traffic, roundabouts, main roads and parking. How many practice lessons you need is different for everyone, because the law sets no minimum for them. The only fixed number is for the mandatory drives below.

For class B you have to do 12 mandatory drives (Sonderfahrten). Five are on country roads, 45 minutes each on main roads outside the city. Four are on the motorway, 45 minutes each, where you practise joining and leaving, changing lanes, overtaking and driving at high speed. Three are at night, 45 minutes each at dusk or in the dark, where you learn about visibility, using your lights and watching out for animals crossing the road. Other lessons can't replace these drives, and they're your last lessons before the driving test.

Your instructor keeps assessing when you're ready for the test, and there's no one-size-fits-all answer. We'll be honest with you about it, because a few more lessons are better than a failed attempt. At TÜV Rheinland the class B driving test currently costs ⟦129,83 €|https://www.tuv.com/germany/de/f%C3%BChrerschein-theoretische-und-praktische-pr%C3%BCfung.html⟧, and after a fail you also have to wait for a new date. We go at your pace, and nobody will push you into the test before you can really drive safely.

What you need for driving lessons

• A signed training contract
• The mandatory drives only once your basic training is mostly finished (§ 5 Abs. 2 FahrschAusbO)
• Glasses or contact lenses, if the eye test says you need them
• Comfortable clothes and shoes, so no high heels or slippery soles on the pedals

How long does it take until the driving test?

How long you need before the driving test depends on how often you drive, because that sets your pace. If you'd like to get it done faster, there's our 14-day intensive course.

Frequently asked questions

How many driving lessons do I need for class B? The 12 mandatory drives are compulsory: 5 on country roads, 4 on the motorway and 3 at night. There's no legal minimum for practice lessons, so the number you need depends on you. Your instructor will tell you honestly when you're ready for the test.

What does a driving lesson cost in Düsseldorf? You'll find the exact prices on our price list. Lessons are charged per 45-minute unit. With us, practice lessons and mandatory drives cost the same, and only class BE lessons cost a little more.

What are the mandatory drives? They're the drives every car licence has to include: 5 on country roads, 4 on the motorway and 3 at night. Most people do them towards the end of their training, and ordinary practice lessons can't replace them.

Manual or automatic (B197)? If you take your test in a manual car, you can drive both. With class B197 you take the test in an automatic, but you also need at least 10 practice lessons in a manual and a short check drive. You then get a full licence with no restriction.

How soon will I see progress? At the start you work on the basics: pulling away, changing gear and steering on residential streets. City traffic comes in over time. The mandatory drives are your last lessons before the test, and by then it feels like proper driving.

A tip from Fahrschule S.U.V.

Try to book your lessons in a regular pattern, for example every Tuesday and Thursday morning, because a routine works better than the odd lesson now and then. And let yourself have breaks: after six to eight intensive lessons in one week, a week off often does more good than squeezing in one more lesson.

Driving test — Step 07 / 08

A 55-minute test with the TÜV examiner, at least 30 minutes of it actual driving, in town, on country roads and in special situations. We're there with you.

What's assessed in the driving test?

For class B the driving test lasts 55 minutes, and at least 30 of them are actual driving. In the car are you, your instructor and the official examiner from the TÜV. You drive a route the examiner chooses: a mix of town driving (central Düsseldorf with 30 km/h zones, traffic lights and right-of-way situations), main or country roads (higher speeds, overtaking, changing lanes) and at least one motorway junction where you join and leave, as long as there's one within a reasonable distance.

The examiner assesses you the whole time and notes everything you do: how you handle the car (pulling away, changing gear, steering), how you watch the traffic (looking over your shoulder, using your mirrors, where you're looking), right of way, adjusting your speed to the traffic, keeping to your lane and driving with the environment in mind (braking early, being in the right gear, switching off the engine at long red lights). You also do three basic manoeuvres. Reversing into a side road on the right or parallel parking is always one of them, plus two from turning the car round, bay or angled parking, and an emergency stop with the hardest possible braking (Anlage 7 Nr. 2.1.4.2 FeV).

You fail if you make a serious mistake, for example ignoring right of way when it has consequences, going through a red light, driving the wrong way, having an accident, or your instructor having to take the wheel or use the pedals. One small mistake, like a sluggish start, a rushed look over your shoulder or changing gear too late, usually won't make you fail. Several of them together can, though (Anlage 7 Nr. 2.5.2 b FeV).

What you need for the driving test

• A theory pass that's still valid, so no more than 12 months old
• All 12 mandatory drives recorded
• Your instructor has confirmed you're ready
• At the earliest one month before your 17th birthday (BF17) or your 18th birthday
• Your ID card on the day
• For BF17: your accompanying person or people confirmed in your application
• Glasses or contact lenses, if the eye test says you need them

How long does the driving test take?

For class B the test lasts 55 minutes in total, with at least 30 minutes of driving. The preparation, questions about the car and the talk at the end are all part of those 55 minutes (Anlage 7 FeV).

Frequently asked questions

How long does the driving test take? For class B it's 55 minutes in total, with at least 30 minutes of driving. The preparation and the talk at the end are included.

What makes me fail the driving test? A serious mistake, meaning something that puts safety at risk: going through a red light, ignoring right of way when it has consequences, going well over the speed limit, your instructor having to take the wheel or brake, an accident or leaving the road. Smaller mistakes are weighed up in the overall assessment.

