Germany Category T Theory Test exam-day guide
Germany Category T Theory Test · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID (Personalausweis or passport)
Bring the original document the driving school registered for you. A copy or expired document is normally not accepted. If your ID is a foreign passport, confirm with your Fahrschule whether a residence permit or Meldebescheinigung must also be presented.
Registration and address confirmation from your driving school
Your Fahrschule submits the application to the Fahrerlaubnisbehörde and books the theory appointment. Ask them for the appointment confirmation and the TÜV/DEKRA location and time in writing, since the test centre, not the school, runs the exam. Confirm with the provider which documents they hand you.
Sehtest certificate (if not already filed)
A valid eye test (Sehtest) from an optician or ophthalmologist is part of the application package. It is usually submitted by the driving school before the appointment, but keep a copy with you in case the file is incomplete.
First-aid course certificate (Erste-Hilfe-Kurs)
The certificate is normally part of the application file. Bring a copy only if your school tells you the original has not yet reached the authority. Confirm with the provider whether anything is still outstanding.
Know your exam language and request it in advance
The theory test can be taken in German or in a number of approved foreign languages. The language must be booked with the appointment; it cannot be changed on the day. Confirm with your Fahrschule that your language is registered.
Arrive early at the test centre
Plan to be at the TÜV/DEKRA office well before your slot, allowing time for ID checks and seating. Late arrival can mean the slot is forfeited. Confirm the required arrival time with the provider.
Leave phones and smart devices switched off and stowed
Phones, smartwatches and other electronic devices must be switched off and put away during the test. Using them during the exam is treated as a violation and can lead to exclusion.
Bring nothing that could be used as a cheat sheet
Notes, printed questions, textbooks and study apps on a device are not allowed at the desk. Study material stays outside the exam room.
Know the fee and payment method
The theory fee is paid to the test organisation (TÜV or DEKRA), usually through the driving school or on site depending on local practice. Confirm with the provider how and when the fee is collected and whether a failed attempt costs the same.
Plan your journey and a buffer
Check the route to the test centre, parking or public transport, and add a margin for delays. Stress from rushing is a common cause of careless errors in the first questions.
Prepare for the retake rule
If you fail, a waiting period applies before the next attempt, and the driving school must usually re-book you. Confirm the exact waiting time and fee with the provider rather than relying on hearsay.
Sleep, eat and hydrate before the appointment
The theory test is short but requires sustained attention on image and video questions. Being rested matters more than last-minute cramming.
Plan the day
Confirm the appointment details in writing with your Fahrschule: date, time, exact address of the TÜV/DEKRA centre, exam language and fee. Ask explicitly whether any document in your file is still missing, especially Sehtest and Erste-Hilfe certificate.
Switch from learning new material to consolidating. Work through full practice sets under timed conditions, then review only the questions you got wrong. Group errors by topic (right of way, signs, speed limits, alcohol and points, technical basics) and re-read those sections rather than repeating what you already know.
Rehearse the question format. The theory test uses single-choice and multiple-choice questions, some with images or short video clips, and some questions count double. Practise reading each question to the end and checking how many answers are expected before tapping.
Lay out your ID, appointment confirmation and any copies your school asked for. Charge nothing you cannot switch off: plan to leave the phone in your bag, switched off, during the test.
Do one short, calm review of your personal error list and the number plates and sign meanings you keep confusing. Stop studying in the evening. Confirm your route and departure time, including a buffer.
Eat a normal meal, take your ID and confirmation, and arrive at the centre early. Do not attempt to cram in the waiting area; last-minute noise tends to increase error rates.
Follow the staff instructions for the ID check and seating. Listen to the briefing on how to operate the terminal, how to flag questions and how to submit. Ask the invigilator if the interface is unclear before you start.
Read every question fully, note whether multiple answers are possible, and answer the ones you are sure of first. Flag uncertain questions and return to them if the system allows. Watch the time and leave a margin to review flagged items before submitting.
The result is shown or issued by the test organisation. If you pass, the pass certificate goes to your driving school and is valid for a limited period for the practical test; confirm that validity with the provider. If you fail, ask the invigilator and your school about the waiting period and the next booking.
Rules to check
Bring the original valid photo ID registered for your appointment. Without acceptable identification you can be refused entry, and the attempt may count as not taken. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted for foreign nationals.
Electronic devices must be switched off and stowed for the whole test. Any use of a phone, smartwatch or notes during the exam is treated as a violation and can lead to exclusion and a failed attempt.
The test is taken in the language booked with the appointment. You cannot switch language on the day, so verify the booking in advance with your Fahrschule.
The theory test is a computer-based set of single- and multiple-choice questions drawn from the official question catalogue, with some questions weighted double. Read each question to the end and check how many answers are expected before confirming.
Follow the invigilator's instructions and the briefing on the terminal. If the interface, a question or a technical fault is unclear, raise it immediately with the staff rather than guessing silently.
Breaks and leaving the room during the test are at the invigilator's discretion. Confirm with the provider what applies at your centre before the test starts.
A failed attempt triggers a waiting period before re-booking, set by the licensing authority. Confirm the exact waiting time, fee and re-booking procedure with your Fahrschule.
The pass certificate is time-limited for taking the practical test. Check the validity date with your driving school and plan the practical lessons and test booking accordingly.