Driving schools that teach in English?

I'm American and have been here for longer than three years, so I need to take driving school lessons from the beginning. Does anyone know of any that teach in English in Koblenz, Bonn, Cologne, Frankfurt or Darmstadt (in that order of priority? Also, does anyone know if a driving license exam can be taken in English?

Thank you in advance for your help.

Sadly, I can't answer your question about English language driving schools. But, if you don't mind, I will use your thread as an opportunity to spread information which might help others.

If you are American and plan to stay in Germany for an extended period (without military sponsorship, now or later), you should consider your drivers license situation carefully. You can often simply exchange your American license for a German one if you do so within the first three years of arriving in Germany. But, if you wait longer than three years, you'll have to go through the entire process just like a new driver - drivers school, written test, driving test, and/or whatever the requirements are in your part of Germany. On a side note, if you plan to move to another EU country later, this German drivers license can often be exchanged for the drivers license of that country, again without the drivers school, written test, and so on.

For more information about all this, see...

http://www.amcham.de/index.php?id=581

Stewart

I have a friend who has done this in Darmstadt and as far as I know she did it in English.

I know for certain that you can do the written test in English.

Maybe calling up one of the driving schools might give you more info..

One way to do it all in English would be to go to UK and do an intensive course there. It would mean learning on the other side of the road and I'm not sure if you would need to supply an address in UK for the licence itself, but it would be a EU licence and perhaps cheaper than the driving schools here.

I agree with Purple Muffin, just call up the driving schools and ask there. A friend of mine who is an English teacher, had one of his students teach him.

I did my driving test in Bad Homburg. I had little or no German at the time but still went to a German driving school. It wasn't too big of an issue. The classes had a lot of videos so you can learn by just watching. You can purchase an English version of mock tests. These tests will contain every possible question that can come up in the theory exam so with enough practice it's almost impossible to fail the theory. You can sit the theory test in English!
Driving practice was ok, instructor had no English but once you understand bremse, links, rechts and gerade aus there is little else you need
It is very expensive though!

On a side side note Stewart, If you have an EU licence of one country, and then move to another, you are not required to exchange that licence unless it expires. In the case of a German licence, you do not need to exchange it because it does not have an expiration date...

I was not aware of that and, since I'm looking into the drivers license possibilities now, it is indeed interesting. Thanks.

Stewart

I'm not 100% sure that is totally correct. For example, if you have a UK licence and move abroad, or anywhere, you have to advise the DVLA and in that case I am sure they would then advise that you have to get a driving licence issued in the Country you are in.

I lost my UK licence whilst living in Germany and when I spoke to the DVLA in the UK I was advised that they couldn't issue another UK licence as I wasn't resident in the UK. Of course you can always use a family address.

Of course, it is possible to use a UK licence whilst in another EU Country, but if you are ever driving in the UK with your UK licence it would actually be an offence as the address is not correct, even moreso if the address is no longer related to you in anyway. I don't know how stringent the law is on this and if a fine is a applicable if caught, I presume there would be somewhere along the line.

I also don't know how it works the other way round or in other EU countries.

On the topic of driving licenses Andrea, have you done yr Bike test yet???

Did the CRB Hellie, but haven't got round to the rest yet - waiting for the Summer. Mind you, I've just committed myself to a huge project, so don't know if I'll ever have time to myself again

Ooooh do tell...sounds interesting!

sent u a pm Hellie

I am aware of the sillyness of the DVLA. They are also the crowd who issue Card-style UK licences that are not technically valid unless you carry the endorsement paper around with you all the time...

Most, if not all, other EU countries do not require you to inform them of a change of address because they stick to the one set of rules - those set by the EU. :excl: