In Germany there is no “one driving license”, but rather a system of several driving license classes. Each class regulates exactly which vehicles you can drive, what performance limits apply and whether trailers are allowed. That's exactly why the question of the right class is so important: If you just want to drive a car, you need a different license than someone who drives a motorcycle or regularly tows a large trailer.

This page is your central driving license class overview for Germany. Here you will find a direct comparison of the most important classes, find out about typical areas of application and get clear guidance on requirements, age and costs. We also link to the respective detail pages so that you can go deeper if necessary.

If you already know which class you want to take, you can then compare suitable driving schools on VEHI. If you are still unsure, the scenarios below will help you decide.

The German driving license system is modular. There are classes for two-wheelers, cars, trailers, agriculture, trucks and buses. A lot of content online only focuses on B and A classes. For a real driving license class overview in Germany, professional and special classes are also included.

Most important classes at a glance

Other driving license classes (commercial vehicles and special classes)

Important: Minimum age, national special rules and transitional provisions can change. To make a final decision, you should always check the current legal situation and your personal situation with the driving school.

Car driving license classes

When it comes to cars and trailers, four topics are particularly relevant: B, B197, B96 and BE.

Class B

The Class B is the classic car driving license in Germany. It usually allows:

• Cars and light commercial vehicles with a maximum permissible weight of up to 3,500 kg
• up to 8 seats in addition to the driver
• Trailers within the legally defined limits

This means that B covers typical everyday life: commuting to work, family, shopping, leisure and vacation trips in a normal car.

Class B197

B197 is a training and testing variant within class B. The big advantage: many driving students start with automatics, demonstrate shifting skills through additional driving lessons and then usually retain full flexibility for manual and automatic vehicles in class B.

B96 extension

B96 makes sense if you regularly travel with a larger trailer but don't want to do a complete BE training. With B96, the permissible total mass of the combination of towing vehicle and trailer can be up to 4,250 kg.

Typical cases:

• larger caravan
• loaded recreational trailer
• heavier transport trailer in private areas

Class BE

BE is the right choice if trailers are a permanent central issue. Class B significantly expands and allows heavy trailers up to 3,500 kg. For equestrian sports, boat transport or frequent trailer use, BE is often the safest and most sensible solution in the long term.

Motorcycle license classes

The motorcycle classes follow a tier system. This means you can get started beyond clearly defined performance limits.

Class AM

AM is the entry into the motorized two-wheel sector. Light, low-speed vehicles are permitted, especially scooters in urban areas.

Class A1

A1 is the 125cc class. It allows light motorcycles up to 125 cm³ and 11 kW. A1 is particularly popular with young riders and commuters who want to combine typical motorcycle mobility with manageable performance.

Class A2

A2 allows motorcycles up to 35 kW and is the classic intermediate step before class A. For many drivers, A2 is the main class in the motorcycle sector that is suitable for everyday use.

Class A

A is the unrestricted motorcycle class. It allows all motorcycles regardless of power and displacement. Anyone who wants to ride high-performance motorcycles in the long term should target this class.

Extensions for drivers

The most important extension for drivers is B196. It is aimed at people with an existing Class B who also want to ride light motorcycles.

With B196 you can drive 125cc motorcycles up to 11 kW. The legal classification is important: B196 is a national extension and not a full replacement for A1. For trips abroad or later motorcycle advancements, a regular motorcycle class may be the better option.

However, for pure everyday use in Germany, B196 is often a pragmatic way to flexibly switch between a car and a 125cc.

Which driving license class do I need?

The right class is determined most quickly from your usage scenario:

drive a car

For normal everyday car use, B is the basis. If you would like to structure your training and testing in a more modern way, check B197.

motorcycling

For 125s, A1 or, if B is available, B196 are possible. For more performance, the route leads via A2 and A.

Pull trailer

Light trailers are possible with B. For larger combinations you need B96 or BE.

Ride a scooter

For scooters, AM is usually relevant. If you already have B and want to go towards 125, look at B196.

Driving a truck or bus for work

As soon as you want to move heavy commercial vehicles commercially or regularly, you need one of the truck or bus classes: C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D or DE.

Agriculture and forestry

For tractors and agricultural tractors, L and T are crucial. Which class is suitable depends primarily on the type of use, speed and vehicle configuration.

How do the driving license classes differ?

The differences can be broken down into four central criteria:

Old

Each class has a minimum age. This often decides early on about the possible entry path.

Vehicle types

Cars, motorcycles, scooters and trailer classes are legally separate. This clearly defines what you can drive without additional authorization.

Performance

Performance plays a central role, especially with motorcycles: A1 and A2 are limited, A is unlimited.

Trailer

In the passenger car sector, trailers make the difference: There are clear differences in permissible weights between B, B96 and BE.

Driving license costs by class

The costs depend on the region, driving school, driving lesson requirements and test history. The following are often considered realistic guidelines:

These ranges are intended as a guide. Prices are usually higher in large cities than in smaller cities. The more additional practice hours are necessary, the more the overall costs increase.

Conclusion

The driving license classes in Germany are structured logically, but without a clear structure they quickly appear complex. This hub page therefore covers not only the well-known car and motorcycle classes, but also extensions and professional classes. This gives you a real overall overview of Germany.

Once you have found the class that suits you, you can compare driving schools on VEHI and select specific offers for your driving license.