Overview
- Industry group Moving reports November registrations down about 20 percent year over year nationwide, with declines up to 50 percent in large cities including Hamburg and Frankfurt.
- School owners describe sign-ups falling to almost zero and warn of existential pressure on small operators as revenues dry up.
- Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder says the plans are only policy outlines and advises learners not to delay because prices would not drop immediately once changes begin.
- The proposals include fully online theory classes, fewer mandatory special drives, expanded simulator use, a reduced theory question catalog, a shorter practical test, and a pilot allowing supervised practice with relatives.
- Instructors cite average car licence costs of roughly €3,500 to €4,000 and caution that simulators priced around €30,000 to €50,000 may push costs onto students.