How much does it cost? Driving licensein Düsseldorf?

How much does the 2026 driving license cost in Düsseldorf?

For Class B, expect around €1,800 to €3,800 in total. The range is deliberately so wide: How many hours of practice you need depends on the individual, and that's exactly what the largest part of the total depends on.

The total is made up of two very different pots. One is the driving school: basic fee, driving lessons, presentation for the exam. The other is third-party fees that you pay directly to the TÜV, road traffic office, eye test center, first aid provider and photo studio. If you only compare the driving school price, you are comparing half.

Roughly speaking, most driving lessons make up between 60 and 75 percent of the total. Everything else is comparatively small and, above all, the same at every driving school in Düsseldorf because none of us specify it.

How much does a driving lesson cost in NRW?

There is no officially set price for driving lessons - each driving school calculates itself, which is why the prices in North Rhine-Westphalia vary widely depending on the location and vehicle. Here in Düsseldorf-Oberbilk, a practice or special trip costs €65 per 45 minutes, and a class BE driving lesson costs €70.

Our practice trip and special trip cost the same. This is not the case everywhere: Some driving schools cover motorway, intercity and night journeys, even though they are the same 45 minutes - and exactly the twelve special journeys are compulsory and therefore non-negotiable.

Each hour is billed individually. So you pay for what you actually drove and not for a package whose layout you didn't know when you registered.

How long does a driving lesson last and how much does a double lesson cost?

An hour's driving takes 45 minutes. A double lesson is two of them, i.e. 90 minutes in a row - and it costs exactly twice as much as a single driving lesson, with no surcharge and no discount.

The 45 minutes are not a house rule, but the training unit from the learner driver training regulations: The special training trips are also expressly counted as “45 minutes each”.

In practice, cross-country and motorway journeys are almost always done in double hours because you have to get out of Düsseldorf and back again. For these appointments, expect double the amount per appointment - not a higher hourly price.

Legal basis: Section 5 FahrschAusbO (special training trips of 45 minutes each).

How much does a theory lesson cost?

Nothing extra. The theory lessons are not billed per hour, but are included entirely in the basic registration fee - so you don't pay any more even if you attend a double lesson a second time.

Twelve double hours of basic material are required for the first acquisition, plus the class-specific lessons for your class. A double lesson is 90 minutes. Which topics come up when is stated in our theory plan.

Legal basis: Annex 1 FahrschAusbO (basic material framework plan, 12 double hours).

How much does the theory test at TÜV cost?

The theoretical test costs €24.99 for all driving license classes. TÜV Rheinland charges this fee directly to you - it is not included in any driving school price and should not be.

Nobody registers you for the theory test: you go to the testing center yourself during opening hours. The driving school will approve you for this as soon as you have passed the preliminary test with us. This activation costs us nothing.

TÜV Rheinland is the responsible technical testing center for Düsseldorf. Other testing organizations are responsible in other federal states.

Source: Fee list for “driving license tests” from TÜV Rheinland for North Rhine-Westphalia, valid from January 31, 2024. The author’s current list is always relevant.

How much does the practical driving test at the TÜV cost?

The practical test costs €129.83 for classes B, BE and AM and €162.67 for motorcycle classes A, A1 and A2. This is also a fee from TÜV Rheinland, not our price.

The driving school's introduction fee must be seen separately. It covers the appointment and the vehicle position - after all, the examiner travels with us in our car. The amount is in the price list.

The testing fee is paid directly to the testing center. It is charged again every time you attempt the exam.

Source: Fee list for “driving license tests” from TÜV Rheinland for North Rhine-Westphalia, valid from January 31, 2024.

How much does the eye test for a driving license cost and where do I do it?

You do the eye test at an officially recognized eye testing center - in the optician's practice, at the ophthalmologist or at the company doctor. There is no nationwide fixed price for this; each office sets it itself; So ask beforehand how much it costs for you.

The test itself only takes a few minutes. You will receive a certificate and you will need the original from the road traffic office. Anyone who wears glasses or contact lenses takes the test with them - then the visual aid is noted on their driver's license.

Important for scheduling appointments: In Düsseldorf, the eye test certificate must not be older than 24 months when applying. Done too early is actually a problem here.

How much does a first aid course for your driving license cost?

Here, too, there is no official fixed price - the recognized providers calculate themselves, so a comparison between DRK, Johannitern, Malteser, ASB and private course providers is worthwhile. Only the scope is required by law: at least nine teaching units of 45 minutes each.

