Fact-Check · Driving License Reform
Driving License Reform 2027 What really changes for your license.
The truth behind the headlines
All sorts of rumours about the new driving license reform are circulating in Munich and online right now. The most common claim: “From 2027 you'll only need 3 special drives.” That is factually wrong.
So you can plan your driving training on a reliable basis, we summarise the verified status here – taken directly from the cabinet decision of 20 May 2026.
Important upfront: the reform is not yet law. The Bundestag and Bundesrat still have to approve it. Entry into force is targeted for early 2027 – that is a political goal, not a fixed date.
Current status of the reform (as of May 2026)
- Ministry key-points paper 11 Feb 2026
- Draft bill 04 May 2026
- Cabinet decision Current status 20 May 2026
- Debate in Bundestag & Bundesrat Open
- Promulgation & entry into force Target: early 2027
Today vs. after the reform
The key planned changes to the car driving license (Class B) at a glance.
| Training area | Current rule (2026) | Planned after the reform |
|---|---|---|
| Theory lessons | Mandatory in-person attendance at the driving school | No attendance requirement. Knowledge may be learned digitally (e.g. via app). |
| Theory question pool | Over 1,100 exam questions | Reduced by about a third (to roughly 780 questions). |
| Special drives (practical) | 12 mandatory hours (5 cross-country, 4 motorway, 3 night) | No fixed number. Topics stay mandatory; the number of hours depends on your ability. |
| Practical exam | Longer pure driving time | 25 minutes pure driving time (aligned with the EU minimum). |
| Practising with parents | Not allowed on public roads | Allowed after passing the theory exam (experimental clause). |
| Quality comparison | Prices and pass rates hard to compare | Transparency duty: prices and pass rates of all driving schools public in the “Mobilithek”. |
Source: German Federal Ministry for Transport (BMV) press release no. 043/2026 of 20 May 2026. Planned rules, not yet in force.
Will the license get cheaper with the reform?
That is the stated political goal – the car license (Class B) currently averages around €3,400 in Germany. Less bureaucracy and digital theory are meant to lower costs – but that is explicitly not a guaranteed saving, and Munich is at the upper end of the price range anyway.
Honestly: there is no blanket price guarantee. Because the fixed number of special drives is dropped, training becomes highly individual. You drive exactly as long as it takes to master the tasks safely. For naturals it gets cheaper, for others it may not. We'd be cautious with sweeping “everything gets cheaper now” promises.
Start now or wait until 2027?
For the vast majority of learners the clear recommendation is: start now. Anyone who waits postpones their independence indefinitely for a completely uncertain saving. There is also a practical effect: because many are waiting for the reform right now, a rush is likely afterwards – with even longer waiting times at the licensing office, at the TÜV and at the driving schools themselves. Whoever starts now is finished before the backlog builds up.
What you learn doesn't expire. What you learn with us today is exactly what will keep you safe in traffic in 2027, too. At Peters Fahrschule we already use modern, digital tools for your theory and train in the car strictly according to your personal progress. We adapt your training seamlessly as soon as the new rules apply.
What the reform means for your license in Munich
Little – at least with us. At our locations in Haidhausen, Giesing and Haar we already train in a performance-based way and with digital theory tools. Whoever starts now drives with exactly the modern methods the reform wants to make the nationwide standard – just today instead of sometime in 2027.
Source: press release of the German Federal Ministry for Transport (BMV) no. 043/2026 of 20 May 2026. This page is updated on an ongoing basis.
Driving License Reform 2027: Frequently Asked Questions
Is it true that from 2027 there will only be 3 special drives?
No, that claim is false. The fixed number of special drives is being dropped entirely – but it is not reduced to three across the board. Cross-country, motorway and night drives remain mandatory topics. How many hours you need depends on your progress – in dense Munich city traffic, on the Mittlerer Ring and the A8/A9 motorways this varies from learner to learner.
Will the car license in Munich really be cheaper in 2027?
That is the goal of the reform, but not a guarantee. Less bureaucracy can lower fixed costs. Because the practical training becomes performance-based, your final price will depend even more on your individual learning effort. Munich is among the most expensive cities for a license anyway – you should not count on a guaranteed saving.
Do I still have to attend theory lessons at the driving school after the reform?
No, the legal in-person attendance requirement is set to be dropped. You will then be able to learn everything for the theory exam fully digitally via app. The exam requirements and the required knowledge, however, stay strictly the same.
