Minimum age for obtaining a driving licence

The minimum age requirements relate to the earliest possible point at which a (temporary) driving licence may be issued.

Advice

Once an applicant has passed their practical driving test, their licence is considered to have been granted. It is only possible to take a practical driving test once you have reached the relevant minimum age for the categories and sub-categories in question (except for professional drivers).

Caution

In general, these rules also apply to EU citizens in Austria.

Minimum age for taking a driving test
Category

Eligible for a driving licence

no earlier than the age of
AM 15
A1 16
A2 18
A
  • 20 for individuals previously in possession (for 2 years) of a category A2 licence (21 for three-wheeled motor vehicles)
  • 24 (first-time licence holders)
B
BE		 18
B at 17 17
C1
C1E		 18
C
CE
  • 21
  • 18 (‘professional drivers’ with driver qualification certificate or those authorised to drive vehicles for certain official tasks)
D1
D1E		 21
D
DE
  • 24
  • 21 (with driver qualification certificate or authorisation to drive vehicles for certain official tasks)
F
  • 16  for agricultural vehicles under certain conditions
  • 18

Individuals may start lessons at a driving school (theory and practical) no earlier than six months before reaching the minimum age applicable for the relevant category of vehicle.

Exceptions:

  • Individuals may begin lessons for the category AM licence two months before their 15th birthday.
  • Individuals may begin lessons for the category A1 licence as well as L17 training at a driving school 6 months after their 15th birthday.
  • From the age of 16, individuals may begin theory and practical lessons at a driving school for the category A2 licence if they are also doing L17 training at the same time. However, candidates may not take the practical driving test for category A2 before their 18th birthday.
  • Apprentices training to be ‘professional drivers’ for categories B and C may begin lessons at a driving school six months before their 17th birthday.

Legal basis

Führerscheingesetz (FSG)

Translated by the European Commission
Last update: 8 April 2024

Responsible for the content: Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology