The British Berliner
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How to find a driving school in Berlin. In English!
This article is not sponsored but based on my own personal experience. I paid for every driving lesson, licence, and exam myself.
Driving.
Aha!
‘Remember when I told you that I had a few new ventures on the go?
Well, one of them was driving.
I know!
If you’re one of my regular readers, (and why wouldn’t you be?), you’d remember that I don’t drive.
No.
Really.
I don’t.
That’s not to say that I’ve never driven!
Funny you should ask, but once upon a time, I actually had a car that I bought for one thousand quid (£1,000)!
It was red!
And even though I couldn’t actually drive it, I used it to whizz around London as if I were a mad woman on wheels!
At that time, I applied to do the theory driving test, and it was easy-peasy.
I’m an academic.
I could have done it in my sleep!
Not so the practical exam.
I did it.
And I failed.
Three (3) times!
I wasn’t all that bothered, so I went backpacking!
Then I moved to Berlin where public transport is excellent, everyone uses their bike, and walking is the best way to appreciate history and architecture.
And that was that.
I never drove again.
Until the pandemic.
In 2020!
I’m a great advocate for the use of public transport.
But for the first time I didn’t want to take the tram or bus, I didn’t want to take the train, and I certainly wasn’t flying!
So what to do?
I don’t drive!
In fact, it was The Tall Young Gentleman who put forward the thought that since most of the world was in lockdown, why not utilize the time and finally get behind the wheel.
Now, The Music Producer – is an excellent driver.
The best.
But if you’re married, and want to stay married, the worst thing to do would be to get one’s own husband to teach you.
Imagine the squabble, the screeching, and pulling of hair!
Nope!
That isn’t going to work.
Time to find a driving school.
In the neighbourhood.
In English!
Ha! Ha! Ha!
Ha! Ha! Ha! …
As you can see, I’m still laughing ‘cos it’s easier said than done.
OK. I’ll stop now!
After searching for weeks, I finally found one.
Unfortunately, the process is a bit complicated, but I’ve done all the work, so you don’t have to.
Help! Where do I start?
This article is not sponsored but based on my own personal experience. I paid for every driving lesson, licence, and exam myself.
©Victoria Ade-Genschow – The British Berliner – Berlin – September 2020
©Victoria Ade-Genschow – The British Berliner – Berlin – September 2020
Ha!
This is Germany.
In order to get any official document, a process must be followed, so I’ve tried to make it as simple as I can.
You’re welcome!
Which Driving School?
There are 1,0001 driving schools in Berlin.
Probably more.
Not so, when it comes to driving schools that offer lessons in English.
You would think so, but it isn’t the case.
There are lots of non-German speaking customers, but very few qualified English-speaking instructors who are fluent enough.
Learning to drive as an adult isn’t cheap, so you want to feel safe and understood.
I can’t recommend a variety of schools, I can only tell you what I did using my own criteria of research, and my own comfort level.
I eventually chose The English Driving School Oscar or Fahrschule Oscar
Registration
You’ll need to follow the process of registration as closely as you can.
Due to the pandemic, you can only book online, time slots are limited, and appointments can take as long as 6 weeks.
Log on as early as you can!
For registration process, the following documents are requested:
Make an appointment at the Bürgeramt / Local Town Hall
Before you do do anything at all, pre-book an appointment at your local town hall via Service Portal Berlin
- You need to look for Erstmalige Erteilung einer Fahrerlaubnis
- This will lead you to Fahrerlaubnis – Ersterteilung beantragen
- All the information is in German, but you can use Google to help you translate it!
- Once you know what you’re doing, go further down the page and look for your Standorte or local area
- Look for the Bürgeramt that applies to you and click on Termin buchen
- This will lead you to Terminvereinbarung
- Click on the day or time that you want
- If you can’t find what you’re looking for but you’re flexible, go back to Fahrerlaubnis – Ersterteilung beantragen
- At the top right-hand side of the page, click under the box that says Termin buchen
- This will lead you to Termin berlinweit suchen / search anywhere in Berlin!
First Aid
You MUST book a First Aid Course. This is a legal requirement and can only be booked in an approved Erste Hilfer Center / First Aid School.
You will need to bring proof that you have completed this course
- It’s a full day intensive course lasting 7.5 hours or 9 x 45 minutes (not including breaks!)
- You need to bring ID
- Bring 2 passport photos. If you forget, they can do it for you on site (at cost)
- If you wear glasses or contact lenses, bring them along, as you can do the required teye test for free!
- Bring water & your own refreshments!
- Classes can be taken in either German or English
- You don’t have to take the First Aid Course at your driving school, you can choose wherever you want
- Cost: Between €64.90 – €68.90
- Don’t forget to pick up your First Aid Certificate and your Eye Test Certificate, before you leave!
- The registration office will take the original certificate. I suggest you keep a copy for yourself!
- For more information, click here
Passport Photographs
One (1) new-ish biometric photograph is required for registration, but take another.
