Anyone wanting to get a driving licence in North Rhine-Westphalia will no longer have to wait long to book an exam. “There are no waiting times,” a Tüv Rheinland spokesperson said in response to questions from dpa. A lead time of two weeks is typical, which gives learner drivers “more time for more intensive preparation with driving lessons.” According to previous information, the waiting time during the corona period was up to six weeks. Unlike in Bavaria, for example, there were no missing driving test examiners.
According to the spokesperson, Tüv Rheinland currently has 121 full-time employees working as inspectors in North Rhine-Westphalia, 14 more than last year. There is still a “buffer” of additional staff available for peak periods. Tüv Rheinland, a state-mandated monopoly, carries out all tests in the southern part of North Rhine-Westphalia, while Tüv Nord carries out all tests in the northern part.
According to the spokesperson, Tüv Nord also found “no abnormalities” and that waiting times for driver’s licenses have been reduced. Since 2020, the testing capacity has been increased every year through the reactivation of retirees and the redistribution of personnel.
According to statistics from the Federal Motor Transport Administration (KBA), the number of driving tests in North Rhine-Westphalia has increased. As a result, in 2023, around 446,000 theory tests were taken, which is almost 8 percent more than in 2022. The number of practical tests increased by almost 6 percent to 401,000. According to the KBA, the failure rate for the theory test was 42 percent, and the failure rate for the practical test was 30 percent.
