Apply for a driving licence (so-called fire service driving licence)

If you have successfully completed the instruction in the emergency vehicle and passed the practical test, you can apply for a driving licence from the regulatory authority of the district or city. The volunteer fire brigades and organisations organise the instruction in the emergency vehicles and the practical test required for the issue of the driving licence themselves, unless the municipality or organisation decides that driving instructors will take on this task. If all requirements are met, the driving licence is issued.

Induction

The aim of the induction is to ensure that you as an applicant are able to drive the emergency vehicles safely. Before your first journey, you will be familiarised with the special features of the emergency vehicle and informed about the rules for using special rights and rights of way. Successful completion of a training course at the Hessian State Fire Brigade School or at the organisations is required before instruction for the purpose of obtaining the major driving licence. The content, scope and implementation of the instruction are based on the requirements of Annex 1 to the Hessian Driving Authorisation Ordinance (HFbV). Whereas the instruction previously had to be carried out with trailers, it is now possible to carry it out with or without a trailer. For vehicles up to 7.5 t (large driving licence), the requirement to be equipped with ABS has been dropped. (This was never mandatory for the small driving licence).

Practical test

As an applicant, you must demonstrate your ability to drive emergency vehicles in a practical test. This is carried out on public roads.

You must drive the vehicle independently, even in difficult traffic situations, in a safe and roadworthy manner. Your driving style should be anticipatory and adapted to the flow of traffic. In addition, you must demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the relevant legal regulations for driving an emergency vehicle and be familiar with the dangers of road traffic and the behaviour required to avert them. The requirements for the content and scope of the practical test are listed in Annex 2 to the Hessian Driving Licence Ordinance (HFbV) (driving licence test for obtaining the small and large driving licence). The explanations added during the briefing apply accordingly to the test, i.e. a test with or without a trailer is possible and the test vehicles for the large driving licence do not have to be equipped with ABS. (This was never mandatory for the small driving licence).
Instruction and test certificates are issued for the respective type of driving licence according to the models in Annex 3 or 4 to the regulation. The models have been redesigned because the instruction and test can be carried out with or without a trailer.

Issuing the driving licence

If you meet all the requirements, the regulatory authority will issue you with the small or large driving licence for emergency vehicles. You will receive a document based on the model in Annex 5 or 6 to the ordinance, which you must carry with you together with your category B driving licence. These documents certify that you are authorised to drive emergency vehicles with or without a trailer. A time limit for the driving authorisation is also entered. This results from the supplementary regulations in § 7 of the Ordinance, which provide for the corresponding application of the provisions of §§ 23 and 24 of the Driving Licence Ordinance.

Applicant for the driving licence

• Suitability to drive emergency vehicles in accordance with §§ 11 to 14 of the Driving Licence Ordinance (fulfilment of the mental and physical requirements, in particular with regard to eyesight),
• honorary membership of a voluntary fire brigade, a recognised rescue service, a technical relief organisation or another disaster control unit and,
• Possession of a category B driving licence for at least 2 years and,
• Proof of successful completion of the briefing and examination,
• Proof that you have no more than two points in the driving aptitude register (previously: central traffic register),
• Submission of a "police" certificate of good conduct.

You must enclose the following documents with your informal request to the regulatory authority (usually the driving licence office):

• Class B driving licence and
• Instruction and examination certificate for the acquisition of the small driving licence (model according to Annex 3 of the Ordinance) or for the acquisition of the large driving licence (model according to Annex 4 of the Ordinance).

• § Section 2 (2) sentences 3 and 4 of the Road Traffic Act (StVG)
• § Section 6 (5) StVG
• Hessian Ordinance on the Issuing of Driving Authorisations to Volunteer Members of Volunteer Fire Departments, Recognised Rescue Services, Technical Relief Services and Other Civil Protection Units (Hessian Driving Authorisation Ordinance - HFbV)
• Fee regulations for road traffic measures (GebOSt)

An objection pursuant to Section 68 of the Administrative Court Code is possible.

• Sample: Instruction and examination certificate for the acquisition of the small driving licence
• Sample: Instruction and examination certificate for the acquisition of the large driving licence
• Sample: Small driving licence
• Sample: Large driving licence

(Annexes 3 -6 to the Hessian Driving Authorisation Ordinance - HFbV)

 

• Hessian Driving Authorisation Ordinance - HFbV

  (The sample forms are shown in Annexes 3 - 6).

Expiry and suspension of driving authorisation

Please note that your driving authorisation automatically expires in the following circumstances. In these cases, you must immediately hand in your driving licence to the regulatory authority.

• Withdrawal of the category B or category 3 driving licence and
• Waiver of the category B or category 3 driving licence.

If you have been banned from driving (for a limited period), you may not use your driving licence, i.e. your driving licence is suspended.