Application

• You must submit the application in person (for identification and signature purposes).
• You can apply for your first driver's license at the earliest 6 months before reaching the minimum age.

Issuance

• If you have only applied for one class (e.g., B or A1), the license will be issued immediately after you pass the test by the examiner.
• If you have applied for several 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 or €12 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.

Collecting your card driving license from the driver's license authority

• in person
• by an authorized person

• Your primary residence is in Mainz.
• When applying for a Class L 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 taking 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 application 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 photos 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 for taking photos on-site. You may continue to submit passport photos in paper form, preferably along with the complete application documents, to the driver’s license authority. 

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

To pick up your driver’s license card at the Driver’s License Office, you will need:

In person

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

by an authorized representative

• Letter from the Driver's License Office
• 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