Minimum age for a car driving licence in Germany (2026)

Last reviewed: 9 October 2026

In short: Category B can be held from 18, and from 17 with a named companion under the accompanied-driving scheme. A holder of a non-EU/EEA licence below the German minimum age is not entitled to drive.

RuleWhat applies
Minimum age for a car licenceCar (category B) driving licence18 years [1]
Earliest age to drive a car supervisedCar (category B) driving licence17 years [1]
Driving before the minimum ageCar (category B) driving licenceClass B and BE can be issued from 17 for accompanied driving. The licence carries the condition that a named companion rides along until age 18. The companion must be at least 30, have held a class B licence for at least five years and have at most one point in the register. [2]
Visitors on a foreign licence: ageCar (category B) driving licenceA holder of a foreign licence who has not reached the German minimum age for the class is not entitled to drive in Germany. This exclusion does not apply to licences issued by another EU or EEA state. [3]

Sources

  1. Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de): § 10 FeV - Mindestalter (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
  2. Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de): § 48a FeV - Voraussetzungen (Begleitetes Fahren ab 17) (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
  3. Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de): § 29 FeV - Ausländische Fahrerlaubnisse (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources

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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.