There are around 58 million driving licenses in Germany. Many have one with which they are allowed to drive cars and mopeds, nothing more. But in 2023 a new regulation will come into force that extends the driver’s license. In addition, the cloth should finally become digital.
While many drivers currently have to exchange their driving licenses and have to pay around 30 euros for the exchange , even more is set to change this year. The normal class B driver’s license is to be given more power and drilled out in 2023. In addition, it should soon be possible to show your driver’s license on your cell phone during a check. And there should also be new regulations in the driving school. After passing the test, learner drivers should return to the driving school after a certain period of time.
DRIVER’S LICENSE: DRIVERS WILL SOON BE ABLE TO DO THIS
Anyone who obtained their driver’s license after January 1, 1999 may drive vehicles with a maximum permissible weight of 3.5 tonnes in category B. Even if the tractor weighs more, you can also drive here. But soon the 4th driver’s license directive is to come into force. And with this, class B is expanded. Anyone who has a category B driver’s license should be allowed to drive vehicles that weigh up to 4.25 tons. Above all, this opens up new opportunities for those who want to drive vans or larger mobile homes, but have not been able to do so until now because they weigh a few hundred kilograms too much.
In addition, the minimum age for truck or bus driving licenses is to be reduced to 18 years. Currently, you can only do class C for trucks at the age of 21, and class D for buses even at the age of 24. The background to this planned change: the acute shortage of truck drivers.
THE DIGITAL RAG ARRIVES AND DETENTION AT THE DRIVING SCHOOL
Many have long wished to have their driving license on their cell phone rather than in their wallet. With the 4th driver’s license directive, the digital driver’s license should finally become a reality. Instead of having to pull out a plastic card when being checked by the police or renting a car, it will soon be enough to open an app on your smartphone.
The new law also has an impact on learner drivers. On the one hand, in the future you should only be able to start practical training after you have passed the theory test. In addition, everyone who has a new driver’s license should go to the driving school again a year later and complete a mandatory refresher course. This should help reduce the number of accidents.
The 4th driving license directive is to be adopted in 2023. “Before it comes into force in Germany, however, it must be transposed into national law,” says the ADAC .
