Germany's Merz government proposes driving licence reform

The German federal government led by Christian Friedrich Merz plans to overhaul the national driving licence system. A draft law submitted on 29 July proposes digital theory courses that can be taken via apps, a reduced catalogue of exam questions, and the removal of a fixed number of mandatory special drives. Under the proposal, learners would keep a core set of road‑type requirements but could complete the practical part with flexible hours based on individual skill.

A pilot clause would allow new drivers to gain additional behind‑the‑wheel practice under close supervision by a parent or another trusted adult, after completing six mandatory professional lessons and passing the theory test. The supervising adult must hold a class B licence for at least seven years, have no more than one point on the driver‑rating register and cannot be paid for the instruction. Each federal state would have to adopt its own regulation before the measure could be used.

The reforms aim to lower the average cost of obtaining a class B licence, which currently totals roughly €3,400, while preserving road safety. The draft still requires final approval by the Bundestag and Bundesrat.