As a resident-alien from CA, getting a German drivers license can be a royal pain in the neck. If one were from Kentucky, all one would need to do would be to exchange their KY license for a German one, but being from CA is a different story. One needs to attend both the classroom and take several hours of behind-the-wheel sessions before attempting to pass both exams. I took my written test (four times) in "English", meaning British English, where the "profile" of a tire (tyre) means the tread, a "level crossing" is a railroad crossing, a "carriageway" is a street, a "motorway" is a freeway, etc. Oh, and one better brush-up on one's math skills as well because there are stopping, passing and acceleration formulas to deal with.
Whereas in the US, all one really needs to obtain a drivers license is a pulse, in Germany one must have one's current drivers license "officially translated", take a life-safety course (more math), take an eye test and THEN begin the courses. The staff were very helpful and patient with the time required to obtain all of the pre-course requirements and even drove us to the TUV to take the exam - sometimes repeatedly...
My behind-the-wheel instructor, Olli, was a true gem! He gave me all of the tips for passing the test (which I did the first time, with no mistakes) and help make me aware of the many uniquely German traffic situations.
After passing both tests, I received a little present from the firm that included a bottle opener!
Highly recommended! read more
