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If you want to drive in Germany, you almost certainly need a category B licence. What most people do not realise is that there are several types of driving license in Germany within category B itself, depending on the gearbox you choose at the driving school.
From the classic manual licence, to the automatic-only version (B automatic, code 78), to the modern B197 combination, each variant comes with its own rules, advantages and legal restrictions.
In this guide we explain everything you need to know:
- Who is allowed to sit which exam,
- Which vehicle is used,
- What you are allowed to drive once you pass,
- What the legal differences are under the Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung (FeV).
🅱️ Category B – the standard car licence
- Lessons taken in: A car with a manual gearbox
- Practical exam taken in: A car with a manual gearbox
- What you may drive afterwards: Vehicles up to 3,500 kg, both manual and automatic
Details:
Category B is the most common of the types of driving license in Germany. With it you may:
- Drive vehicles with a maximum authorised mass of up to 3,500 kg.
- Carry up to 8 passengers, in addition to yourself.
- Tow a light trailer of up to 750 kg, or a heavier one provided the combined mass of vehicle and trailer does not exceed 3,500 kg.
What the law says:
Under §6a of the Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung (FeV), category B allows you to drive vehicles up to 3,500 kg and light trailers, with the exam taken in a manual car. Once you hold the licence, you may also drive automatics.
Minimum age: 18, or 17 under the accompanied driving scheme, Begleitetes Fahren ab 17.
Practical advice: If you often drive long distances, motorways or mountain roads, a manual gearbox gives you better control over speed, braking and fuel consumption. It is also the most flexible option if you plan to rent cars abroad.
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⚙️ Category B automatic (code 78)
- Lessons taken in: A car with an automatic gearbox
- Practical exam taken in: A car with an automatic gearbox
- What you may drive afterwards: Vehicles up to 3,500 kg with an automatic gearbox only; manual cars are excluded under code 78
Details:
This is for candidates who prefer to sit the practical exam in an automatic car.
- It covers the same vehicles as standard category B: up to 3,500 kg, up to 8 passengers, including a light trailer, but only if they have an automatic gearbox.
- The licence carries code 78, which means you may not drive cars with a manual gearbox.
What the law says:
Under §6a FeV, the exam for the automatic licence is taken in an automatic car and the licence is issued with code 78, restricting you from driving manual vehicles.
Minimum age: 18, or 17 under Begleitetes Fahren ab 17.
Practical advice: Ideal for city driving and daily commuting. Automatics reduce fatigue, particularly in heavy traffic or difficult weather, and suit new drivers or anyone who wants comfort rather than adrenaline.
🚗 B197 – the manual and automatic combination
- Lessons taken in:
- Mostly automatic
- Plus a minimum of 10 lessons in a manual car (45 minutes each)
- Practical exam taken in: An automatic car, after passing an internal assessment with your instructor in a manual
- What you may drive afterwards: Any vehicle up to 3,500 kg, manual or automatic, with no restriction
Details:
B197 combines the advantages of both licences above: you take the exam in an automatic car, but keep full freedom to drive manuals.
How B197 works, step by step
- Driving lessons
- Most of your lessons and the practical exam are taken in an automatic car.
- In addition, you must complete at least 10 driving lessons of 45 minutes each in a manual car at your driving school.
- Assessment with your instructor
- Your instructor checks that you can genuinely handle a manual gearbox.
- If you are ready, you receive a confirmation (Bescheinigung) stating that you are able to drive a manual.
- The practical exam
- There is no separate manual exam.
- You sit one exam, in an automatic car, and your licence is issued without the code 78 restriction, so you may drive both manual and automatic vehicles.
What the law says:
Under §17a FeV, B197 lets you take the exam in an automatic car while still being allowed to drive manual vehicles, provided you have completed at least 10 hours of practical training in a manual and your instructor confirms your competence.
Minimum age: 18, or 17 under Begleitetes Fahren ab 17.
Practical advice: If you want the comfort of an automatic in town but full freedom in the long run, B197 is the most balanced choice. Most rental cars in Europe are still manual, so this licence gives you everyday comfort without closing doors later.
Converting from code 78 to B197:
If you already hold an automatic-only licence and want to drive manuals as well, you can convert without taking another practical exam.
- You complete the minimum 10 lessons in a manual,
- Pass an internal assessment with your instructor,
- And take the resulting certificate to the Fahrerlaubnisbehörde, which issues the new licence.
The result: You may drive any vehicle, free of the code 78 restriction.
Trailer extensions: B96 and BE
B96 – heavier trailers:
- Lets you tow a heavier trailer, provided the combined mass of vehicle and trailer does not exceed 4,250 kg.
- No practical exam is required, only a special course.
- The law (§6a FeV, code 96) says exactly that: an additional course authorises you to tow heavier trailers without an exam.
BE – heavy trailers:
- Lets you tow trailers of up to 3,500 kg.
- Requires an additional practical exam.
- Combinations up to 7,000 kg.
Tip: If you are planning holidays with a caravan, or towing a loaded trailer with furniture, a quad bike or a boat, always check the maximum authorised mass of both the vehicle and the trailer.
👉 Case study: Which licence do you actually need?
Imagine the following situation:
- Vehicle: 2,000 kg
- Caravan: 1,600 kg
- Combined: 3,600 kg
➡️ In this case a plain category B licence is no longer enough, because the limit is 3,500 kg.
The solution: You need the B96 extension, which takes you up to 4,250 kg.
When is B96 no longer enough? If the trailer weighs 2,500–3,000 kg, you exceed the B96 limit as well, and the answer is the BE extension, which covers combinations of up to 7,000 kg.
🔎 Combined mass at a glance
The combined mass is the weight of the vehicle and the trailer together, not each one separately. Check below the values.
| Licence | Maximum combined mass |
|---|---|
| Category B | 3,500 kg |
| B96 extension | 4,250 kg |
| BE extension | 7,000 kg |
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