How to Get a Category DE Driving Licence in Austria?

A Category DE driving license (in German, Führerschein Klasse DE) is the Austrian license that lets you tow a heavy trailer behind a bus or coach, up to the top of the passenger-driving ladder. If you already hold a Class D bus license and need to pull a trailer for luggage, equipment, or baggage on tour and for long-distance work, DE is the entitlement you need. This guide explains what DE covers in Austria, who can apply, why there is no theory test, the practical training and exam, the generous bundle of entitlements it brings, 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 DE license in Austria?

DE lets you drive a Class D bus or coach (more than 8 passengers, no upper limit) towing a trailer with a maximum authorized mass over 750 kg. It is the heaviest passenger category and the natural top of the bus-and-coach ladder. The trailer must not be used to carry passengers.

DE, D and D1E: how they fit together

• D1E: a D1 minibus with a trailer over 750 kg.
• D: a full bus or coach with a trailer only up to 750 kg.
• DE: a full Class D bus or coach with a heavy trailer over 750 kg.

You must hold a Class D before adding DE; you cannot go straight from a car license to DE.

What can you drive with a DE license?

DE covers a bus or coach pulling a heavier trailer, mainly used for tour and long-distance work: coaches with baggage or luggage trailers and equipment trailers for tour groups and events. It is the least common of the bus categories, but important for operators who run touring and long-distance services.

Who can apply for a Class DE license?

• You must already hold the Class D bus and coach license.
• The minimum age is 24, or 21 if you hold the Code 95 professional qualification (the D95 Fahrerqualifizierungsnachweis).
• You must meet the medical standards for passenger vehicles (the first-aid course and screening are already covered through Class D).

No theory test, practical only

Here is the good news: if you already hold a D license in Austria, the theory component, including the theory exam, is not required for DE, as your Class D license already covers it. So DE 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 D to DE typically includes around 9 driving lessons, covering basic handling, cross-country, motorway, and night driving with the trailer. The practical exam lasts roughly 70 to 85 minutes. It focuses on coupling and uncoupling, trailer safety checks, reversing and maneuvering the longer combination, and driving in town, on rural roads, and on the motorway, all with passenger comfort and safety in mind.

Licenses you get automatically.

DE comes with a generous bundle of entitlements. In Austria, DE holders also receive AM, E, and D1E. If you hold Category C, you also gain CE, since the trailer entitlements carry over. So passing your DE test can unlock several categories at once.

Do you need Code 95?

For commercial passenger transport for hire or reward, you need the Code 95 qualification (D95 Fahrerqualifizierungsnachweis), with an initial qualification followed by 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years. Holding Code 95 is also what allows you to start at 21. Read our guide to Code 95 in Austria, and note that professional driving also brings tachograph rules.

Medical, validity, and renewal

DE requires a medical certificate (ärztliches Gutachten) that includes an eye examination, issued for a limited period, normally 5 years, reduced to 2 years from age 60. Each renewal requires a new medical; without it, the class expires. 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 top of the passenger ladder

DE is the highest passenger-vehicle category. With Class D, DE, and Code 95, you can take on the full range of bus and coach work in Austria and across Europe, including touring and long-distance services with trailers, where demand is strong. Explore current driver jobs and live vacancies to see what employers are paying and asking for.

Tips for getting your DE license in Austria

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

Complete your passenger-driving career.

A Class DE license is the highest passenger-vehicle qualification and the key to tour and long-distance coach work with trailers in Austria. Combined with Code 95, it makes you employable for the full range of bus and coach driving across Europe. 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.