Driving licenses for classes C1/C1E, C/CE, D1/D1E and D/DE are issued for a limited period and must be renewed regularly to be maintained.
- The driving license for the classes C, CE as well as for the classes D, D1, DE and D1E is issued or extended for five years respectively.
- The driving license for class C1/C1E is granted for the first time or in the case of a transfer until the driver reaches the age of 50 and thereafter for five years in each case.
The extension of a temporary driver's license class is only possible upon application. For this purpose, the following documents must be submitted with prior appointment:
- identity card or passport
- the previous driver's license
- 1 current biometric photograph in accordance with the Passport Ordinance
- Proof of examination by an ophthalmologist in accordance with Appendix 6 to the FeV concerning eyesight (not older than two years)
- Proof of a medical examination in accordance with Annex 5 to the FeV concerning physical fitness (not older than one year) - both examinations can be carried out jointly, e.g. by approved occupational and/or company physicians.
For bus drivers, i.e. for classes D1 and D, the following must also be submitted
- proof of a performance psychology examination (from the age of 50) to check your ability to cope with stress, your ability to react, your ability to orientate yourself and your ability to concentrate.
Proof that you meet these special requirements is provided exclusively by an expert opinion from an occupational and/or company physician or an officially recognized assessment center for driving aptitude.
In the case of professional and/or commercial use of the above-mentioned driving license classes, proof of professional driver qualification (basic qualification or further training) in accordance with the Professional Driver Qualification Act (BKrFQG) is usually also required. In these cases, in addition to the new driver's license, the now valid driver qualification certificate (FQN) is then also issued with additional fees (the entry of the qualification in the driver's license is no longer possible).
Notes on the professional driver qualification
Drivers who carry out commercial passenger or freight road transport on public roads and who have acquired a driving license in classes D1, D1E, D, DE only after September 10, 2008 (passenger transport) or in classes C1, C1E, C or CE after September 10, 2009 (freight road transport) require an initial qualification or accelerated initial qualification. This is obtained by successfully passing an examination at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
Drivers who were issued one of the above-mentioned driving licenses or an equivalent class (old classes 2 and 3) before 10.09.2008 or 10.09.2009 are not subject to any qualification obligation. In these cases, however, there is an obligation for further training to the extent of 35 hours in total. The further training must be repeated at intervals of five years.
It is possible (usually on a one-off basis) to coordinate the frequency of further training and the validity of the driving license classes; this requires individual clarification with the driving license authority.
Further information on driver qualification is also available from the Federal Office for Goods Transport (BAG) or the Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Bavaria.