The driving licence reform 2027 is meant to reorganise the theory course, driving lessons and the test, and to lower the cost of obtaining a licence. As of November 2026, the draft law is being considered in the Bundestag and has not yet been adopted. This guide explains what the draft provides, where the procedure stands and what you should keep in mind until a decision is made.
Short answer: On 20 May 2026 the federal government adopted a draft law amending the Driving Instructors Act. It provides for the compulsory attendance at theory lessons to be dropped and for the fixed number of special drives to be removed. The Bundestag held the first reading on 24 September 2026. The reform has not yet been adopted, and no start date is set. Status: 1 November 2026.
The key points
- The draft provides that compulsory attendance at theory lessons is to be dropped.
- The number of special drives is to be removed, while drives on country roads, on motorways and in the dark remain compulsory.
- The pure driving time in the practical test is to be reduced to the minimum of 25 minutes.
- Supervised driving is to become possible through a pilot clause, subject to passing the theory test.
- The draft aims to lower the cost of a licence. According to the ministry, the average price for class B is around 3,400 euros.
Where does the legislative procedure stand?
The reform consists of a law and an ordinance. The draft law was adopted by the cabinet and has entered deliberations in the Bundestag. The table below summarises the stages where they are documented in the sources.
| Stage | Date | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinet decision | 20 May 2026 | draft law amending the Driving Instructors Act |
| First reading in the Bundestag | 24 September 2026 | printed paper 21/7404 |
| Public hearing | 5 October 2026 | transport committee |
| Bundesrat | no decision stated | draft law listed as Bundesrat paper 330/26 |
Status of the sources: 1 November 2026. For the ordinance “Verordnung zur Modernisierung der Fahrschulausbildung”, the federal government cites Bundesrat paper 365/26.
The draft law gives no start date. In May 2026 the ministry said that, if the procedure runs without delay, the rules should take effect at the beginning of 2027. The federal government answer to a minor interpellation of 7 July 2026 gives no date but refers to an EU deadline: the fourth EU driving licence directive must be implemented by 26 November 2028 and applies from 26 November 2029.
What changes in theory training?
The draft provides that compulsory attendance at theory lessons is to be dropped. Knowledge should be acquirable completely digitally, for example by app. Driving schools are to decide for themselves whether and in what form they offer theory lessons. Requirements for teaching rooms are also to be dropped.
The question catalogue currently contains more than 1,100 questions. The ministry names the aim of reducing it by around a third. The scoring system of the theory test is to be simplified, and questions on road safety remain a focus. For you, this means that preparation shifts more towards independent study, whatever form the draft finally takes.
What changes for driving lessons and special drives?
Today the law requires twelve special drives for the car licence: five on country roads, four on motorways and three in the dark. The draft removes the fixed numbers. Drives on country roads, on motorways and in the dark remain compulsory, but without a set number.
The number of lesson hours is to depend on the abilities of the learner and on the assessment of the instructor. This is a move from fixed requirements to an individual assessment. According to the hearing, the associations of driving instructors want the link to a driving school, a binding share of in-person training and traceable checks of learning progress to be preserved.
| Area | Previously | Under the draft |
|---|---|---|
| Theory lessons | compulsory attendance | to be dropped, digital learning possible |
| Special drives | twelve with fixed numbers | no fixed numbers, compulsory for country roads, motorways and darkness |
| Question catalogue | over 1,100 questions | to be reduced by around a third |
| Practical test | not quantified in the sources | pure driving time of 25 minutes |
| Further training of instructors | not quantified in the sources | uniformly four years |
What changes in the practical test?
The pure driving time in the practical test is to be reduced to the European minimum of 25 minutes. The public hearing of the transport committee mentioned this shortening, and an expert welcomed it.
By contrast, a motion from the AfD parliamentary group calls for a return to the 45-minute practical test. The motion is being considered in committee together with the draft law. The opposing position shows that the length of the test is also politically contested.
What about supervised driving?
A pilot clause is to make it possible for learners to gain driving practice on public roads under the guidance of a close relative, such as a parent. The precondition is passing the theory test. The practice is meant to supplement training at the driving school, not replace it.
In its answer to the minor interpellation, the federal government states that supervised driving from the age of 16 is not consistent with applicable EU law. The ADAC criticised the term “Laienausbildung” (lay training) and preferred to speak of practice hours in a familiar environment. The Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt) pointed to studies on supervised driving from the age of 17 that show positive effects.
What does a licence cost, and will it become cheaper?
In its announcement, the ministry names an average price of around 3,400 euros for class B. Prices and pass rates of all driving schools are to be published on the Mobilithek platform. One aim of the draft is to lower the costs of obtaining a licence.
Worked example, assumption: at 3,400 euros and a reduction of one third, which the ADAC considers possible in the hearing, the saving would be around 1,130 euros. This is an estimate and not a commitment by the legislature. The actual price is only shown in the offer of the driving school.
Frequently asked questions
Does the driving licence reform already apply?
No. The draft law is in the parliamentary procedure. Until it takes effect, the existing rules for theory, special drives and the test continue to apply.
Do I have to change my driving school training now?
There is no reason to do so while the rules are not in force. Ask your driving school which form it offers until then and whether it uses digital learning tools. That keeps your training plannable.
Will a parent be able to teach me in future?
That is meant to become possible through the pilot clause, but only under supervision, after passing the theory test and alongside the driving school. Whether the rule will be adopted in this form is not yet decided.
When will the smaller question catalogue arrive?
The draft names a reduction of around a third as an aim. The sources give no date. The details are to be set out in the ordinance on the modernisation of driving school training.
Where can I find current driving school prices?
According to the ministry, prices and pass rates of all driving schools are to be published on the Mobilithek platform. The sources do not say whether or when this will happen. Until then, comparing the offers of local schools directly is the most reliable route.
What to do now
- Follow the status of the procedure in the Bundestag, for example through the text archive and the parliamentary papers.
- Check whether you start training in the coming months, because then the current rule applies.
- Ask your driving school about prices and pass rates while the Mobilithek information is not yet available.
- Compare the total cost with the guide on the 2026 licence cost before you commit.
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Sources: Federal Ministry of Transport: press release 043/2026 on the driving licence reform (20 May 2026, in German), German Bundestag: text archive on the Driving Instructors Act (status: 1 November 2026, in German), German Bundestag: printed paper 21/6974, federal government answer (7 July 2026, in German).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