How likely am I to pass first time? That depends almost entirely on how well prepared you are. If you've done all the mandatory drives and enough practice lessons, and your instructor thinks you're ready, you go into the test with a good chance. You can retake it, but every attempt costs time and money, and that's why we don't send anyone too early.

What happens if I fail? You have to wait at least two weeks (§ 18 FeV), and you'll usually have some extra practice lessons to work on whatever went wrong. You pay the test fee again (class B: ⟦129,83 €|https://www.tuv.com/germany/de/f%C3%BChrerschein-theoretische-und-praktische-pr%C3%BCfung.html⟧ at TÜV Rheinland in NRW, and more for other classes).

Which manoeuvres will I have to do? Reversing into a side road on the right or parallel parking is always included. You also do two of these: turning the car round, bay or angled parking, and an emergency stop with the hardest possible braking. We practise all of them with you beforehand.

A tip from Fahrschule S.U.V.

On the day of the test, get a good night's sleep, have a proper breakfast and be at the meeting point 30 minutes early. If you're feeling nervous, just tell the examiner in a friendly way. Good examiners give you time to settle in before they ask for the tricky manoeuvres.

Getting your licence — Step 08 / 08

After you pass: your licence card or a test certificate, the probationary period, and then you're on your way.

What happens after you pass?

Whether you get the card straight away or a temporary certificate first depends on whether your licence card is ready on the day of your test. Sometimes the TÜV examiner already has it and gives it to you there and then. If it isn't ready yet, you get a white test certificate (Prüfbescheinigung) and take it to the driving licence office (Straßenverkehrsamt). Legally, your licence is granted the moment that certificate is issued. Together with your ID card, it lets you drive on your own straight away, but only in Germany and for no more than three months, because it isn't recognised abroad. Always carry it with you.

The driving licence office issues your final licence card, which is the size of a bank card. You normally collect it in person from the Straßenverkehrsamt or the Bürgerbüro.

Accompanied driving (BF17): you get a separate test certificate for BF17. It's your proof that you hold a licence, it's only valid together with your ID card, and it lasts until three months after your 18th birthday at the latest. Until you turn 18, you may only drive with a registered accompanying person, and after that the rule falls away automatically. You then apply to the office for your licence card.

Your two-year probationary period (Probezeit) starts automatically when the licence is granted. During it the alcohol limit is 0.0 ‰ (which applies to everyone under 21 anyway). A serious "A" offence, such as ignoring right of way, driving 21 km/h or more over the limit or using your phone while driving, extends the probationary period by two years and means you have to do a follow-up course (Aufbauseminar). A second A offence brings a written warning and a recommendation to see a traffic psychologist. Only a third A offence means your licence is taken away, and you can then get a new one after three months at the earliest, and only with a follow-up course (§ 2a Abs. 5 StVG). So drive carefully and defensively for the first two years.

What you need after passing

• Your licence card from the examiner, or a white test certificate (valid only in Germany, for up to 3 months)
• Your ID card, which you always carry with the test certificate
• Collecting the card from the Straßenverkehrsamt
• For BF17: your own certificate, plus your registered accompanying person on every drive until you're 18
• Knowing that the two-year probationary period comes with stricter rules

How long until I have my licence in my hand?

Your probationary period runs for two years from the day you pass the test, and it makes no difference when the card is issued. With BF17, you only drive with your registered accompanying person between 17 and 18, and on your own from your 18th birthday. Your two-year probationary period still counts from the date the licence was granted, so from 17 and not from 18.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get my licence card? Sometimes the examiner already has your card on the day of the test. If it isn't there yet, you can drive legally in the meantime with the white test certificate (always together with your ID card, and valid for no more than three months). It only counts in Germany, though, and isn't recognised abroad.

When does the probationary period start? It starts when you pass the test and runs for two years from that day. It's automatically extended to four years, and you have to do a follow-up course (Aufbauseminar), if you commit an A offence, for example driving 21 km/h or more over the limit, ignoring right of way when it has consequences, or using your phone while driving.

What is BF17, and what does my accompanying person have to do? BF17 (Begleitetes Fahren ab 17) means accompanied driving from 17. Between 17 and 18 you may only drive if a registered accompanying person is sitting in the passenger seat. They must be at least 30, have held a class B licence for 5 years and have no more than 1 point in the driving aptitude register (Fahreignungsregister). They aren't allowed to take over the controls, but they're there to advise you and to warn you.

What happens if I break the rules during the probationary period? After one serious A offence, your probationary period is extended to four years and you have to do a follow-up course (Aufbauseminar), which is four sessions of 135 minutes plus an observed drive. After two A offences, you get a written warning and a recommendation to see a traffic psychologist. After three, your licence is taken away. Less serious B offences only count in combination with others.

Can I drive on my own straight after passing? Yes. As soon as you have the card or the white test certificate, you can drive home from the test on your own, without your instructor. The certificate counts as proof of your licence, but only in Germany and only together with your ID card. With BF17 (the pink certificate), you still have to drive with your accompanying person until your 18th birthday.

A tip from Fahrschule S.U.V.

Right after the test, you won't have much routine yet. So take it calmly at first, and give yourself time until you feel confident driving on your own.