Licence categories
Four categories, one licence
German licence categories are letters, not names, and the difference between two of them decides how stressful your practical test will be. Here is what each one actually means.
B or B197?
This is the single most useful thing to understand before you register — especially if you already drive an automatic somewhere else.
| Category B | Category B197 | |
|---|---|---|
| Test car | Manual or automatic | Automatic |
| You may then drive | Manual — or automatic only, if you tested on one | Manual and automatic |
| Extra training | — | At least 10 hours of manual driving |
| Training car | Audi A3 | VW Golf GTI |
Still not sure which is you?
Walk in without an appointment or call us. We will tell you honestly which category fits — including when the cheaper-looking one is the wrong answer.