German Theory Test in English: How It Works and How to Pass
The German theory test in English is the first exam most expats face on the road to a German driving licence, and it is also the one that causes the most anxiety. The questions are in English, the question bank is published in advance, and you may make mistakes and still pass — yet many people fail it, usually because they underestimated how specific the German rules are. This guide explains how the German theory test works, what it covers, how the scoring works, how much it costs and how to pass it on the first attempt.
The theory test — the theoretische Prüfung — is a computer-based multiple-choice test with 30 questions for a class B car licence. It is available in English and in eleven other languages, and it is the same test whether you are getting your first licence or converting a foreign licence that requires a theory test. The eye test and the first aid course come first, but the theory test is the first real exam. Below you will find the format, the error-point system, the topics, the costs, the validity and a study plan that works.
What is the German theory test?
The theory test proves that you know the rules of the road before you are allowed out on it. It is administered by TÜV or DEKRA, the two official testing organisations, on behalf of your local driving licence authority. You take it on a computer at a test centre, and you see the result immediately after the last question. The test exists for all licence classes, but the questions and the score differ by class: this article covers class B, the standard car licence, which is the one most expats need.
Unlike the driving test, the theory test is not a practical assessment — you do not need a car, and you do not need to have taken any particular number of lessons before it, although your driving school will usually want you to be ready. You do need to have completed the eye test and the first aid course before you can apply for the theory test, and you need to be registered with a driving school, which books the test for you. Our guide to the driving licence eye test procedure explains the first step of the process.
The theory test in English: languages and format
Yes, you can take the German theory test in English. The official test is available in twelve languages: German, English, French, Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Turkish and Arabic (with Croatian and others depending on the region). When your driving school registers you for the test, they tell the test centre which language you want, and the questions appear on screen in that language. The road signs and pictures are the same in every language — only the text changes.
There is one important detail: the translation is official and published, but it is a translation of German legal language, and some questions are worded in a way that can sound strange in English. That is why it pays to study with the official question bank in English rather than translating German study material yourself. If a question is unclear during the test, there is no one to ask: the test is a computer test and the examiner is not allowed to explain questions. Practising with the exact English wording in advance is the best preparation.
The 30 questions and the error-point system
For class B, the test consists of 30 questions drawn at random from a bank of around 1,000 official questions. Every question is worth between two and five error points, depending on how important it is: questions about right of way, zebra crossings, children and alcohol are usually worth five points, while more general knowledge questions are worth two or three. You may answer at most ten error points incorrectly and still pass. If you exceed ten points, you fail.
The five-point questions are the ones that trip people up. If you answer one five-point question wrong, you can only afford five more error points in the rest of the test; two wrong five-point questions mean you have already failed, no matter what else you do. That is why the study advice is always the same: learn the five-point questions first, and learn them properly, because they are the ones about safety. There is also a special type of question with a picture or a short video, where you have to work out what the correct behaviour is — for example, who has right of way at an unclear junction — and questions with several correct answers, where you must tick every correct option.
What topics are covered?
The question bank covers everything a driver needs to know in Germany, and it is grouped into topics. The biggest group is traffic rules and right of way: who goes first at junctions, how to behave at roundabouts, the rules for turning, and the special protection of pedestrians and cyclists. The second group is road signs and markings — the meaning of all the German signs, including the ones that do not exist in other countries, such as the sign for the end of a speed limit or the sign that marks the start of a built-up area.
Other important topics are speed limits and safety distances (the famous German rule of thumb, half the speedometer reading in metres), alcohol and drugs (the 0.5 per mille limit, 0.0 for new drivers), the behaviour of the car in bad weather and at night, the condition of the vehicle and its documentation, and environmental topics such as environmental zones (Umweltzonen), low emission stickers and fuel-efficient driving. A small group of questions covers first aid and what to do at an accident scene — which is why the first aid course is part of the licence process. If you drive a car with a trailer, there are questions about towing as well.
How to prepare and study for the theory test
The question bank is public and the same questions appear in the test, so preparation is mostly a matter of working through the bank systematically. The most popular method is an app: the official question bank is available in apps such as Fahren Lernen, iTheorie and Führerschein 2026, usually for a one-off fee, and they work in English. The apps track which questions you keep getting wrong and repeat them, which is exactly the study method that works.
A good plan is to study for two to four weeks, doing one or two mock tests a day. Early on, go through all the questions once, topic by topic, and read the explanations for the ones you get wrong. Then switch to timed mock tests with the real format: 30 questions, ten error points allowed. When you can pass five mock tests in a row with no more than five error points, you are ready for the real thing. Do not rely on memory alone: the questions are designed to catch rote learning, and some questions have almost identical answers with one crucial difference. Finally, your driving school can provide the official learning materials and a theory course; even if you study mostly alone, attending a few theory lessons helps, because the instructor explains the reasoning behind the rules.
