Which class
is yours?

Four classes are about the car and differ only in the gearbox and the age you start; two are about the trailer. You decide at the first meeting — we tell you honestly what you actually need.

• Class B — training and test on a manual
• Class B78 — training and test on an automatic only
• Class B197 — test on an automatic, entitlement to drive both
• Class BF17 — accompanied driving from the age of 17
• Class BE — trailers over 750 kg, combination up to 7,000 kg
• Class B96 — combination up to 4,250 kg, with no test of its own

The three gearbox variants are what we get asked about most. The difference is not in the test itself but in what you are allowed to drive afterwards.

Class B

Test in a manual. Manual and automatic afterwards.

Class B78

Test in an automatic. Automatic only afterwards — key number 78.

Class B197

Test in an automatic, plus at least 10 manual lessons and an internal test drive. Both afterwards.

Class BF17

An age variant rather than a gearbox — combines with B, B78 and B197.

• You can sign up with the school from 16 years and 6 months
• Eyesight test, first-aid course and a biometric passport photo
• Processing at the Straßenverkehrsamt: roughly 2–4 weeks
• 14 theory topics, of which topics 13 and 14 are compulsory
• Theory Mon, Wed, Thu 18:30–20:00 · Sat 9:30–11:00 and 11:00–12:30
• 2-year probationary period from the day you pass the practical test

Alongside the ordinary training there are four routes aimed at a particular situation: the intensive course, moving here from another driving school, refresher lessons after a long break, and exchanging a foreign licence.

• Intensive course — Your licence from two weeks, fully scheduled.
• Change driving school — The lessons you have already taken carry over in full.
• Refresher lessons — Back on the road, no judgement.
• Exchange a foreign licence — Convert your foreign licence to a German one.