Add category C, C1, CE or C1E to your driving license
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If you want to drive a truck, you must have your driver’s license upgraded to include Class C, CE, C1, or C1E at the driver’s license office.
What do I need to know?
Service description
To be allowed to drive trucks or vehicle combinations consisting of a truck and a trailer, you need an endorsement for Class C, CE, C1, or C1E. You can apply for the endorsement at the driver’s license office in your place of residence. The endorsement is valid for 5 years. You must apply for a renewal before the expiration date.
To apply for the extension, you must meet various requirements depending on your driver’s license class.
Class C Driver’s License:
- Motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of more than 3.5 tons and a maximum of 8 seats in addition to the driver’s seat
- Trailers with a maximum gross weight of 750 kg
- Required driver’s license: Class B
- Minimum age: 21 years old, or 18 years old if you drive trucks for a living
Class CE driver's license:
- Motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of more than 3.5 tons and a maximum of 8 seats, excluding the driver’s seat
- Trailers with a gross weight of more than 750 kg
- Required driver’s license: Class C
- Minimum age: 21 years old, or 18 years old if you drive trucks professionally
Class C1 driver's license:
- Lighter commercial vehicles with a gross vehicle weight between 3.5 t and 7.5 t and a maximum of 8 seats excluding the driver’s seat
- Trailers with a gross vehicle weight of up to 750 kg
- Required driver’s license: Class B
- Minimum age: 18
Class C1E driver's license:
- Light commercial vehicles with a gross vehicle weight between 3.5 t and 7.5 t and a maximum of 8 seats excluding the driver’s seat
- Trailers with a gross weight of more than 750 kg, not exceeding the unladen weight of the towing vehicle
- Maximum gross combination weight of 12 t
- Required driver's license: Class C1
- Minimum age: 18 years
Application
- You must apply for the extension in person (for identification and signature purposes).
- You can apply for a driver's license extension at the earliest 6 months before you reach 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 a 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.
Collection of the card driving license from the driver's license authority:
- in person
- by an authorized person
Prerequisites
- Your primary residence is in Germany.
- You hold a driver’s license for the required class.
- You have reached the minimum age for the respective class at the time the driver’s license was issued.
- You have successfully completed the theoretical and practical training and examination required for the driver’s license class you are applying for.
- Her primary residence is in Mainz.
- Required previous license classes:
- For C1: Class B license required
- For C1E: Class C1 license required
- For C: Class B license required
- For CE: Class C license required
Remark
- Overview of driving license categories on the website of the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) (opens in a new tab)
- Professional Driver Qualification Act - Requirements and basic principles for a qualification on the website of the Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility (BALM) (opens in a new tab)
Notes
- You must have passed the written exam before taking the practical exam.
- You may take the written exam no earlier than 3 months and the driving test no earlier than 1 month before reaching the minimum age.
- The application expires if:
- You have not passed the written exam within 12 months of receiving the exam notification.
- You have not passed the practical exam within 12 months of passing the written exam.
- The provisional driver’s license is valid for a maximum of 3 months and is only valid within the Federal Republic of Germany.
Please note:
- All EU card-style driver’s licenses issued on or after January 19, 2013, are valid for 15 years from the date of issuance. This time limit applies only to the validity of the document, not to the issuance of the driver’s license itself.
- All driver’s licenses (including card-style licenses) issued before January 19, 2013, must be exchanged by January 19, 2033.
What else should I know?
If you wish to use your driver's license for commercial purposes, you must comply with the regulations governing professional driver qualifications (BKrFQG).
Legal basis
- § Section 21 Ordinance on the Admission of Persons to Road Traffic (Driving License Ordinance - FeV) (opens in a new tab)
- § Section 23 Ordinance on the Admission of Persons to Road Traffic (Driving License Ordinance - FeV) (opens in a new tab)
- Fee regulations for road traffic measures (GebOSt) (opens in a new tab)
Legal remedy
objection
Deadlines
You can apply for an extension of your driver's license 6 months before reaching the minimum age.
- Validity period: 5 years
Responsible body
The local driver's license authority at the city or district administration office is responsible for this.