The theory test step by step: booking and the test day
Your driving school registers you for the test and books the appointment, which is usually at a TÜV or DEKRA test centre. You need to have completed the eye test and first aid course, and your application must have been approved — that can take a few days to a few weeks after the authority receives your documents. Test dates are usually available within one to three weeks, although in large cities the wait can be longer.
On the day, bring your identity card or passport, and arrive a little early. You will be shown to a computer, your language will already be set to English, and you have up to about 45 minutes for the 30 questions — more than enough time if you are prepared. You can skip a question and come back to it, and you can change your answers until you submit. The result appears on the screen immediately: either you have passed, or you have not. If you passed, the result is valid for twelve months, within which you must take the practical test. If you failed, you can retake the test after a waiting period of two weeks.
How much does the theory test cost?
The theory test fee charged by TÜV or DEKRA is around 22 euros, and your driving school may charge a small additional fee for the registration — usually a few euros. The learning materials cost extra: an app with the full English question bank is typically around 20 to 70 euros as a one-off purchase, and a printed book of the questions is about the same. If you fail and have to retake the test, the fee is payable again each time, so passing first time saves real money as well as time.
The total cost of the theory test stage is therefore somewhere between 50 and 150 euros, including the study materials. That is a small part of the cost of a full German licence, which is usually 1,500 to 2,500 euros, but it is still worth taking seriously: every retake costs another week or two of waiting and another fee.
How long is the theory test pass valid?
A passed theory test is valid for twelve months. That means you must pass the practical test within twelve months of the theory test, or you will have to take the theory test again. In practice this is not a problem for most people, because the practical test follows within a few weeks or months — but if your driving school has a long waiting list, or if you fail the practical test several times, the twelve-month clock can become a real constraint. Book the practical test as soon as your instructor thinks you are ready.
What happens if you fail the theory test?
Failing the theory test is common and not a disaster. About a third of candidates fail the first time in Germany, and the reasons are usually the same: underestimating the five-point questions, misreading questions with several correct answers, or running out of concentration in the last ten questions. There is no limit on the number of attempts, but there is a two-week waiting period before you can retake the test, and the fee is payable again each time.
After a fail, look at the result and work out where the points were lost. The test report tells you how many error points you scored, and your driving school can see which topics caused the problems. Spend the two weeks on those topics only, using the app to drill them, and take mock tests until you are consistently below five error points. Do not rush the retake: a second failure costs another two weeks and another fee. Some candidates also benefit from taking a block of theory lessons at the driving school before the retake, especially for the topics they find difficult.
Theory test tips for English speakers
English speakers have an advantage — the test is available in English — and a disadvantage: the English wording is a translation of German legal terms, and a few questions are phrased in ways that feel unnatural. The single most useful tip is to study with the official English question bank, so that you learn the translated wording rather than your own translation of the German. The second tip is to pay special attention to questions with multiple correct answers, which are common in the German test and rare in the American one: read every option, and tick all that apply.
The third tip is to learn the five-point questions by heart, especially the ones about right of way, zebra crossings, children and alcohol: two of those wrong and the test is over. The fourth is to do the practice questions on a computer rather than on a phone, so that the real test feels familiar. And the fifth is to arrive rested and calm: the test is as much a test of concentration as of knowledge. Take your time, read each question twice, and use the flag function to come back to difficult questions. Our article with 10 tips to pass the driving licence eye test the first time also helps, because the eye test is the document you need before you can register for the theory test.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take the German theory test in English?
Yes. The theory test is available in English and in eleven other languages. Your driving school registers you with the language you want, and the questions appear on screen in that language.
How many questions are in the theory test?
For class B, 30 questions drawn at random from a bank of around 1,000 official questions. You may make up to ten error points and still pass.
How much does the theory test cost?
The TÜV or DEKRA test fee is around 22 euros, plus any registration fee from your driving school. Study apps and books cost about 20 to 70 euros.
How long is the theory test valid?
A passed theory test is valid for twelve months. Within that time you must pass the practical test, or the theory test has to be taken again.
What happens if I fail the theory test?
You can retake it after a waiting period of two weeks, and there is no limit on the number of attempts. The fee is payable again each time, so it is worth preparing properly.
Conclusion: pass it once, pass it well
The German theory test in English is a fair exam: the questions are published, the scoring is transparent, and the pass mark is generous — ten error points is room to make mistakes. Yet it is failed by about a third of candidates, usually because they underestimated the five-point questions or never practised the real format. Treat it like an exam, not a formality: study the official English question bank for two to four weeks, drill the five-point questions, take mock tests until you pass them consistently, and you will walk out of the test centre with twelve months of validity in your pocket. That is one more step towards your German driving licence.