Fahrerlaubnis - Bestehende Fahrerlaubnis um Fahrerlaubnis Klasse D, D1, DE oder D1E erweitern

If you want to drive buses, you must have your driver's license extended by class D, DE, D1 or D1E at the driver's license authority. These extended driving license classes are limited to 5 years.

To drive buses or vehicle combinations consisting of a bus and a trailer, you need an extended driver's license for class D, DE, D1 or D1E.

You can apply for the extension of your driver's license at the driver's license authority in your place of residence.

When you apply for an extended driver's license for classes D, DE, D1 and D1E, they are issued for a limited period of 5 years.

You must apply for an extension before the expiry date.

Depending on the class, the extended driver's license entitles you to drive various buses.

To apply for the extension, you must meet requirements.

Driving license class D:

Motor vehicles for the transportation of more than 8 persons in addition to the person driving the vehicle

trailers with up to 750 kg maximum permissible weight

prerequisite driving license: B

staggered minimum age depending on qualification (§ 10 Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung)

Driving license class DE:

Motor vehicles for the transport of more than 8 persons except the driving person

trailers with more than 750 kg maximum permissible weight

required driver's license: D

Graduated minimum age: depending on qualification (§ 10 Driving License Ordinance)

Driving license class D1:

Motor vehicles for transporting a maximum of 16 persons in addition to the driving person

maximum total length: 8m

trailers with more than 750 kg permissible total mass

required driving license: B

minimum age: 21 years, or 18 years if you drive buses professionally

Driving license class D1E:

Motor vehicles for transporting a maximum of 16 persons in addition to the person driving the vehicle

maximum total length: 8m

trailers with more than 750 kg maximum permissible mass

driving license required: D1

minimum age: 21 years or 18 years if you drive buses professionally

Photo identification (identity card or passport (if passport is presented: enclose a current registration certificate from the registration office responsible for the main place of residence))

current photo, 45 x 35 mm in portrait format and without border (so-called biometric passport photo) - frontal photo, without head covering and without covering of the eyes

proof of eyesight according to the model in Annex 6 to the Driving License Ordinance. You can have the certificate issued by an ophthalmologist, by a company or occupational physician, or by a physician from the public health department. An issued certificate/attestation is valid for 2 years.

Proof of physical and mental aptitude according to the model in Annex 5 to the Driving License Ordinance (not older than 1 year). You can have the certificate issued by any doctor.

Performance psychology certificate (not older than 1 year).

Proof of participation in a training course in first aid (if not already proven to the driving license authority)

police certificate of good conduct for submission to an authority (document type O) police certificate of good conduct (not older than 3 months)

current driving license

Information about the driving school

Your main place of residence is in Germany.

You have a driver's license with the respective required class.

You have reached the minimum age for the respective class.

You can submit your application at the earliest 6 months before reaching the minimum age.

You are physically and mentally fit to drive a bus.

You have successfully completed the theoretical and practical training and examination for driving a bus, the scope of which varies depending on the class applied for.

The fee is based on the Fee Regulations for Road Traffic Measures (GebOSt).

If the driver's license is sent directly to the home address, an additional shipping fee will be charged.

A driving license for categories D1 or D may only be issued if the applicant already holds the driving license for category B or has fulfilled the requirements for its issue. In this case, the driving license for the higher class may be issued at the earliest with the class B driving license.

A category D1E or DE driver's license may only be issued if the applicant already holds the driver's license for the towing vehicle or has fulfilled the requirements for its issue. In this case, the driving license for class D1E or DE may be issued at the earliest with the driving license for the towing vehicle.

If a bus driver's license is to be issued for the first time as part of professional driver training before the regular minimum age is reached, a medical-psychological report from an officially recognized assessment center is required.

If you wish to use your driver's license commercially, you must observe the regulations on professional driver qualification (BKrFQG) (Professional Driver Qualification Act). In this context, further information can be found in the "Application Notes on the Professional Driver Qualification Law". These are intended in particular to make it easier for the drivers and companies concerned to apply the regulations and to provide assistance.

The current version of the application notes is published on the website of the Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility:

Objection

Action before the administrative court

Driving license with limited period of validity Extension by the classes D, D1, DE or D1E

an already existing driver's license can be extended by the further driver's license classes D, D1, DE, D1E, colloquially called "bus classes

each D class entitles the holder to drive different buses

depending on the D-class different requirements necessary

driving license limited to 5 years

responsible: Driving license authority of the place of residence

Please contact the driver licensing authority in your place of residence.

The federal, state, and local governments are currently working on making it possible for you to complete all essential administrative procedures digitally.

Please check the website of your local driver's license office, for example, to see whether it already offers electronic application for your driver's license.