AFTER ARRIVAL

Can I drive in Germany with a driving license from India?

Technically you can drive with your Indian drivers licence in the EU zone for the first 6 months (from the time of your registration in your city) only provided you have an International drivers permit (IDP).

You can drive motor vehicles with a maximum authorised mass not exceeding 3500 kg and designed and constructed for the carriage of no more than eight passengers in addition to the driver; motor vehicles in this category may be combined with a trailer having a maximum authorised mass which does not exceed 750 kg.

But it is very highly advised not to do so. To start with, vehicles here are driven on the right side of the road and there are numerous rules to follow. Traffic rules are to obeyed very strictly and can be very confusing for beginners.

International driver's permit (IDP) allows an individual to drive a private motor vehicle in another nation when accompanied by a valid license from their home country. The document is slightly larger than a standard passport and is essentially a multiple language translation of one's own existing driver's license, complete with photograph and vital statistics. It is not a license to operate a motor vehicle on its own. It is valid only along with the original driver's licence. That means, you need the Indian driver's licence and the IDP to drive a vehicle in the EU during the initial 6 months period.

German driver's licence (European driving licence) is valid for life time and all over the world along with an IDP. The European driving licence is a driving licence replacing the many driving licence styles already in use in the member states of the European union. It has the credit card-style with a photograph. They were introduced to replace the 110 different plastic and paper driving licences of the 300 million drivers in the EU.

A typical 4 wheeler (PKW) licence is called "B" class and a 2 wheeler licence is classified as follows,

A1 - Motorcycles with a cylinder capacity not exceeding 125 cubic centimetres, of a power not exceeding 11 kW and with a power/weight ratio not exceeding 0,1 kW/kg and motor tricycles with a power not exceeding 15 kW.

A2 - Motorcycles of a power not exceeding 25 kW and 0.16 kW/kg.

A - The minimum age for category A is fixed at 20 years. However, access to the driving of motorcycles of this category shall be subject to a minimum of two years' experience on motorcycles under an A2 licence. This requirement as to previous experience may be waived if the candidate is at least 24 years old. The minimum age for motor tricycles exceeding 15 kW is fixed at 21 years.

Usually 2 wheeler licence is difficult to obtain and is generally costlier when compared to 4 wheeler's licence.

Driver's licence in Germany can only be obtatined via a driving school. The licence will be issued by the respective town/city traffic authorities, but the application for the licence can only be made by a driving school.

How to obtain a car (PKW), B class drivinng licence is explained below.

In order to successfully achieve a drivers licence (considering that you do not already possess an Indian driving licence) you need to,

(a) Register at a driving school of your choice. Depending on the city and the driving school, the registration charges will vary from 80 to 160€.

(b) Buy study materials for the theory exam. This will be supplied by the driving school. There is an online version of the theory exams too. This will cost you between 50 to 120€.

(c) You need to attend a mandatory 12 theory classes and all the basics of driving theory will be covered. This is very important. For eg, you will get to learn when to use the different lights in the car. This might sound very simple but you need to consider that there are day light, high beam, low beam, warning lights, stationary head lights, fog lights and fog warning lights in every car. Very important basics about overtaking, minimum distance to be maintained from the vehicle ahead, what to do in case of emergency when you get stuck in the Autobahn (German federal highways), how to read your position from the road side markers to let the emergency authorities know etc etc.

(d) Eye test (The cost is fixed ca.6€)

(e) A certificate stating that you have attened a first aid class and have undergone a basic training in the same. This can be done from a local red cross. (ca. 18€)

(f) Once you have (d) and (e), you will be able to register for the drivers licence at the transportation department. (This will cost you between 50 to 60€)

(g) If you have completed enough theory class then the driving school will advice you to start with the practical training. Driving classes are called as "Fahrstunden" and are as rule 45 mins long. There is no general rule as to how many Fahrstunden you need to take. But on an average, a person requires between 25 to 30 such Fahrstunden to get thorough with car handling and more importantly getting used to the driving rules, parking etc. Each Fahrstunden will cost between 25 to 30€. So, for eg if an Fahrtstunden costs 30€ and you take about 30 Fahrtstunden then it will cost around 900€ for the basic driving classes alone.

(h) Then you have to take 12 mandatory driving classes called as "Besondere Ausbildungsfahrten". This comprises of 5 Fahrstunden in Federal roads and country roads ( Schulung auf Bundes- oder Landstraßen), 4 Fahrstunden in Autobahn and 3 Fahrstunden for driving in the night. These 12 Fahrstunden will cost about 45€ each.

Please note that in (h) only the minimum requisite is mentioned. If your driving school instructor personally believes that you need to do take more practical classes in order to be fit for the exam then you will have to do it. Certain driving schools will not allow you to take the practical exam if they are not convinced that you might pass the exam.

(i) Once you have completed all the above mentioned successfully, then you can register for the practical exam. You will have to register for the practical exam at the transportation office by paying ca. 145€. Your driving school will again charge you ca. 145€ for the practical exam for their service.

Failing in practical exams during the first and second attempts is very common. When one does not the successfully pass the practical exam, then he/she has to undergo more driving training and repeat the process (i). Failing a practical exam will end up being costly in financial terms.

If you already have an Indian driving licence, then you will have to go through all the above mentioned points except for point (h). It is highly recommended and adviced that you do ask your driving school to train you with point (h) too as it not easy to drive on the autobahn without training. You will have to get your Indian drivers licence translated by an approved authority. ADAC for example will do it for you here in Germany and they will charge you ca.50€ for the same.

Please note that the above mentioned prices are an estimate only and are by no means binding. The estimate has been provided by taking one driving school into consideration. But the format and procedure is same for all.

The procedure for obtaining a motorbike lincence is the same as that of a car. But if you do both together, then you need not provide seperate eye test and first aid training certificate. The theory exam is different for B class and Motorbike, but the exam can be taken together and will consist of additional questions and costs a bit more too.

This is a very very difficult question and practically impossible to answer. It depends on how good you are at grasping the road rules, your ability to manouvre the car and how many times you need to take the practical exam and many other factors. Pundits say, to begin with one shall calculate with a duration of 6 months and around 1600 € for a car (PKW, B class) licence.