Driving License Classes

All driving license classes at a glance

We’ve summarized which driving license class corresponds to which vehicle in our overview. Learn which key regulations you need to consider for each driving license class.

Cars & cars with trailers

Driving license class B
  • may be acquired at the earliest at the age of 17 (“accompanied driving”)
  • includes class M and in certain cases also L
  • Authorized to drive motor vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes and to tow trailers. However, the combined weight of the towing vehicle and trailer must not exceed 3.5 tonnes.
  • The vehicle must not be able to carry more than eight people (excluding the driver) in total.

Driving license class B1
  • This is actually a “European” driving license class that has not been introduced in this form in Germany. It essentially only authorizes the driving of quads or four-wheeled vehicles with a maximum power of 15 kW and a maximum speed of 80 km/h. However, driving such vehicles is already included in class B in Germany.

Driving license class BE
  • authorized to drive class B towing vehicles and trailers weighing more than 750 kg and up to 3.5 tonnes total mass

Driving license class B96
  • Permits the use of Class B towing vehicles and trailers with a total mass of more than 750 kg. The combined weight of the vehicle and trailer is up to 4250 kg.
Motorcycle (two-wheelers), trike (three-wheelers) and quad

Driving license class A
  • This permits the use of motorcycles or trikes with a displacement of over 50 cm³ and an engine power of more than 35 kW (or 15 kW for trikes) with a top speed of more than 45 km/h.
  • Sidecars may also be transported
  • the minimum age is 24 years (or 21 years for trikes)
  • includes driving license classes A2, A1 and AM

Driving license class A1
  • applies to two- and three-wheeled light motorcycles with a maximum engine capacity of 125 cm³ (trikes: 50 cm³) and an engine power of up to 11 kW (trikes: 15 kW)
  • Sidecars may be carried
  • the minimum age is 16 years
  • class AM is included

Driving license class A2
  • authorized to drive two-wheeled motorcycles with up to 35 kW engine power
  • Sidecars may be carried
  • the minimum age is 18 years
  • Class A1 and M are included

Driving license class AM
  • permits the use of two-, three- and four-wheeled light motorcycles that do not travel faster than 45 km/h, whose net power does not exceed 4 kW and whose engine capacity does not exceed 50 cm³
  • The minimum age is 16 years, in some federal states even 15 years.
Trucks & trucks with trailers

Driving license class C
  • authorized to drive vehicles with a total weight of over 3.5 tonnes
  • Trailers with a maximum total weight of 750 kg may also be towed
  • The vehicle may accommodate a maximum of 8 people in addition to the driver
  • the minimum age is 21 years
  • A class B driving licence is required
  • vehicle class C1 is included

Driving license class C1
  • allows the driving of vehicles with a total weight of up to 7.5 tonnes
  • Trailers weighing up to 750 kg may also be towed
  • The vehicle may accommodate a maximum of 8 people in addition to the driver
  • the minimum age is 18 years
  • A class B driving licence is required

Driving license class C1E
  • allows the driving of vehicles with a total weight of up to 7.5 tonnes and a trailer with a total weight of more than 750 kg
  • However, the combined weight of the towing vehicle and trailer must not exceed 12 tonnes
  • the minimum age is 18 years
  • A class C1 driving licence is required
  •  classes BE and D1E are included

Driving license class CE
  • authorized to drive vehicles of category C and trailers with a total mass of more than 750 kg
  • the minimum age is 21 years
  •  A class C driving license is required
  • classes BE and C1E as well as T and DE are included
Bus & Bus with Trailer

Driving license class D
  • authorized to drive motor vehicles that can carry more than 8 people in addition to the driver
  • Trailers with a total weight of up to 750 kg may also be towed
  • the minimum age is 24 years
  • The Class B driving license must have been obtained beforehand
  • Class D1 is included

Driving license class D1
  • permits the driving of motor vehicles that cannot carry more than 16 people in addition to the driver and that are not longer than 8 meters
  • Trailers with a total weight of up to 750 kg may also be towed
  • the minimum age is 21 years
  • Previous possession of a Class B driving license is required

Driving license class D1E
  • authorized to drive motor vehicles of category D1 and a trailer with a total weight of over 750 kg
  • the minimum age is 21 years
  • Previous possession of a class D1 driving license is required
  • the vehicle class BE is included

Driving license class DE
  • authorized to drive motor vehicles of category D and a trailer with a total weight of over 750 kg
  • the minimum age is 24 years
  • Previous possession of a Class D driving license is required
  • vehicle classes BE and D1E are included
Class L for farmers, tractors and T for self-propelled machinery

Driving license class L
  • authorised to drive self-propelled agricultural or forestry machinery and tractors with a maximum speed of 40 km/h
  • the minimum age is 16 years

Driving license class T
  • allows the driving of tractors that do not travel faster than 60 km/h
  • the minimum age is 18 years
  • Classes L and AM are included