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The practical driving test Germany uses for category B lasts around 55 minutes. It begins with a few questions about the vehicle, continues with driving inside and outside built-up areas, and includes three manoeuvres chosen by the examiner. Here is what happens, step by step.
How long the practical driving test Germany lasts
Around 55 minutes. That is longer than most candidates expect, and it is deliberate: the examiner wants to see how you drive once the initial nerves have worn off, not just in the first five minutes.
The vehicle questions at the start
Before you set off, the examiner asks you a few questions about how the vehicle works and about its safety features. These are practical checks rather than theory questions, the sort of thing a driver should be able to demonstrate on the car in front of them.
Driving License Theory Test in Germany – Class B App (TÜV / DEKRA)
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The test route
During the practical test you will be guided through different types of traffic environment. The examiner decides the exact route on the day.
It usually includes:
- Driving inside built-up areas, covering right of way and pedestrian crossings.
- Country roads and main roads (Landstraßen and Bundesstraßen).
- A section of motorway, including joining, overtaking and leaving
The five manoeuvres - and the three you will actually drive
During the practical driving test Germany examiners ask you to perform three of the following five manoeuvres:
Reversing to the right, using a side road, junction or entrance
Parking at the side of the road- Parallel parking between two vehicles
Turning the car around
Emergency braking
You do not get to choose which three. Because of that, walking into the test with two manoeuvres you are shaky on is a genuine risk, because the examiner may well pick exactly those.
What your driving instructor does during the test
Your instructor sits in the car with you, but their role is limited: they are there to intervene only in an emergency. They are not there to prompt you, correct you or help you through a manoeuvre.
If you want a fuller picture of how the process works from registration to licence, see our step-by-step guide.
What language the practical driving test Germany is held in
This is the part people find out too late. The theory exam can be taken in English, but the practical driving test Germany conducts is held in German only. There is no English-language option for the practical test.
You do not need fluent German for it. What you need are the instructions: turn right at the next junction, take the second exit, pull over here, park in this space. Your instructor will use these phrases in every lesson, so by the time you reach the test they should be familiar. If the examiner concludes that basic communication is not possible, the test can be refused.
What documents you need on the day
Less than you might think. You only need a valid identity document. If you need glasses or contact lenses to drive, wearing them is mandatory.
Everything else was already submitted to the driving school when you registered, so you do not need to bring your file with you to the test.
Frequently asked questions
- How long is the practical driving test in Germany?
Around 55 minutes, including the vehicle questions at the start. - Can I take the practical driving test in English?
No. Unlike the theory exam, the practical test is conducted in German only. - How many manoeuvres will I be asked to do?
Three, chosen by the examiner from a list of five. - Can my instructor help me during the test?
No. Your instructor is present only to intervene in an emergency. - What do I need to bring with me?
A valid identity document, and your glasses or contact lenses if you need them to drive.
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