What do I need to bring or submit?
- Identification card or passport with a current certificate of residence
- Current biometric photo, size 45x35 millimeters, portrait orientation, full-face view
- Eye exam certificate, not older than 2 years
- Proof of physical and mental fitness, not older than 1 year
- Current driver’s license
- Information about the driving school
- Proof of passing the exam for the applied-for class C, CE, C1, or C1E
- 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.
- If applicable, proof of basic qualification under the Professional Driver Qualification Act for commercial freight or passenger transport on public roads
- If applicable, a copy of the index card from the issuing authority (provided the previous driver’s license was not issued by the City of Mainz)
- For commercial use of classes C1, C, C1E, and CE, you must apply for a Driver Qualification Certificate (FQN).
- To expedite the issuance of the new driver’s license, you can request the index card transcript in advance by phone from the original issuing driver’s license authority.
If you need to pick up the card-style driver’s license at the driver’s license authority:
in person
- Letter from the driver’s license authority
- Identification document
- Previous driver’s license
by an authorized representative
- Cover letter from the Driver's License Authority
- Identification documents for both individuals
- Written power of attorney
- Previous driver's license
How much does it cost and how can I pay?
Fees
The fee is based on the Schedule of Fees for Road Traffic Measures (GebOSt).
An additional shipping fee applies if the driver's license is sent directly to your home address.
The fee is based on the Schedule of Fees for Road Traffic Measures (GebOSt).
- Extension of driving license: €45.10 (€45.90 with probationary period)
- Issuance of a provisional driver's license: €11.20 or €12 during the probationary period
- For direct delivery by the Federal Printing Office in Berlin: €6.50 (only possible to a limited extent)
Payment methods
Cash/EC
Forms, information sheets, links
Formulare
- Driving license: Application for the issue, extension, renewal or transfer of a driving licensePDF-File214,80 kB
- Driving license, medical certificate of medical fitness (Annex 5 to the Driving License Ordinance FeV, sample form of the Federal Ministry of Justice)PDF-File1,17 MB
- Collecting a driving license from the driving license authority, power of attorneyPDF-File156,76 kB
Internetverweise
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Contact us
Address
Fahrerlaubnisbehörde (Führerscheinstelle)
Elly-Beinhorn-Straße 16
55129 Mainz
Postal address
55028 Mainz
Your way to us
Contact persons
| Mr. KeilProcessing for initial issue, BF 17, replacement, exchange, extension, renewal of C and D classes, letters D to G and T | Letter range: D–G und T | Mr. Keil | |
| Mrs. LangeProcessing for initial issue, BF 17, replacement, exchange, extension, renewal of C and D classes, letter range R to S | Letter range: R–S | Woman Lange | |
| Mrs. MayerProcessing for initial issue, BF 17, replacement, exchange, extension, renewal of C and D classes, letters U to Z | Letter range: W–Z und H | Woman Mayer | |
| Mrs. WeideClerk for initial issue, BF 17, replacement, exchange, extension, renewal of C and D classes, letters I to L and C | Letter range: I–L und C | Woman Weide |
Opening hours
Current Notice:
Appointments during the times listed below are available only by prior online booking. (opens in a new tab)
Monday: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Tuesday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Wednesday: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Thursday: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays!
Please also note that due to the time required to process an affidavit in connection with a lost driver’s license, we can only accept these on Thursdays until 5:00 PM.
General Information
A self-service photo terminal is available on the ground floor between the "waiting area" and the "pickup area." Here you can take biometric passport photos and submit them digitally. A fee of 6 euros applies.
Accessibility
Information on accessibility
Barrier-free access available.
Wheelchair-accessible WC available.
Information on public transportation
Bus stop: Heiligkreuzweg/Löhr Automeile
Line: 64, 65, 66, 76, 93
Further information
Night mailboxes are located at
- Stadthaus Große Bleiche, Löwenhofstr. 1, to the left of the sliding door and at the
- Kaiserstraße, Lauterenflügel, Kaiserstr. 3- 5, to the right of the entrance door.