Since April 1, 2021, you can also apply for a Class B driver’s license with code 197. In this case, you complete your driver’s education and driving test in a vehicle with an automatic transmission and are authorized to drive vehicles with a manual transmission.

Please note that you must make this decision (Class B or B197) when you register at the driving school and when you apply at the driver’s license office.

Application

• You must submit the application in person (for identification and signature purposes).
• You may apply for your first driver’s license no earlier than 6 months before reaching the minimum age.

Issuance

• If you have applied for only one class (e.g., B or A1), the license will be issued immediately after passing the test by the examiner.
• If you have applied for multiple classes, the examiner will only issue the test certificate. With this, you can apply for a provisional driver’s license at the driver’s license authority (additional fee: 11.20 euros or 12 euros during the probationary period). The provisional driver’s license is valid for a maximum of 3 months and is only valid within the Federal Republic of Germany.

Pick up your driver’s license card at the driver’s license office

• in person
• by an authorized representative

• Your primary residence is in Mainz.
• When applying for a Class B driver's license for the first time, you do not need to hold a driver's license of any other class.

• When issuing a driver's license for the first time, we generally issue it for a 2-year probationary period. Driver's license classes AM, L, and T are exempt from the probationary period.
• You must have passed the theory test before you can take the practical test.
• You may take the theory test at the earliest 3 months and the practical test at the earliest 1 month before reaching the minimum age.
• The application expires if
  • you have not passed the theory test within 12 months of the test request being received.
  • you have not passed the practical test within 12 months of passing the theory test.

• Schedule of fees for road traffic measures (opens in a new tab)
• Regulation on the licensing of persons for road traffic (opens in a new tab)

approximately 6 to 8 weeks

• A recent biometric photo (size 45x35 mm, portrait orientation, full-face view); digital codes are not accepted!

Note:
As of May 1, 2025, the regulation requiring you to submit a digital passport photo to the registration office applies to passport photos for ID cards and passports. However, this requirement does not apply to the driver’s license office and therefore does not affect applications for driver’s license documents. The Driver’s License Authority has the technical equipment available on-site for taking digital photos. For an international driver’s license, please bring an analog passport photo. Of course, you may continue to submit analog passport photos to the Driver’s License Authority, preferably along with the complete application documents. 

• Application for a Driver’s License (provided by driving schools)

When applying for Class AM 15, additionally

• Declaration of consent from the parents, legal guardian, or custodial parent
• If only one parent has custody, you must provide proof of this.
• Copy of the parent’s or legal guardian’s ID card

Pick up the driver’s license card at the driver’s license office:

in person

• Letter from the Driver’s License Authority
• Identification document

by an authorized representative

• Letter to the Driver's License Authority
• Identification documents for both individuals
• Written power of attorney

• Initial issuance of a driver's license: €45.90
• Issuance of a provisional driver's license: €11.20 or €12 during the probationary period