Overview

• Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder proposed ending compulsory in-person theory classes, reducing the theory question bank by about one third, and expanding the use of simulators.
• The plan trims mandatory special drives, permits some practice in simulators, and shortens the practical test to 25 minutes, with a pilot option for training by trusted private persons.
• The average cost of a class B licence in Germany is roughly €3,400, prompting measures to cut bureaucracy and digitalize processes for driving schools and learners.
• The European Parliament is scheduled to vote Tuesday in Strasbourg on making a smartphone driving licence the EU standard by 2030, with optional physical cards and EU-wide recognition.
• The EU package provides for cooperation to enforce licence withdrawals and temporary bans across borders, introduces accompanied driving from 17 including for class C, maintains 15- and 5-year document validity for B/A and C/D, and sets a three-year window for national transposition.