How to Get a Category D1E Driving Licence in Austria?

A Category D1E driving license (in German, Führerschein Klasse D1E) is the Austrian license that lets you tow a heavy trailer behind a minibus. If you already hold a D1 minibus license and need to tow a trailer carrying luggage, equipment, or goods alongside your passengers for a sports team, tour group, community transport, or an accessible service, D1E is the entitlement you need. This guide explains what D1E covers in Austria, who can apply, why there is no theory test, the practical training and exam, the entitlements that come with it, when you also need Code 95, and the medical and validity rules.

In Austria, training and testing are conducted through a driving school (Fahrschule), while the license is issued by the licensing authority (the Bezirkshauptmannschaft or, in cities, the Landespolizeidirektion). Our driving license in Austria and license eligibility pages are good starting points.

What is a Class D1E license in Austria?

D1E lets you drive a D1 minibus (9 to 16 passenger seats, up to 8 meters long) towing a trailer with a maximum authorized mass over 750 kg, provided the combination remains within the limits set under the EU framework, up to 12,000 kg. It is the step-up from D1 for anyone who needs to carry passengers and a substantial trailer simultaneously. The trailer must not be used to carry passengers.

D1E, D1 and DE: how they fit together

• D1: a minibus with 9 to 16 passenger seats, with a trailer only up to 750 kg.
• D1E: a D1 minibus with a trailer over 750 kg.
• D: the full bus and coach license for vehicles carrying more than 8 passengers, with no upper limit.
• DE: a full Class D bus with a heavy trailer.

You must hold D1 before adding D1: you cannot go straight from a car license to D1E.

What can you drive with a D1E license?

D1E covers a minibus towing a heavier trailer, useful whenever you carry both people and substantial cargo: sports teams traveling with kit trailers, tour and activity groups with luggage or equipment, community and municipal transport with accessible equipment, and private-hire minibusses that need extra capacity.

Who can apply for a Class D1E license?

• You must already hold the Class D1 minibus license.
• The minimum age is 21.
• You must meet the medical standards for passenger vehicles (the first-aid course is already covered through D1).

No theory test; practical only

Here is the good news: if you already hold a D1 in Austria, the theory, including the theory exam, is not required for D1E (the same applies to DE), because your existing license provides sufficient preparation. So D1E centers on practical training and a practical exam, with no further theory test to sit.

The practical training and exam

The practical training to go from D1 to D1E typically includes around 9 driving lessons, covering basic handling, plus cross-country, motorway,y and night driving with the trailer. The practical exam for D1E lasts roughly 70 minutes. It focuses on coupling and uncoupling, load and brake checks, reversing and maneuvering the longer combination, and safe control with the extra weight, all with passenger safety in mind.

Licenses you get automatically.

Gaining D1E usually brings additional entitlement. D1E holders also receive BE (car-and-trailer towing) and C1, as they already hold C1, since these cover the satrailerler combination. So one practical test can unlock more than just the minibus-and-trailer entitlement.

No traffic-psychological screening

Worth knowing: unlike the full bus license, the D1 and D1E licenses do not require a traffic-psychological screening. That additional screening applies only to Class D, so the minibus categories are a little simpler to complete.

Do you need Code 95?

For commercial passenger transport for hire or reward, you need the Code 95 qualification (D95 Fahrerqualifizierungsnachweis), which requires an initial qualification followed by 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years. It is sensible to have this in place when you obtain a D1E if you will drive commercially. If you only drive privately or in a genuinely non-commercial role, you generally do not need it. Read our guide to Code 95 in Austria, and note that professional driving also brings tachograph rules.

Medical, validity and renewal

Like the other passenger and truck classes, D1E requires a medical certificate (ärztliches Gutachten) including an eyesight check. It is issued on a time-limited basis, normally for five years, reducing to two years from age 60. Each renewal requires a new medical, and beyond age 50, a fresh assessment applies at each renewal. A separate 15-year limit applies to the card document itself. A stricter 0.1 alcohol limit applies when driving these vehicles.

How is your license issued?

You apply through your chosen driving school, which submits the application to the licensing authority. After you pass the practical exam and pay the fees, you receive a temporary license so you can drive straight away, and your card license (Scheckkartenführerschein) is posted to you, usually within 5 to 10 days.

The route forward: full D and DE

D1E is a useful step on the passenger-driving ladder. If you need to carry more than 16 passengers, you progress to the full bus and coach license (Class D), and then to DE for towing behind a full-size bus. Combined with Code 95, these open the widest range of professional driver jobs in passenger transport in Austria and across Europe.

Tips for getting your D1E license in Austria

• Make sure your D1 license is in place first; D1E always builds on it.
• Practice reversing and maneuvering the combination, where most marks are lost.
• Decide whether you will drive commercially; if so, have Code 95 ready.
• Remember D1E brings BE, and C1E if you hold C1.
• Watch the five-year expiry and book your renewal medical in good time.

Take your passenger driving further.

A Class D1E license lets you tow a heavy trailer behind a minibus across Austria and Europe, and is a valuable addition for community transport, private hire, schools, and tour operators. Add Code 9,5, and you can be paid to drive; progress to D, DE, E, and you can move into full-size buses and coaches. When you are ready, register in the driver section, explore vacancies, and see what employers are hiring for on FastDriver.eu.

Declaration

This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. License categories, passenger limits, weight limits, ages, medical standards, validity periods, training requirements, and fees can change and may vary by case and by authority in Austria. Always confirm the current rules with the official Austrian government sources before making decisions. The authoritative information is on the government’s oesterreich.gv.at pages on driving licenses and license categories, and the EU framework is in the EUR-Lex text of Directive (EU) 2025/2205. FastDriver.eu accepts no liability for actions taken based on this information.