Accompanied driving – what you need to know about driving at 17

For a good 10 years now, there has been the possibility of accompanied driving from the age of 17 throughout Germany. Have you never come into contact with it so far? No problem, we will tell you everything you need to know about this topic.

What is accompanied driving from the age of 17?

With accompanied driving from the age of 17, young people – as the name suggests – can drive a car from the age of 17 accompanied by a specified accompanying person. In this way, young people can learn to handle a car responsibly and become safe road users. The number of trips is not limited, the novice drivers can drive as often as they want - provided there is always an accompanying person in the vehicle.

Until the young people celebrate their 18th birthday, the accompanying person is mandatory, after which you are allowed to drive the vehicle alone, because the driver's license at 17 covers exactly the same topics in theory and practice as the classic driver's license, which you get from the age of 18. The best way to learn is to get tips for the theory exam.

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However, young people do not get a credit card driving licence for the driving licence from the age of 17 after passing the test, here a so-called test certificate is issued, which is valid as a driving licence in conjunction with the identity card. Novice drivers can apply for the correct driving licence, in which key numbers are then optionally entered, on their 18th birthday.

If you want to drive a car as a teenager, look at cars from the age of 15 or 16. Driving at the age of 17 is only valid in Germany and Austria.

For which driving licence classes does accompanied driving apply?

Anyone who takes part in accompanied driving from the age of 17 can obtain a driving licence for categories B and BE one year earlier than usual. This corresponds to driving a car and a car with a trailer. For all other classes, you still have to be at least 18 years old.

Requirements for accompanied driving

In order to be allowed to get the driver's license from the age of 17, the consent of the legal guardians must be obtained and there must be an accompanying person on each trip, who will be entered by name in the test certificate. Several people can also be appointed as accompanying persons, but all of them must be listed in the certificate. It is possible to enter other persons at a later date.

Of course, a first aid course must also be attended. A first aid kit must be carried in any case.

Insurance during accompanied driving from the age of 17

Anyone who takes part in accompanied driving at the age of 17 does not need to take out their own car insurance. It is possible – and also much cheaper – to be included in the contract of the accompanying person. In addition, there are other advantages with most insurance companies:

Novice drivers from the age of 17 often drive free of charge
Often lower costs for first insurance if accompanied driving was registered beforehand

If an accident occurs, the driver of the vehicle is usually always liable – regardless of whether they are minors or not.

Accompanied driving – accompanying person

An accompanying person should provide assistance and security. The novice driver should be able to turn to this person if they have any questions while driving, or if uncertainties arise, the accompanying person can help to eliminate them. The accompanying person is not allowed to actively intervene in the driving process, such as taking over the steering wheel.

Who can become an accompanying person?

In order to be recognized as an accompanying person, the following requirements must be met:

Minimum age of 30 years
No more than 1 point in Flensburg
At least 5 years of class B driving licence
No more than 0.5 per mille blood alcohol during the journey

The more accompanying persons are entered, the better - because this gives you the opportunity to gain as much driving experience as possible.

What are the costs per accompanying person?

The following additional costs are incurred for accompanied driving:

1.50 to 10 euros for the inspection per accompanying person
3.30 euros per information from the driving fitness register for the accompanying person
EUR 7.70 for the issuance of the examination certificate

Where does the accompanying person have to sit?

The accompanying person does not necessarily have to sit in the passenger seat, they can also make themselves comfortable in the back seat.

What happens if the accompanying person is banned from driving?

If a driving ban has been imposed on the accompanying person, this has an impact on his or her position as an accompanying person. It is necessary to carry a valid driver's license and this is not possible in the case of a driving ban. If no more than one point has been awarded in Flensburg in addition to the driving ban, then the accompanying person may drive with you again after the ban has expired.

Duration of accompanied driving and influence on the probationary period

Accompanying driving, i.e. driving a vehicle in the presence of an accompanying person, is mandatory until the age of 18 if you decide to get a driver's license from the age of 17. After that, the same rules apply as when completing a "classic" driver's license.

By the way, the probationary period already begins during the accompanying driving. So from the time of passing the driving test, the two-year probationary period also begins.

Driving school

Registration for a driver's license at 17

If you want to get a driving licence at the age of 17, you can register for training for a class B or BE driving licence at a normal driving school six months before the age of 17, i.e. at the age of 16. In addition, an application must be submitted to the responsible driving licence authority.

The declaration of consent of the legal guardians must be enclosed in this application, just as the accompanying persons must already be named by name.

They complete exactly the same driving training as a novice driver who does not register for accompanied driving. Accordingly, the same theoretical and practical exam is taken. The theory exam can be taken at the earliest three months before the 17th birthday and the practical exam at the earliest one month before.

If you are interested in taking a driving test in an electric car, that's no problem either. More and more driving schools are offering this service. As soon as you have your driver's license, you can also opt for leasing as a student or trainee.

Traffic offences during accompanied driving

Anyone who is guilty of something during the probationary period must expect serious consequences - especially when accompanied driving. Basically, the penalties are the same as for the normal probationary period, but it's just more annoying. Depending on whether there is a so-called A or B violation, the consequences are harsher or less severe.

A violations during the probationary period extend the probationary period by two years and there are points and a fine. Here are a few examples of an A violation:

Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medication
Driving without an accompanying person
Hit-and-run
Coercion
Failure to provide assistance

In the case of B violations, the consequences are not quite as harsh. A single B violation is not the end of the world, but several can be considered an A violation. Examples are:

Driving without lights
Mobile phone at the wheel
TÜV over-coated
Parking in a no-parking zone
Too little tire tread

What happens if you ride without a companion?

You'd better not do that! Driving without an accompanying person named in the test certificate constitutes a serious violation. A fine of 70 euros and a point in Flensburg are still the harmless part of the punishment here - because the driver's license is revoked in this case.

The novice drivers are in the probationary period, which means that the driver's license will only be issued again after successful participation in an advanced seminar.