This is usually a Saturday or a long working day. The course must be completed at an officially recognized body or a public administration agency; A purely online course does not meet the requirement because practical exercises are part of the training.

The driving license regulations do not specify an expiry date for proof. If you have already taken the course for another class, you usually do not have to repeat it.

Legal basis: Section 19 FeV (first aid training, at least nine teaching units of 45 minutes each).

How much does it cost to register at driving school?

Registration is a one-off basic amount, not an ongoing contribution. It covers the registration itself, the administration of your application and the complete theory lessons - you can find the currently valid amount in our price list.

Why we deliberately don't repeat it here: The basic amount is the item that changes most often because it is included in promotions. A second digit with the same number would be the digit that would become outdated at some point - and when it comes to price information, that's not only unpleasant, it's a legal problem.

What applies in any case: The amount stated when you pre-register remains committed to your entire training.

How much does the application to the Düsseldorf Road Traffic Office cost?

The state capital Düsseldorf charges €45.90 for the initial issue of a driving license. Payments at Höherweg 101 can only be made cashless, i.e. with a debit or credit card, Google Pay or Apple Pay.

There are no exemptions or discounts for this application. The fee applies regardless of whether you ultimately pass.

What documents you need to bring with you, in what order you should get them and how the appointment process works can be found in our checklist for the road traffic office.

Source: Service portal of the state capital Düsseldorf, “Driving license – initial issuance” service, accessed on August 17, 2026.

What additional costs are added to the driving school price?

There are five items you pay not to the driving school, but to a third party: the TÜV test fees, the road traffic office application fee, the eye test, the first aid course and your biometric passport photo.

Together, these are a manageable but solid base that everyone pays - no matter which driving school in Düsseldorf and no matter how talented someone is at driving. That's why they belong in every honest calculation.

• TÜV Rheinland theory test: €24.99As of January 31, 2024
• Practical exam class B: €129.83As of January 31, 2024
• Application to the Düsseldorf Road Traffic Office: €45.90only cashless
• Eye test at an officially recognized eye testing center - free
• First aid course, at least nine teaching units — free§ 19 FeV
• Biometric passport photo, 35 × 45 mm — price free

Why do the total costs fluctuate so much?

Because only a small part of the training is legally stipulated. The twelve special trips in class B are fixed: five cross-country trips, four highway trips and three trips at dusk or darkness, each lasting 45 minutes. How many hours of practice you need beforehand is determined by no one other than your ability.

This is exactly where the gap arises. Between 20 and 45 hours of practice can easily be the equivalent of a used small car, and both are completely normal. A driving instructor who promises you a number of hours before the first lesson is giving advice.

• Previous experience: Anyone who has already driven a scooter or tractor will start differently than someone without any experience.
• Rhythm: Two appointments per week require significantly less repetition than one every three weeks.
• Vehicle: Automatic or manual transmission changes how quickly you can concentrate on the traffic.
• City: Düsseldorf test routes are very busy - you can only get routine by driving.
• Repeat tests: Every second attempt costs the full test fee again.

Legal basis: Annex 4 FahrschAusbO (special training trips class B: 5 overland, 4 highway, 3 at dusk or dark).

What does it cost if I fail the exam?

If you repeat the test, the full test fee will be charged again - €24.99 for theory, €129.83 for class B practice. In addition, for the practical test, there will be the driving school's interview fee and usually a few hours of preparation.

You are not allowed to retake immediately: A failed exam may only be retaken after a reasonable period of time, usually after two weeks at the earliest.

That's why we don't send anyone to the exam because the calendar says so. A test scheduled too early is the most expensive shortcut available in this training.

Legal basis: § 18 FeV - “An exam that has not been passed may not be repeated before a reasonable period of time has elapsed, usually at least two weeks.”

How can I save on my driving license?

The most effective way to save is not through the hourly price, but rather through the number of driving hours. If you follow theory and practice closely instead of taking weeks-long breaks, you need measurably less repetition - and every hour saved counts.

The second major lever is theory. Once you really understand the material, you no longer have to learn it on the side in the car and you can get good driving experience more quickly.

• Register early: The application to the authorities requires advance notice, otherwise you will end up waiting for paper instead of driving.
• Drive regularly: It's better to have two fixed appointments per week than four hours in a row after a four-week break.
• Take theory seriously: The theory test is the cheapest part - and the one where the most money is burned.
• Plan special trips: Twelve mandatory trips have been determined; they cannot be negotiated or shortened.
• Ask for honest feedback: Ask your driving instructor openly where you stand. An honest answer saves exam fees.