FAQ: Driving Test

As soon as we receive your test application, you will be notified directly and/or via your driving school.

Test dates are arranged through your driving school and booked with TÜV NORD. Once TÜV NORD has confirmed the booked dates, the driving school decides which candidates will sit the tests on those dates.  

Test dates are arranged and booked through your driving school. Once the date has been confirmed by TÜV NORD and reserved in your name via your driving school, this information will be displayed in the TÜV NORD learner driver app.

Alternatively, you can also receive this information via your driving school.

As a rule, a failed exam can be retaken after 14 days at the earliest.

The time limits (usually one year) are set out in the Driving Licence Regulations. Only the relevant driving licence authority may grant an exemption upon application. 

You have one year to take the theory test. Once you have passed the theory test, your application will automatically be extended for a further year.

The exam usually lasts 45 minutes. If you have any questions or encounter any problems, please speak to the invigilator.

For category B (cars) or BE (cars with trailers), the test lasts 55 minutes. For category A (motorcycles), the test usually lasts 70 minutes.

There is no limit to the number of times you can retake the exam. The important thing is that you prepare thoroughly for the exam and that your exam registration is still valid.

You must notify the relevant driving licence authority of the change of driving school. Your new driving school will be happy to provide you with the necessary documents.

You must present a valid ID card or passport before the exam. If you attempt to verify your identity using an expired ID document, you may not be admitted to the exam. 

In addition to ‘German’, the following foreign languages are also permitted:

• English
• French
• Greek
• Standard Arabic
• Italian
• Polish
• Portuguese
• Romanian
• Russian
• Croatian
• Spanish
• Turkish

Together with your driving school, you have applied to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to take your driving test.

The driving licence authority has commissioned us to conduct the test, so we will now bill you directly for the official test fees.

There are two possible reasons for this:

1. The official test fee is being arranged through your driving school, or
2. We have not yet received an examination request from the driving licence authority.

Please check directly with your driving school to find out which billing procedure they use.

You can pay the invoice either by simply scanning the QR code on the invoice (which initiates a direct bank transfer) or by making a standard bank transfer to one of the two accounts listed on the invoice.

If the examination fee appears on your bank statement (whether online or as a printout) and you have provided the full payment reference, then this matter is sorted for you. You
can also check in the TÜV NORD Learner Driver app to see whether your examination fees have been recorded in our system. 

Please pay the examination fee. Please bring a bank statement showing the transfer for verification, or bring the invoice with the QR code if you used this for the one-off transfer.

Scanning the QR code a second time will then confirm that the transfer has been made.

We cannot conduct the exam without proof that the exam fee has been paid.

Unfortunately, the exam cannot take place if the exam fee has not been paid in advance. Furthermore, a new fee will be charged for the next exam.

It’s entirely up to you. You can choose either one.

It is essential that you include the invoice number in the payment reference so that the payment can be linked to your exam. If the payment reference is missing, the amount cannot be allocated and will be refunded to your account. You will then need to make the transfer again, this time including the payment reference.

As a rule, fees cannot currently be paid in cash.

Please get in touch with us via our contact form. We will record your details there and arrange for a copy of the invoice to be sent to you.

It is not possible to pay the examination fees in instalments.

We charge for every examination booked in accordance with our fee schedule. A second invoice will be issued, for example, if the first examination was not attended or was not passed and you wish to sit another examination.

A distinction must be made here between the

• BF 17 examination certificate and the
• examination certificate/confirmation of a passed examination.

The BF 17 certificate entitles you to drive within Germany; the examination certificate does not. If you drive with only an examination certificate, this is considered driving without a licence.

This information is shown on the test certificate you received after passing the test.

You can collect your driving licence from the date stated here, either from the relevant driving licence authority or from the specified TÜV NORD centre in your area. 

No. To be eligible for the card, you must be at least 18 years old or have reached the relevant minimum age at the time of collection.

Only at the driving licence authority responsible for you.