Expensive rag
A driving license costs up to 4,500 euros – politicians suggest a remedy
In Germany, a driving license is unaffordable for many people. Politicians from the Union and the Greens want it to be cheaper. But are the suggestions practical?
The process of getting a driver’s license is time-consuming and expensive. Of those who acquired their driving license from spring 2023, a good fifth paid between 3,500 and 4,500 euros, as he summarizes. Almost half paid 2,500 to 3,500 euros. A fifth paid less than 2,500 euros.
Reduction in driving license costs by a quarter
The Union’s transport politicians want to make driving licenses significantly cheaper through more digital and modern driving training. “With our measures, driving licenses will be up to 25 percent cheaper,” said CDU transport politician Florian Müller.
The so-called “Transport Working Group” of the Union parliamentary group proposes in a paper that more driving simulators be used in training so that driving license candidates can reduce the number of practical driving lessons. In addition, some of the theory lessons will take place digitally and, if necessary, more examiners – for example from the Bundeswehr or state police – can be deployed, as the “Rheinische Post” reports. In Berlin alone, around 20,000 driving students were waiting for a test due to a lack of examiners. However, the working group’s plans would still have to be coordinated with the rest of the Union parliamentary group. STERN PAID driving license at the age of EU 13.16
Subsidies from tax revenues
Regarding this proposal from the Union, the ADAC makes it clear that “of course there should not be any loss of quality. It remains to be seen whether driving simulators – as a supplementary measure to driving lessons under real conditions – contribute to reducing the cost of driving licenses,” says ADAC press spokeswoman Katharina Luca star. First of all, an investment will be necessary for driving schools. There are no empirical values available on this yet. In principle, the driving license must remain affordable. However, measures such as visiting traffic training areas and learning apps as preparation for the theoretical part of the driving test are expressly recommended by the ADAC.
The Greens also want to reduce the cost of driving licenses – especially to support people who live in rural areas and have problems using local public transport. Trainees should therefore receive a subsidy of 1,000 euros for their driving license if the companies pay an additional 500 euros. This emerges from an interview that the Green Party candidate for chancellor Robert Habeck conducted with the “Bild” newspaper in December 2024.
Transparency note: This article first appeared in a shorter version in 2024.
Sources: , , with news agency DPA
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Source: Stern
I’m a recent graduate of the University of Missouri with a degree in journalism. I started working as a news reporter for 24 Hours World about two years ago, and I’ve been writing articles ever since. My main focus is automotive news, but I’ve also written about politics, lifestyle, and entertainment.
