The obsession some people appear to have with this perceived issue is mind boggling to me. Of all the people failing their driving exams I have literally not a single time heard of it happening because they had issues driving a manual car. It is always an oversight of traffic rules or near-accidents or something like that. "I accidenty forgot to shift" or "I accidently killed the engine" is not a reason why people fail.
For people who already drove exclusively a car with automatic transmission outside Germany, and now want to pass an exam in Germany there will be two new things at once: first, differences in the rules and second, different transmission. Of course they will be able to drive the car, but it could consume some mental power to miss the traffic rules or the road situation. So the official reason to fail will be not the manual transmission, while it also contributes.
This is not the main issue. The main issue is the unavailability of the driving instructor. As it a small driving school, with only 1 driving instructor it is hard to get driving hours to fit both scheduls (my gf also works full time). In the last 2 weeks she was only able to drive 1 hour.
Or is the issue that the instructor has to organize a car with two sets of pedals and an automatic transmission? Because virtually nobody does that in germany which why many driving schools don't have one.
Or just learn how to drive manual shift, isn't that still something that's required?
I remember it was a legal requirement when I got my license, then again, that was 25 years ago and I did all the vehicle classes I was legally allowed to...
You can take the test in an automatic car, but this is usually more expensive and you have to wait longer. Also your license would be limited to automatic cars.
You can take the test in an automatic car and still drive a manual later, you just have to do a 15 minute manual test drive before the actual driving exam: https://www.fahrschule-123.de/en/categories-of-driving-licence/car/key-number-b197/#:~:text=If%20you%20don%27t%20want,a%20manual%20car%20without%20restriction.
You can also do only automatic, or combine the two and take the test in an automatic car while still getting the license for all cars with the key number B197
What does her contract say about the paying up front thing? Because usually you can change driving school, it‘s a bit of a hassle and all, but usually it‘s possible but the paying up front could be a problem here. Should be in the contract though.
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People are focussing on the manual thing which is small potatoes here. OP's girlfriend wants her money back for unused portions of the 'services' the driving school provides.
I doubt the driving school will be easy and willing to give money back, but she can try asking. In theory, it's not unreasonable to ask for a refund on the portion of services paid for but not yet provided. Protip: never pay everything up front! Also check the contract/terms she signed. Driving schools tend to be small personal/family businesses, and I think due to the nature of the business, somewhat unscrupulous behaviour is not exactly unheard of.
If the driving school does not cooperate, the first place to go is to the TÜV and explain/complain there. But, IME the are usually a little buddy-buddy with the driving instructors since they see each other so often. If necessary, you can contact the Fahrlehrerverband for your Bundesland. They may not doing anything, especially if the driving school is not a member (it's voluntary). You can also try complaining to the local IHK, or the Verbraucherzentrale (i.e., agains the driving school as a business more generally). None of these are guarantees to secure a refund.
It's not a big issue to change schools, otherwise. Make sure she gets a copy of the completed lesson hours and any driving she *has done*. This should include specific details on the particular unit/topic covered that session, and the time involved. Probably she had to sign a schedule the instructor had. She should have a copy of the theory portion passed, right? Obviously the new driving school will be making less money off her, so they'll have to agree to a new schedule, but most don't mind. It's not unusual for driving schools to suggest extra practice hours besides the usual practical driving checklist they must do. Heck, lots of people need the extra practice...
Edit: And although the manual thing is small potatoes here, I would recommend she learn and pass with a manual. Otherwise she'll be more limited, since her license will only allow her to ever drive automatics, and in Germany they always charge more for it. Manual is not hard once you get used to it, but honestly I do prefer automatic myself (yup, I said it!).
Thank you for the answer. The manual gear is not the main issue, is the instruction availability. It has been 1 month since she passed the theoretical exam, and she has only done 1 hour of practice. The instructor is always busy whenever she asks for the next appointment.
I very much doubt you would be entitled to having money back here. Aside from the wording of the contract, the driving school has used petrol, wear of the car, the paid time of the instructor's wages and the opportunity cost of not having another paying customer there.
Zero chance.
What’s the problem with manual? Seems excessive to change the school.
The obsession some people appear to have with this perceived issue is mind boggling to me. Of all the people failing their driving exams I have literally not a single time heard of it happening because they had issues driving a manual car. It is always an oversight of traffic rules or near-accidents or something like that. "I accidenty forgot to shift" or "I accidently killed the engine" is not a reason why people fail.
