Truck driving licence in Germany: categories C, CE, C1 and C1E, requirements, costs, duration, key code 95 and funding via a training voucher.
👉 The key truck driving licence categories in Germany in 2026:
| Driving licence category | Description |
|---|---|
| C | Trucks over 3.5 tonnes, trailer up to 750 kg |
| CE | Truck plus trailer over 750 kg |
| C1 | Trucks between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes |
| C1E | Combination up to 12 tonnes gross weight |
🔍 Frequently searched:
To obtain a truck driving licence in Germany, you need:
The cost of a truck driving licence varies depending on the region, the driving school and the category chosen.
| Category | Average cost | Possible with a training voucher (Bildungsgutschein)? |
|---|---|---|
| C | €2,000 – €3,000 | ✅ Yes |
| CE | €2,500 – €4,000 | ✅ Yes |
| C1/C1E | €1,500 – €2,500 | ✅ Yes |
💡 Tip: Many participants finance their truck driving licence with a training voucher from the Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) or through job centre schemes.
If you want to drive commercially, then in addition to your driving licence you need the initial qualification under section 2 of the German Professional Driver Qualification Act (Berufskraftfahrer-Qualifikations-Gesetz, BKrFQG). The 95 is not a section number but the harmonised EU key code for that qualification.
Since 23 May 2021 it is no longer entered on the driving licence in Germany but on the Fahrerqualifizierungsnachweis (FQN) – the driver qualification card, a separate card in driving-licence format that you carry in addition to your driving licence. The legal basis is the BKrFQG together with the Professional Driver Qualification Regulation (Berufskraftfahrerqualifikationsverordnung, BKrFQV), which implement Directive (EU) 2018/645. If key code 95 is still entered on your driving licence, it remains valid until the expiry date shown in column 12; after that the qualification is issued as an FQN.
This professional driver qualification is mandatory for commercial transport operations.
Training as a truck driver is divided into:
⏱ Total duration: approx. 2–4 months – faster still with intensive courses!
What is the difference between category C and CE?
→ C is for trucks without a heavy trailer; CE also allows trailers over 750 kg.
How often do I have to renew my truck driving licence?
→ Categories C1, C1E, C and CE are issued for a maximum of five years under § 23 Abs. 1 FeV. For the renewal, § 24 FeV requires proof of fitness to drive under Anlage 5 (a medical examination) and of the eyesight requirements under Anlage 6.
Is the periodic training the same as renewing the licence?
→ No, these are two separate obligations. The periodic training under § 5 BKrFQG concerns only the professional driver qualification (key code 95, which since 2021 has appeared on the FQN instead of on the driving licence): 35 hours within five years, which can be split into modules of at least seven hours. It runs independently of the validity period of the driving licence and is no substitute for the medical examination.
Is key code 95 still entered on the driving licence?
→ No. Since 23 May 2021 the professional driver qualification in Germany is no longer proven by an entry on the driving licence but by the Fahrerqualifizierungsnachweis (FQN). A key code 95 that has already been entered remains valid until its expiry date.
How do I get a training voucher for the truck driving licence?
→ From the Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) or the job centre – requirements: unemployment, retraining, imminent unemployment.
Whether you want to become a professional driver, change job or train further – a truck driving licence offers you secure prospects in a growing industry. With funding options such as the training voucher, the route is often cheaper than expected.
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