(de-news.net) – Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) expects the cost of obtaining a driver’s license in Germany to decline in the near future, as legislative initiatives aimed at easing existing regulatory requirements begin to take shape. According to the minister, the formal legislative process is expected to commence in the spring, with the intention that the resulting measures will take effect relatively quickly thereafter. At present, a joint working group involving both the Federal Government and the Länder is engaged in detailed discussions on the scope, feasibility, and sequencing of the proposed reform package.
The average cost of a driver’s license has risen to approximately 3,400 euros, a level that the Federal Ministry of Transport regards as substantially higher than in comparable countries such as Austria or Luxembourg and increasingly difficult for many households to afford. Against this backdrop, Schnieder has outlined a set of measures intended to curb these costs by accelerating procedures, simplifying regulatory requirements, and reducing bureaucratic burdens. These proposals include, among other elements, limiting the number of mandatory special driving lessons and expanding the use of driving simulators as part of training. Importantly, driving schools would retain discretion over whether to adopt these measures, as participation would remain voluntary rather than compulsory.
The minister called for greater openness toward the reform proposals, emphasizing that they are conceived as flexible options rather than binding obligations. He argued that the measures would not only benefit learner drivers by lowering financial barriers but would also ease operational pressures on instructors and driving schools. Experiences in other countries are cited as evidence of the practicality of such an approach: in Luxembourg, for instance, a driver’s license can be obtained for roughly 1,500 euros, while Austria similarly achieves lower costs by applying elements that resemble those now under discussion in Germany.
Within this context, Schnieder has characterized the situation in Germany as particularly challenging, noting that elevated licensing costs pose a disproportionate burden on families with multiple children and on individuals who depend on private vehicles for everyday mobility. Although he did not specify when prospective drivers can expect to see tangible reductions in fees, he underscored that implementation hinges on continued coordination with the Federal States. These, he indicated, have largely signaled their willingness to advance the proposals into the legislative phase, providing a basis for further progress.
