Driving license reform 2026: Prices are falling, questions are fewer!

Driving license reform 2026: Prices are falling, questions are fewer!

In recent years, the price of a Class B car driving license has skyrocketed. The average price has increased from around 1,000 euros to an impressive 3,400 euros and even 4,000 euros. The Federal Ministry of Transport has now taken the initiative to launch a comprehensive reform to reduce these costs. A particularly important element of this reform is the reduction of the currently huge list of questions for the theoretical exam, which currently consists of 1,169 questions, in order to reduce it by a third in the future, as Radio Oberland reports.

In the opinion of driving instructor Marc Lodes from Schongau, many questions in the catalog are outdated and contribute little to road safety. However, he remains skeptical as to whether the planned changes will actually lead to a significant reduction in the costs of obtaining a driving license, especially when it comes to failure rates and the associated re-tests.

Innovative approaches to training

Another exciting element of the reform plan is the introduction of more digital learning methods. In the future, driving schools should have the freedom to choose their own learning methods without being tied to mandatory face-to-face lessons. Theoretical knowledge can also be learned conveniently via apps, although the learning material remains the same. These innovations aim to make training both more flexible and more accessible, which could be particularly beneficial for young people.

There will also be significant changes in practical training. Students can increasingly practice driving with a manual transmission in simulators, and the practical test can also be taken in a vehicle with an automatic transmission. The number of mandatory special journeys, such as at night or on motorways, should be reduced, which can not only save time but also money. Practical exams are also based on a travel time of 25 minutes, which corresponds to the European standard.

More transparency for learner drivers

Another central point of the reform is the creation of more transparency for learner drivers. An online comparison of costs and failure rates for different driving schools will be possible in the future. This gives prospective drivers the opportunity to make informed decisions without experiencing unpleasant surprises. These measures were formulated as part of the “Affordable Driving License” reform package, which is based on the key points of the Transport Ministers’ Conference in October 2024 and repeated discussions in spring 2025, as Tagesschau reports.

The exact implementation of the planned changes is planned for the first half of 2026, and there is already discussion about whether similar reforms could also make sense for other driving license classes, such as trucks. Everyone should keep these developments in mind, because if everything goes well, the dream of getting a driving license could soon become more affordable again for many.