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In Germany the driving license is a governmental right given to those who request a license for any of the categories they desire. It is required for every type of motorized vehicle with the exception of the smallest mopeds below 50 cm³, with a speed limit of 25 km/h, as well as motorized bicycles. (Even for these, there is a minimum age of 15 years and a small mandatory driving school course). The types of licenses one may obtain are the same in all the European Economic Area. See European driving licence. The minimum age to obtain a driving license is: 16 years for a restricted motorcycle up to 125 cm³, 17 years for a car, and 21 years for buses and cargo vehicles.〔Bundesministerium für Verkehr und digitale Infrastruktur, http://www.bmvi.de/SharedDocs/DE/Artikel/LA/voraussetzungen-fuer-die-fahrerlaubnis-und-geltungsdauer.html〕 ==Obtaining a driver's license== The German driving license can be obtained after finishing driving school and passing a two-stage test, the theory test and road test. Before being allowed to take these tests an eye-exam must have been performed and a first-aid course (usually lasts 8 hours) completed. Driver's education usually takes place in legally authorized and mostly privately owned for profit driving schools. The driving school handles all the necessary paperwork for the students, such as applying for a license, registering for tests etc. The theoretical part of the education comprises lessons at the driving school, held by legally authorized driving instructors, typically in the evening. The content and number of the lessons is set by law and depending on the type of license the student wishes to acquire a different number of lessons has to be attended. Remarkably enough, a student does not have to attend different lessons, they could theoretically attend the same lesson several times to meet the criteria. Lessons are divided into general knowledge about road rules that anyone studying for any license might attend and specialized lessons for certain types of vehicles. To prepare for the written theory test students usually obtain a study package from the driving school which can consist of software programs, textbooks and sample exam papers. Schools usually take responsibility for their students' success and thus keep track of class attendance and hand out sample exams for practicing. The theory test is a multiple-choice test consisting of randomized questions from a published catalog. Thus the questions and correct answers can be studied in advance. Practical training also takes place with driving school instructors. Specially labeled and fitted vehicles are provided by the driving school. Cars usually feature extra mirrors and pedals for the instructor so that they can take control over the vehicle in dangerous situations since driving and parking maneuvers are taught on public roads. For motorcycles the student operates the motorcycle on their own with a driving instructor trailing in another vehicle and giving orders and remarks via radio. A certain number of practical and technical lessons has to be completed again depending on the type of vehicle. Obligatory lessons include a minimum number of lessons each driving on the Autobahn, outside urban areas, and in the dark. The actual number of lessons a student completes varies with individual skill. Since the most difficult part of the driving test is usually inner city driving, most lessons actually take place there, even though there is no mandated minimum for that. If a student wishes to be trained in a car with an automatic transmission and takes the road test on such a car, a remark will be added on the license and the holder may not drive cars with a manual transmission. A test taken on a manual transmission car automatically qualifies for driving automatic transmission cars though. Theoretical and practical training may be commenced at the same time or shifted. Some driving schools may insist a student attend a certain number of lessons before giving out appointments for driving training. Both exams are held by an authorized inspector who visits the driving school for this purpose. Students must pass the theory test before taking the road test, with no more than 12 months lying between the two. During the road test, the driving instructor is present in the car with the assisting features of the driving school car deactivated or connected to audio signals and a warning light (if the instructor has to step in, the test is then an automatic fail.) After each exam, results are immediately given to the students. In case of the road test, if the student meets all the required criteria, the license is handed over by the inspector. Should the student for any reason not be allowed to hold the license at the time of a successful test (for example because he has not yet reached the minimum age), the license will be sent to the Kraftfahrzeug-Zulassungsbehörde (compare DMV) of the student's place of residence where it can be picked up as soon as the person becomes eligible. There are limits on how often and in which intervals failed tests can be repeated. The failure rate for driving tests in 2011 was 28%. Automobile associations have given the opinion that this is due to the low quality of the education at driving schools which benefits their income as students take additional lessons after failing.〔http://www.t-online.de/auto/news/id_61798136/fuehrerschein-fast-jeder-dritte-faellt-durch-die-praktische-oder-theoretische-fahrpruefung.html〕 For cars, people aged 17 do not get a regular driver's license after passing all required tests but rather a permission slip which only allows them to drive a car under the supervision of persons that meet certain criteria and that are stated on the permission. The actual driver's license is then handed out once the person turns 18. The cost of obtaining a license for driving a car is on average 1,400€ (US$1,800 in September 2014) but varies widely according to an individual's skill, city and region.〔http://www.bild.de/auto/service/fuehrerschein/fahrschulen-preis-pkw-fuehrerschein-vergleich-studie-35874768.bild.html〕 Individual driving schools set their own prices. The total contains fees for authorities and exams, learning materials, driving lessons and tuition. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Driving licence in Germany」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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