• roman.kitik@gmail.com

Converting a foreign driving license is an important step toward integration in Germany. One of the most common questions is: “Do I need to take driving lessons if I already have years of driving experience?” The driving school “In7Days” analyzes this topic from both a legal and practical perspective.

What Does the Law Say?

Legally, the answer sounds encouraging: when converting a national driving license (issued outside an EU country), the law does not require a minimum number of driving lessons. Unlike beginners, you are not required to complete mandatory sessions (night driving, motorway driving, rural road driving). In theory, you could go straight to the practical exam after passing the theory test. In practice, however, this overconfidence often leads to mistakes.

Why Is Experience Your Biggest Challenge?

We have worked with hundreds of drivers with 10 to 20 years of experience. The difficulty is that unlearning old habits is often harder than learning from scratch.

1. Muscle memory and habits. Experienced drivers often steer with one hand, rest their hand on the gear stick, or rely solely on mirrors. In Germany, however, “demonstrable safety” is assessed. If you don’t perform the over-the-shoulder check in a way that is clearly visible to the examiner, or if you don’t stop noticeably before the stop line, it is counted as a procedural violation.
2. Exam routes. Every city has its own technical quirks. Examiners use routes with tricky intersections or 30 km/h zones that change every hundred metres. Knowing these specifics gives you confidence.
3. The iconic “right of way from the right” rule. In residential areas, this is the foundation of road safety. Anyone who fails to observe priority at such an intersection clearly enough often fails — even experienced professionals.

Reputation and a Head Start on Trust

In the exam, you demonstrate not only your skill, but also the outcome of your driving school’s work. There is a professional relationship of trust between examiners and certified driving schools. When a candidate from “In7Days” arrives for the exam after completing an adaptation course, the examiner knows: this driver is familiar with current safety requirements.

Someone who walks into the exam “blind” after just one lesson signals to the examiner that they are underprepared. In this case, the bar for scrutiny automatically rises: the examiner tests more strictly and in greater detail, since there is no confirmation from an instructor that old habits have been corrected. Thorough preparation creates a positive atmosphere in the car from the very first minute.

The Golden Mean: The “8 to 12 Hours” Formula

Based on our experience, even a confident driver needs 8 to 12 driving lessons for a smooth adaptation.

• Competency check. In the first lesson, we honestly assess which habits need to be adjusted to meet German regulations.
• Reflex update. We practise the exam routes and refine the eco-friendly driving style (Eco-Driving), which is a mandatory component of the assessment.

The Risk: The Cost of One Mistake

Cutting corners at the wrong end rarely pays off. The cost of failing: a re-sit exam including fees and additional lessons totals between 500 and 700 euros. But even more significant is the loss of time: when appointment slots are scarce, the wait for the next attempt can be at least two months or more. If your old license expires by then, you will be left without the right to drive.

How We Work at “In7Days”

We don’t want to teach you to drive from scratch — we help you adapt. In the first lesson, the instructor analyses your driving style and tells you honestly what the examiner is likely to notice. We put together a realistic plan so you know exactly what is expected of you. This is the most transparent path to a German driving license: no unnecessary hours, but with complete confidence.