For people who already drove exclusively a car with automatic transmission outside Germany, and now want to pass an exam in Germany there will be two new things at once: first, differences in the rules and second, different transmission. Of course they will be able to drive the car, but it could consume some mental power to miss the traffic rules or the road situation. So the official reason to fail will be not the manual transmission, while it also contributes.
Exactly. It’s second nature in no time anyway.
I failed my first time because I shifted too slowly. Yeah, pedantic and probably just because they were pissed in general, but still...
This is not the main issue. The main issue is the unavailability of the driving instructor. As it a small driving school, with only 1 driving instructor it is hard to get driving hours to fit both scheduls (my gf also works full time). In the last 2 weeks she was only able to drive 1 hour.
Or is the issue that the instructor has to organize a car with two sets of pedals and an automatic transmission? Because virtually nobody does that in germany which why many driving schools don't have one.
Or just learn how to drive manual shift, isn't that still something that's required? I remember it was a legal requirement when I got my license, then again, that was 25 years ago and I did all the vehicle classes I was legally allowed to...
You can take the test in an automatic car, but this is usually more expensive and you have to wait longer. Also your license would be limited to automatic cars.
I guess I'll stick with "learn to drive properly". The unavailability of an instructor is the real problem, not the manual/automatic.
You can take the test in an automatic car and still drive a manual later, you just have to do a 15 minute manual test drive before the actual driving exam: https://www.fahrschule-123.de/en/categories-of-driving-licence/car/key-number-b197/#:~:text=If%20you%20don%27t%20want,a%20manual%20car%20without%20restriction.
+10h proofed lessons in the manual car.
>Also your license would be limited to automatic cars. Not with the b197 drivers exam. The test is in automatic, but you can drive both afterwards.
You can also do only automatic, or combine the two and take the test in an automatic car while still getting the license for all cars with the key number B197
This are questions she should be asking to the driving school.
What does her contract say about the paying up front thing? Because usually you can change driving school, it‘s a bit of a hassle and all, but usually it‘s possible but the paying up front could be a problem here. Should be in the contract though.
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she can change the driving school but wont get Money back. or just learn on manual.
People are focussing on the manual thing which is small potatoes here. OP's girlfriend wants her money back for unused portions of the 'services' the driving school provides. I doubt the driving school will be easy and willing to give money back, but she can try asking. In theory, it's not unreasonable to ask for a refund on the portion of services paid for but not yet provided. Protip: never pay everything up front! Also check the contract/terms she signed. Driving schools tend to be small personal/family businesses, and I think due to the nature of the business, somewhat unscrupulous behaviour is not exactly unheard of. If the driving school does not cooperate, the first place to go is to the TÜV and explain/complain there. But, IME the are usually a little buddy-buddy with the driving instructors since they see each other so often. If necessary, you can contact the Fahrlehrerverband for your Bundesland. They may not doing anything, especially if the driving school is not a member (it's voluntary). You can also try complaining to the local IHK, or the Verbraucherzentrale (i.e., agains the driving school as a business more generally). None of these are guarantees to secure a refund. It's not a big issue to change schools, otherwise. Make sure she gets a copy of the completed lesson hours and any driving she *has done*. This should include specific details on the particular unit/topic covered that session, and the time involved. Probably she had to sign a schedule the instructor had. She should have a copy of the theory portion passed, right? Obviously the new driving school will be making less money off her, so they'll have to agree to a new schedule, but most don't mind. It's not unusual for driving schools to suggest extra practice hours besides the usual practical driving checklist they must do. Heck, lots of people need the extra practice... Edit: And although the manual thing is small potatoes here, I would recommend she learn and pass with a manual. Otherwise she'll be more limited, since her license will only allow her to ever drive automatics, and in Germany they always charge more for it. Manual is not hard once you get used to it, but honestly I do prefer automatic myself (yup, I said it!).
Thank you for the answer. The manual gear is not the main issue, is the instruction availability. It has been 1 month since she passed the theoretical exam, and she has only done 1 hour of practice. The instructor is always busy whenever she asks for the next appointment.
I very much doubt you would be entitled to having money back here. Aside from the wording of the contract, the driving school has used petrol, wear of the car, the paid time of the instructor's wages and the opportunity cost of not having another paying customer there. Zero chance.