Driving training – Minimum number of training sessions for the individual categories

Training at a driving school comprises both theory and practical lessons. Each session lasts 50 minutes.

Caution

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

Advice

Detailed information about L 17 basic training at a driving school (B licence at 17) and about pre-training and basic training ('L') at driving school (on-road practice) can also be found at oesterreich.gv.at.

Theory lessons

The theory lessons comprise a basic module for all licence categories (minimum of 20 sessions), and a category-specific module depending on the chosen category. In the case of an extension of the driving licence from category C1 to category C or from category D1 to D, no theoretical training is required. The content of the category-specific modules is spread across the following minimum number of sessions:

Prescribed number of theory sessions for the relevant licence categories
(Sub-)categories Number of sessions included in the relevant category-specific module
A 6
B 12
BE 3
C1 8
C 10
CE (C1E) or DE (D1E) 6
D1 (extension of B) 8
D1 (extension of C/C1) 4
D (extension of  B) 12
D (extension of  C) 4
F 4

Practical lessons

The practical lessons comprise driving in the local area in heavy traffic (urban driving), driving on express roads (e.g. motorways, highways) as well as night driving. The minimum duration of the practical training is as follows:

Prescribed number of practical sessions for the relevant licence categories
(Sub-)categories Sessions
A
  • 14 sessions, 10 of which must be carried out on public roads
  • Candidates for a category A licence aged 39 or older must attend an additional 2 sessions on public roads. These extra sessions will cover how to handle the heavy motorcycles that fall under category A, as well as risk competence with these vehicles. In addition, individuals in this age category must undertake the final 4 sessions, most of which will be spent on roads outside of cities or towns.
B
  • 3 sessions of pre-training
  • 3 sessions of basic training
  • 6 sessions of core training
  • 5 sessions of skill refinement training, including 3 sessions in special driving conditions:
    • 1 session: night driving
    • 1 session: motorway driving
    • 1 session: driving on country roads
    • The night driving can also be done during core training; however, the skill refinement training must still always comprise 5 sessions.
    • It is not necessary to do night driving as part of your driving school training if you have already done on-road practice ('L') in accordance with Section 122 of the Motor Vehicles Act (KFG).
  • 1 session of test preparation
B and BE In addition to category B, 4 sessions for BE
B and C/C1 20 sessions, of which 8 B and 12 C/C1
B and C/C1 and CE (C1E) 22 sessions, of which 8 B, 10 C and 4 CE/C1E
B and D/D1 20 sessions, of which 8 B and 12 D/D1
B and C/C1 and D/D1 26 session, of which 8 B, 10 C/C1 and 8 D/D11
B and C/C1 and CE (C1E) and D/D1 28 sessions, of which 8 B, 8 C/C1, 8 D/D1 and 4 CE/C1E
F 4 sessions

* Instead of attending core training for category B at a driving school, it is possible to do on-road-practice ('L') instead.

Practical training for categories C/C1 and D/D1 may only be undertaken after completing pre-training and basic training as well as one category B practice drive under special conditions (rural driving). The final training for category B (one night drive and one motorway drive) will only take place once the practical training for categories C/C1 and D/D1 has been fully completed.

Legal basis

Kraftfahrgesetz-Durchführungsverordnung (KDV)

Translated by the European Commission
Last update: 18 November 2024

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