Driving a car from the age of 17
Anyone who acquires the learning driver’s licence before the age of 20 will have to go through a learning phase of 12 months before the practical driving test can be completed. The Federal Council hopes that this will improve road safety: the more accompanied journeys are made, the more the risk of accidents will be reduced.
Since the minimum age for obtaining a driving licence for passenger cars is not to be raised, the learning driving licence can be issued from 1 January 2021 at the age of 17. Then 17-year-olds will be able to make learning journeys with passenger cars in order to gain longer accompanied driving experience. There is no change for people who acquire the learning ticket after the age of 20. Below you will find the transitional provisions for this new regulation:
Persons born in 2002
You can obtain a category B learning ticket (passenger car) from your 18th birthday. If you acquire the learning ticket in 2020 (provided you have passed the basic theory test), you can take the practical driving test at any time in 2021 without waiting for a learning phase. (Decisive is Art. 151I Paragraph 1 VZV, which comes into force on 1 January 2021) The basic theory examination can be taken at the earliest one month before the 18th birthday. (VZV Art. 13 Paragraph 1bis)
Persons born in 2003
Young people born in 2003 can obtain the category B learning ticket from 1 January 2021 at the age of 17. The prerequisite for this is that they have passed the basic theory examination.
(They can take this examination in December 2020 at the earliest if they were born between 01.01.2003 – 28.02.2003. Persons born after 01.03.2003 can submit their application from 15.12.2020 and take the basic theory examination in January).
If you acquire the learning driving licence in 2021, you do not need to have it for at least 12 months to be admitted to the practical driving examination. You can take the practical driving test directly after your 18th birthday.
However, if you do not obtain the learner’s licence until 2022 or later, you must complete the 12-month learning phase.
Anyone who acquires the learning driver’s licence before the age of 20 will have to go through a learning phase of 12 months before the practical driving test can be completed. The Federal Council hopes that this will improve road safety: the more accompanied journeys are made, the more the risk of accidents will be reduced.
Since the minimum age for obtaining a driving licence for passenger cars is not to be raised, the learning driving licence can be issued from 1 January 2021 at the age of 17. Then 17-year-olds will be able to make learning journeys with passenger cars in order to gain longer accompanied driving experience. There is no change for people who acquire the learning ticket after the age of 20. Below you will find the transitional provisions for this new regulation:
Persons born in 2002
You can obtain a category B learning ticket (passenger car) from your 18th birthday. If you acquire the learning ticket in 2020 (provided you have passed the basic theory test), you can take the practical driving test at any time in 2021 without waiting for a learning phase. (Decisive is Art. 151I Paragraph 1 VZV, which comes into force on 1 January 2021) The basic theory examination can be taken at the earliest one month before the 18th birthday. (VZV Art. 13 Paragraph 1bis)
Persons born in 2003
Young people born in 2003 can obtain the category B learning ticket from 1 January 2021 at the age of 17. The prerequisite for this is that they have passed the basic theory examination.
(They can take this examination in December 2020 at the earliest if they were born between 01.01.2003 – 28.02.2003. Persons born after 01.03.2003 can submit their application from 15.12.2020 and take the basic theory examination in January).
If you acquire the learning driving licence in 2021, you do not need to have it for at least 12 months to be admitted to the practical driving examination. You can take the practical driving test directly after your 18th birthday.
However, if you do not obtain the learner’s licence until 2022 or later, you must complete the 12-month learning phase.
Evaluation of the new regulation
The Federal Council has instructed the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) to evaluate the effects of this new regulation no later than three years after its entry into force and then to publish a report on the results of the evaluation and to submit a proposal to the Federal Council for further action.
Recommendation
At the beginning of your driving training, we recommend that you complete a professional basic training course at a driving school in order to gain know-how and driving experience.
