Getting a driver's licence in Germany - with current costs estimated at around €3,500 is not going to get cheaper any time soon, but the government is working on it, Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder said in a story published on Saturday. Although he has presented key points for a more affordable driver's licence, even if everything goes smoothly, the planned law will not come into force until early 2027 at the earliest. "It won't immediately become cheaper," he said. Schnieder pointed out that while the government wants to give driving schools more "options and freedoms – the market will determine how this specifically affects prices." Those who start now will also avoid long waiting times and gain "mobility and independence" sooner, he said. He repeated his criticism of the current costs: "I consider driving licence costs of around €3,500, which is what we have for the time being, to be too expensive." "In rural areas, a driver's licence is essential. And it cannot be that with two children, you end up paying almost five figures. That does not meet people's needs." Federal and state governments agree Both federal and state governments agree that getting a licence should be cheaper, but a date for noticeable reductions has not yet been set. The aim is to finalize the key points presented by the Transport Ministers' Conference in the spring and then introduce them into the legislative process. For now, "it is certainly not possible to give a fixed date or an exact amount today," Schneider said recently. The reform plans include more digital learning opportunities, fewer compulsory special trips and greater use of driving simulators. Schneider also defended a planned experimental clause that would allow test drives with close relatives: "It works in Austria, but we are deliberately approaching it with caution," he said.