How many theory questions are there after the driving school reform?
The official question pool is being cut from over 1,100 questions by about a third – to roughly 780. Mainly outdated and non-EU-compliant questions are removed.
Will my parents be allowed to teach me to drive from 2027?
An experimental clause is planned: after passing your theory exam, you will be allowed to gather additional practice on public roads under the guidance of close relatives (such as your parents). This is meant as a supplement and does not replace professional driving instruction.
When does the new driving school reform come into force?
The official political target is early 2027. As the cabinet decision of 20 May 2026 still has to pass the Bundestag and Bundesrat, delays are possible at any time.
Is it worth waiting in Munich to get your license until the reform?
No, for most Munich learners waiting does not pay off. The start date is uncertain and a saving is not guaranteed – and in Munich there is a practical factor: the wait for a practical exam slot at the TÜV is currently around two months. This could get worse: if many people wait for the reform now, a rush is likely afterwards – with even longer waiting times at the licensing office, the TÜV and the driving schools. Whoever starts now secures their place in the system early and is finished before the backlog hits. Ongoing training is automatically adapted to the new law if it changes – so you lose nothing and gain time.
Can I already start training in Munich now, even though the reform isn't in force yet?
Yes, and that is exactly what we recommend. The reform is not yet law – anyone who waits for it postpones their mobility indefinitely. You can start straight away at any of our three Munich locations; what you learn keeps its full validity after the reform, too.
What does the reform actually change for my license at Peters Fahrschule in Munich?
For you, little changes in everyday terms – for a good reason: at our locations in Haidhausen, Giesing and Haar we already train in a performance-based way and use modern, digital learning tools for theory. Exactly what the reform wants to make the nationwide standard has long been standard with us. As soon as the new rules apply, we adapt your ongoing training seamlessly – with no extra effort for you.
Will the duration of the practical exam change?
Yes, the pure driving time in the practical exam is to be reduced to 25 minutes – matching the European minimum requirement.
Are there also changes to the truck or bus license?
Yes, here too the rigid number requirement for special drives is being dropped. The professional driver qualification (Code 95) remains unaffected.
What does the new “Mobilithek” mean for me as a learner?
The Mobilithek is a planned state database in which driving schools will have to publish their prices and pass rates. This creates more transparency and makes choosing the right driving school much easier.
Does the reform reduce road safety?
No. The reform only modernises the path to the license through more digitalisation. The driving ability you must demonstrate in the exam stays at exactly the same high safety level.
Does the reform also apply to converting a foreign driving license in Munich?
No, converting a foreign driving license still follows its own rules and runs through the driving license office of the KVR Munich. The reform mainly concerns regular initial training. If you are converting from a non-EU country and have to take a theory or practical exam, we guide you through the process at Peters in both German and English.
Driving License Reform 2027 – Background & Details for Munich ▼
What dropping the fixed number of special drives really means: Until now, German law prescribes twelve special drives for the car license (Class B) – five cross-country, four motorway and three night drives. In future, this fixed number of hours is dropped: the topics cross-country, motorway and night driving remain mandatory, but how many lessons you need depends on your personal ability and your instructor's assessment. For you as a learner in Munich, that means no rigid lump sum any more, but training that lasts exactly until you can safely handle dense city traffic, the Mittlerer Ring and the A8 and A9 motorways. You can estimate your individual budget transparently at any time with our cost calculator.
What the planned Mobilithek transparency changes for you: With the reform, the prices and pass rates of all driving schools are to become publicly visible in the state database “Mobilithek”; comparison portals may use this data, too. For you that means more comparability – but be careful: the lowest base price is rarely the decisive figure. Watch the total costs of base fee, learning materials, driving lessons and exam registration, and how honestly a driving school communicates the individual number of lessons you'll need. You don't have to wait for this transparency with us, though: we disclose our costs today via the cost calculator and in a personal conversation. Any questions? Reach us through our contact form.
Digital theory and what stays the same: The planned abolition of the attendance requirement will let you learn the theory material fully digitally – for example via app. The official question pool is being cut too: from over 1,100 questions by about a third. Important to know: the required knowledge and the safety standards stay unchanged. So it is not “less learning”, but more flexible and more focused – a path we at Peters Fahrschule already take with modern learning tools for our learners in Munich-Haidhausen, Munich-Giesing and Haar.