Just in case!
Eye Test
You will need to present the Eye Test Certificate that you received in the First Aid Course.
- The registration office will take the original certificate. I suggest you keep a copy for yourself!
- For more information, click here
Driving School Confirmation
You will need to show proof that you are registered with an approved driving school. You will need :
- The driving school contract that clearly shows the name and address of the driving school
- Clear indication of what type of vehicle you’re registered for e.g. Class B Car/manual or Class B/automatic
- The name and address of the Driving Test Centre of your choice
- Note: Once you’ve chosen a test centre, you can’t change it!
Passport / ID card
A valid passport or identification card
Registration Fee
Cost – €49.80
The Theory Course
The Theory Course is a legal requirement regardless of how many years you’ve been driving.
And let me tell you, the Germans are thorough!
- You MUST attend all 14 classes
- If you miss any of the classes, you will be expected to take it in the next available cycle
- Each class is 1.5 hours / 90 minutes
- Classes are either Mondays and Wednesdays 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm, Tuesday and Thursdays 08:30 am – 10:00 am, or Saturdays 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
- Classes are available in English, German and Spanish!
- NOTE: Due to the pandemic, numbers per class are limited, and might result in a a bit of a wait. In my case, it took 6 weeks before I could actually start!
The Theory App
In order to supplement teaching, the driving school offers an English-Learning App in it’s own Online-Learning Centre. I highly recommend you take advantage of it because:
- You can self-study
- There are 1,100+ multiple-choice questions, with videos!
- It’s interactive
- Don’t make the mistake I did though. I thought it would be easy. It wasn’t!
- Learning to drive in Europe, is very different from learning to drive in Anglo-America!
- Cost – €35.00
- For more information, click here
The Theory Exam
10-12 weeks after registration, you’ll get a letter of authorisation from the Bürgeramt / Local Government.
This letter will confirm details of the initial appointment you booked a few months earlier:
- It will state the duration of authorisation – 12 months
- It will state the name & address of the Driving Test Centre – In Berlin, it’s either TÜV or DEKRA
- Before you can take the theory exam, you MUST get approval from your driving school
- Once approval has been given, your driving school will inform the Driving Test Centre
- You are then free to take the theory exam whenever you please
- No prior appointment is necessary
- You can simply turn up (within office hours)
- Don’t forget to bring your passport or ID and the letter of authorisation from the Bürgeramt. Without them, you won’t be able to take the exam.
- If you fail, you can repeat the exam 14 days later!
- Try not to worry, they’re really nice!
- For more information, click here
Driving Lessons
I must be mad.
They say that the number of regular driving lessons, corresponds to your actual age.
I hope not!
The Practical Exam
I’m scared.
I haven’t done it yet!
Driving School Fees – Class B (car) – Manual / Automatic
I’m an independent woman so I paid for every driving lesson, licence, and exam myself!
- Driving School Registration – €189.00
- Theory Classes – €299.00
- Regular Driving Lessons – 40 minutes – €45.00
- Regular Driving Lessons – 45 minutes – €45.00
- Regular Driving Lessons – 60 minutes – €60.00
- A legal requirement: Cross-Country Driving Lessons – 5 x 45 minutes – €50.00
- A legal requirement: Motorway Driving Lessons – 4 x 45 minutes – €50.00
- A legal requirement: Nighttime Driving Lessons – 3 x 45 minutes – €50.00
Driving Licence Fees
Pretty reasonable!
- Government Registration Fee – €49.80
- First Aid Course – Between €64.90 – €68.90
- The Driving Licence Theory Exam Fee – €22.49
- The Driving Licence Practical Exam Fee – €116.93
- English-Learning Self-Study App – €35.00
Anything Else?
I’ll let you know!
Follow The British Berliner on Twitter!
Tweet
I’m learning to drive in Berlin.
Eek!
p.s If you’re booking hotels, houses and apartments, use this link to save 15% or more, before 30 January, 2023!
Booking.comHow to find a driving school in Berlin. In English!
©Victoria Ade-Genschow – The British Berliner – Berlin – May 2020
That’s it for now.
Thank you so much everyone. I really appreciate it lots.
All content will continue to remain free of charge but if you feel like buying me a cup of tea, I will graciously accept!
Don’t forget, please SHARE this post!
Cheers!
How to find a driving school in Berlin. In English!
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DISCLOSURE!
Please note that The British Berliner is a participant in affiliate programmes designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Booking.com
In short, every time one of these services is used, booked, and paid for via my link, I get a little percentage, but at no extra cost to yourself!
A win-win for all!
So what are you waiting for?
Thanks a million!
Do you remember when you first learnt to drive? Am I the only one? Let me know in the comments below!
See you in Berlin.
If you have any questions, send me a Tweet, talk to me on Facebook, find me on LinkedIn, make a comment below or send me an Email: victoria@thebritishberliner.com
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