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Theoretical and practical driving licence test

Technical testing centre (Technische Prüfstelle) · § 22 FeV

In personTwo bodiesDriving licence on the test day

Anyone who thinks the test is a matter for the Führerscheinstelle (driving licence office) confuses two roles that § 22 FeV clearly separates. The driving licence authority processes the application and instructs the competent technical testing centre for motor vehicle traffic to carry out the test. The testing centre tests: the expert or examiner determines whether the applicant is competent to drive motor vehicles.

And then comes the part that hardly anyone expects: the authority sends the testing centre the driving licence already prepared, but without a date. If the applicant passes the test, the examiner hands it over immediately, after entering the date of handover, and then notifies the authority of this. In practice, this means: the driving licence is handed over on the day of the practical test — a second visit to the authority is not required for this.

A sentence up front, because it sets the roles straight: TÜV and DEKRA are not authorities. Annex VIII StVZO transfers the Hauptuntersuchung to two private, state-recognised figures — the officially recognised experts or examiners for motor vehicle traffic (aaSoP) of the technical testing centres and the test engineers (PI) of the officially recognised supervisory organisations. They certify, they do not impose sanctions. Who may prohibit the operation of a vehicle is set out in § 29 StVZO and is a different body: “the authority competent under state law”. The Bußgeldstelle, in turn, imposes the regulatory fine. Three roles, three addressees.

For preparation, a simple consequence follows from this, which nevertheless often goes wrong: the testing instruction must be in place before an appointment is possible. It comes from the authority, not from the driving school and not from the testing centre. If the application is delayed — for instance because the eye test, the first-aid certificate or the photograph is missing — everything else is delayed too, entirely regardless of the stage of training.

Last updated29 August 2026
Legal basis§ 22 FeV
VerificationChecked against StVZO, FZV, FeV and BetrSichV
Written and reviewed byAndrés Sánchez Botta
Independent information website: we are not TÜV, DEKRA or any other testing organisation, not an authority and not a paid advice service – we do not submit applications on your behalf. All information comes from official sources and is explained here in plain language; binding information always comes from the competent body. No legal advice and not an official authority. We are neither lawyers nor tax consultants: we document official procedures and check the information against the official source – this is information, not legal or tax advice.
InstructsThe authorityDriving licence authority
TestsThe testing centreExpert or examiner
Driving licenceOn the test dayHanded over by the examiner
RequirementTesting instructionBefore every appointment
Required documents

What you need

Official photo ID

Identity card (Personalausweis) or passport. Without proof of identity, no test takes place — this is the most common reason an appointment ends without result.

The authority’s testing instruction

It comes from the driving licence authority and is the basis for the appointment. The testing centre cannot test without it, however complete the training may be.

For the practical test: the driving school’s certificate

It proves the completed training, including the prescribed special training drives. The driving school usually brings it along.

Visual aid, if noted on the driving licence

If a visual aid is entered as a condition, it belongs at the test just as it does when driving afterwards. Its absence is a reason to abort the test.

A vehicle suitable for the test

It is usually provided by the driving school and must meet the requirements of the licence category. Clarify this beforehand if your own vehicle is intended for use.

Step by step

How to proceed

  1. 1

    Submit the application to the driving licence authority

    With the eye test, first-aid certificate and photograph. This application generates the testing instruction — without it, no test appointment is possible.

  2. 2

    Wait until the testing instruction is in place at the testing centre

    The authority instructs the technical testing centre. The driving school can only arrange the appointment once this has happened; pressing for it at this stage achieves little.

  3. 3

    Take the theoretical test

    It is conducted by an expert or examiner. Only after this does the practical test come into consideration.

  4. 4

    Take the practical test

    What is tested is competence to drive motor vehicles of the licence category applied for. Bring your identity document — without it, no test takes place.

  5. 5

    Receive the driving licence directly

    On passing, the examiner enters the date of handover and hands over the driving licence on the same day. The visit to the authority is not required; it is informed by the testing centre.

Fee information

Costs and payment

Roles and processTwo bodies, clearly separated tasks
ApplicationDriving licence authority
Testing instructionFrom the authority
ExaminationTechnical testing centre
HandoverBy the examiner
TimingOn the test day
Notification to the authorityBy the testing centre

The fees are split accordingly: the authority charges its fee for the application and the driving licence, and the testing centre charges its fee for the tests. In addition, there are the driving school’s costs, which are independent of this.

Good to know

Important notes

The most practically valuable sentence: You receive the driving licence on the test day. § 22 FeV provides that the authority sends the prepared driving licence without a date to the testing centre, and the examiner hands it over once the test has been passed. An additional visit to the authority is not required for this.

The testing instruction is the real bottleneck. It comes from the authority, and everything else depends on it. Submitting the documents for the application early and in full shortens the overall process more than any additional driving lesson.

The testing centre is not an authority. It acts under instruction and reports the result back. For questions about the driving licence itself — conditions, categories, conversion of a foreign driving licence (Umschreibung) — the driving licence authority remains competent.

In the case of failing the test, waiting periods and repeat rules apply, which are governed by the Driving Licence Ordinance (Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung, FeV) and the testing centre’s practice. Ask about this immediately after the appointment, rather than researching it later.

Avoid these mistakes

Common mistakes

Expecting the test at the Führerscheinstelle. It issues the testing instruction; the test itself takes place at the technical testing centre.

Arriving without an identity document. Without proof of identity, no test takes place.

Submitting the application too late. Without a testing instruction, there is no appointment, regardless of the stage of training.

Going to the authority after the test. The driving licence is handed over by the examiner.

Forgetting the visual aid recorded on the driving licence. It is a condition and is checked.

Frequently asked questions

Questions and answers

Does the Führerscheinstelle test itself?

No. Under § 22 FeV, the driving licence authority instructs the competent technical testing centre for motor vehicle traffic to carry out the test; the expert or examiner determines whether the applicant is competent to drive motor vehicles. The authority remains competent for the application and for the driving licence itself.

When do I get the driving licence?

Usually immediately after passing the practical test. § 22 FeV provides that the authority sends the prepared driving licence, without a date of handover, to the testing centre; on passing, the examiner enters the date, hands over the driving licence and notifies the authority of this. A second visit to the authority is not required for this.

What is the testing instruction?

The instruction given to the technical testing centre by the driving licence authority. It arises from your application and is a requirement for every test appointment. If it is missing — for instance because the eye test, the first-aid certificate or the photograph is still missing — even completed training cannot bring about an appointment.

What must I bring to the test?

Above all, an official photo ID: without proof of identity, no test is conducted. In addition, you need the driving school’s certificate of completed training and, if provided for as a condition on the driving licence, the visual aid. The driving school usually provides the test vehicle.

Is the testing centre an authority?

No. Technical testing centres are state-recognised bodies that test under instruction from the authority — the same arrangement as for the periodic roadworthiness test (Hauptuntersuchung, HU — commonly called ‘TÜV’). Decisions about the driving licence itself, such as conditions or categories, are taken by the driving licence authority.

How much does the examination cost?

The costs are split across three bodies: the authority’s fee for the application and the driving licence, the testing centre’s charge for the theoretical and the practical test, and the driving school’s costs. Only the first item follows a fee ordinance; the other two do not.

Related official procedures

Periodic roadworthiness test (Hauptuntersuchung)
First after 36 months, then every 24
No official tariff
Used car check
Voluntary — and without legal consequence
Private commission
Vehicle valuation
Value for sale, damage or devolution of an inheritance
Private commission

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