Apply for a Driver's Permit (commonly known as a "firefighter's driver's license")

Once you have successfully completed the training on the emergency vehicle and passed the practical exam, you may apply for a driver’s authorization from the regulatory authority of the county or independent city. Volunteer fire departments and organizations themselves organize the training on emergency vehicles and conduct the practical exam required for the issuance of a driving permit, unless the municipality or organization decides that driving instructors should take on this task. Once all requirements have been met, the driving authorization is granted.

Training The

goal of this training is to ensure that you, as an applicant, can safely operate emergency vehicles. Before your first drive, you will receive instruction on the specific features of the emergency vehicle and be briefed on the rules governing the use of special privileges and right of way. Prior to the training required to obtain the full driving authorization, you must successfully complete a training course at the Hessian State Fire Academy or with the respective fire departments. The content, scope, and conduct of the training are based on the requirements of Appendix 1 to the Hessian Driving Authorization Ordinance (HFbV). While the training previously had to be conducted exclusively with trailers, it is now possible to conduct it with or without a trailer. For vehicles up to 7.5 metric tons (large driver’s license), the requirement for ABS is no longer in effect. (This was never required for the small driver’s license.)

Practical Test As an applicant, you must demonstrate your

ability to operate emergency vehicles in a practical test. This test is conducted on public roads. During the test,

you must operate the vehicle independently, even in difficult traffic situations, in a manner consistent with traffic conditions and safely. Your driving should be proactive and adapted to the prevailing traffic flow. In addition, you must demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the legal regulations governing the operation of emergency vehicles and be familiar with the hazards of road traffic and the behaviors required to avoid them. The requirements regarding the content and scope of the practical exam are listed in Appendix 2 of the Hessian Driver’s License Regulation (HFbV) (Driver’s License Exam for Obtaining the Small and Large Driver’s Licenses). The guidelines provided during the briefing apply accordingly to the test; that is, a test with or without a trailer is possible, and the test vehicles for the large driver’s license must not be equipped with ABS. (This was never required for the small driver’s license.)
Instruction and examination certificates are issued for the respective type of driving authorization in accordance with the templates in Appendix 3 or 4 of the Regulation. The templates have been redesigned because the instruction and examination may be conducted either with or without a trailer.

Issuance of the Driving Authorization If

you meet all the requirements, the regulatory authority will issue you the small or large driving authorization for emergency vehicles. You will receive a document based on the template in Appendix 5 or 6 of the regulation, which you must carry with you along with your Class B driver’s license. These documents certify your authorization to drive emergency vehicles with or without a trailer. Furthermore, a time limit for the driving authorization is entered. This is based on the supplementary provisions in Section 7 of the Regulation, which provide for the corresponding application of the provisions of Sections 23 and 24 of the Driver’s License Regulation.

Applicant for a driver's license

• Eligibility to operate emergency vehicles in accordance with Sections 11 through 14 of the Driver’s License Regulation (meeting the mental and physical requirements, particularly with regard to vision),
• honorary membership in a volunteer fire department, a recognized emergency medical service, the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW), or another civil defense unit, and,
• Must have held a Class B driver's license for at least 2 years, and,
• Proof of successful completion of the training and the exam,
• Proof that no more than two points have been recorded in the Driver Fitness Registry (formerly: Central Traffic Registry),
• Submission of a “police” background check.

You must include the following documents with your informal request to the regulatory authority (usually the driver's license office):

• Class B driver's license, as well as
• Certificate of Training and Examination for the Acquisition of a Limited Driver's License (form in accordance with Annex 3 of the Regulation) or for the Acquisition of a Full Driver's License (form in accordance with Annex 4 of the Regulation).

• Section 2, Paragraph 2, Sentences 3 and 4 of the Regulation on the Authorization of Persons to Drive on Public Roads (Driver’s License Regulation—FeV)
• § 6, paragraph 5, of the StVG
• Hesse Regulation on the Issuance of Driving Authorization to Volunteer Members of Volunteer Fire Departments, Recognized Emergency Medical Services, the Federal Agency for Technical Relief, and Other Civil Protection Units (Hesse Driving Authorization Regulation—HFbV)
• • Schedule of Fees for Road Traffic Measures (GebOSt)

An appeal may be filed pursuant to Section 68 of the Administrative Court Rules.

Expiration and Suspension of Driving Privileges Please

note that your driving privileges will automatically expire under the circumstances listed below. In these cases, you must immediately surrender your driving privileges to the regulatory authority.

• Revocation of a Class B or Class 3 driver's license and
• Surrender of a Class B or Class 3 driver's license.

If you have been issued a (temporary) driving ban, you may not exercise your right to drive; in other words, your right to drive is suspended.