Professional Driver Qualification (BKrFQG)

Drivers who carry out commercial goods and passenger transport on public roads must demonstrate a special qualification in order to work independently or as an employee in these areas. This also applies to journeys in company traffic.

Drivers of vehicles with a permitted total weight of over 3.5 tons in goods and company traffic, as well as those of vehicles with more than 8 passenger seats in passenger transport, are affected. This requirement applies to all bus drivers who obtained their driving license after September 9, 2008, and all truck drivers who obtained their driving license after September 9, 2009.

Those who obtained their driving license before the specified dates are only subject to the obligation of further training.

The aim of the European regulation is to improve road safety as well as the safety of the drivers. The legislature hopes that the mandatory qualification will lead to the development of a defensive driving style and efficient fuel consumption.

Registration for the examination
Online registration ( https://eoa2.bildung1.gfi.ihk.de/kammer/giessen-friedberg/anmeldung/BKF )for the examination of basic qualification/accelerated basic qualification (goods and passenger transport)

Qualification obligation
Drivers who:
  • are German citizens
  • are citizens of another member state of the European Union or another contracting state of the European Economic Area
  • are citizens of a third country and are employed or deployed in a company based in a member state of the European Union or contracting state of the European Economic Area
and drive vehicles:
  • with a permitted total mass greater than 3.5 tons in goods transport (licenses of classes C1, C1E, C, CE)
  • with more than 8 passenger seats in passenger transport (licenses of classes D1, D1E, D, DE) for commercial purposes, must complete the corresponding qualification in order to work in these areas.
Exceptions
This regulation does not apply to trips with motor vehicles:
  • that do not exceed a maximum speed of 45 km/h
  • used by the German Armed Forces, the troops and civilian personnel of other NATO member states, the federal and state police, customs authorities, civil defense and the fire department or subject to their instructions
  • used for emergency rescue by the recognized emergency services under state law
  • used for technical development, repair or maintenance purposes, or for technical inspection tests
  • used in the performance of tasks assigned to experts or inspectors within the meaning of § 1 of the Motor Vehicle Experts Act or Appendix VIII b of the Road Traffic Registration Regulations
  • which are new or rebuilt and have not yet been put into operation
  • used for the transport of materials or equipment that the driver uses in the exercise of their profession, provided that driving the motor vehicle is not the main occupation.

Stand: 10.04.2024