German Minister Announces Plan to Cut Driving Licence Cost from €4,000

Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder said the German government will lower the price of a car driving licence, which now averages around €4,000, by simplifying the exam and modernising training. The proposal calls for cutting the theoretical question catalogue by a third, moving much of the theory to digital platforms, introducing driving‑simulators and reducing the number of mandatory special‑drive sessions. The reforms are modelled on a French system where teenagers start supervised driving at age 15.

The announcement has led many 18‑year‑olds and new learners to postpone enrolment, hoping to pay less later, leaving driving schools with empty schedules. Critics warn that cheaper licences could compromise safety, pointing to higher fatal crash rates among young drivers in France despite the more flexible training model.