How to obtain a driving licence in Luxembourg
My husband and I both got our licences. First me, then him a year later. At the time when I was learning, there were only two driving schools nearby that regularly held classes in English: Pepe and another one near the station, I don't remember what it was called.
I found them in an expat group on Facebook and looked at the reviews. The one near the station was heavily criticised. People wrote that the instructors were poor, they didn't explain the theory well, and they were always late. Pepe, on the other hand, had only good reviews. I don't remember seeing any negative ones at all. I definitely didn't see any about the theory. So I signed up for it.
How to prepare for theory
The main difficulty at that time was that English lessons were only once a week. I don't know how it is now, maybe there are more. If we had other languages, it would have been easier. But as it was, the process took eight weeks, because you had to get a mark for attendance for all topics.
Once all the marks have been obtained, you need to register for the theory test at the SNCA with this piece of paper. Before doing so, you can practise online; you could do this in our app and on the driving school's website.
In the end, I got so used to these tests that I finished the real exam in about 10 minutes. And that's even though I wanted to think about some of the questions. To be honest, the exam is quite simple, especially if you practise.
After handing it in, you receive a stamp, with which you return to school.
Practical part
At this point, you can change driving schools. That is, you can study theory in one place and take practical lessons in another.
At Pepe, where I initially went, I was able to register quite quickly — the queue for mechanics was shorter. But my husband was unlucky: after COVID, both theory and practice were booked up for several months in advance. We had to change schools.
In the end, the instructor suggested that I switch to an automatic car because I was too distracted by the gearbox and couldn't concentrate on the rest. This time, I waited less, only about three weeks. Perhaps this was because I had already started taking lessons.
I finished my classes and had to take my exams. I wasn't sure about it and wanted to practise some more, but the instructor said, "You have to!" and signed me up.
On the day of the exam, I drove to SNCA with my instructor sitting next to me. There, we submitted all the documents, picked up the examiner assigned to us, and drove along the route he had planned.
Yes, here driving instructors register students for the practical part of the exam themselves. You take the exam in the same car you learned to drive in.
I was lucky. My instructor spoke Russian. That is, the examiner told him where to go in Luxembourgish, and he told me in Russian. It was convenient.
Without instructions, you cannot leave the main road — that's an immediate minus.
And you must always remember the rules — no one will remind you. If you see a stop sign, stop!
The instructor in the car is there for a reason too. His set of pedals is connected to a special audible signal. This is checked before the journey, i.e. when any pedal is pressed, a sound is emitted. This means automatic failure. After all, if the instructor had to intervene, it means that you are not able to drive on your own.
Here, as in Russia, driving points are taken into account. In fact, I failed my first test. After the drive, the examiner called me over and told me what mistakes I had made. I drove too close to the wall in one place and braked too late in another. Overall, he said, it was a good attempt, but because of these minor details, I didn't get enough points.
If you fail the exam, you will need to complete an additional 8 hours of training with an instructor.
On the second exam, I drove much slower than the speed limit so as not to make any mistakes. This time I passed, but the inspector asked me not to drive "like a pensioner" anymore. Of course, this is not a violation, but it can interfere with other traffic participants.
My husband was a little less fortunate — he was preparing during COVID. He went to the capital for theory lessons and practised here in Ettelbrück, as we had moved north by that time. Fortunately, there were almost no queues, so he only had to wait for about two weeks.
When you obtain your licence for the first time, it is limited in time and valid for only two years. To obtain a permanent licence, you must complete a special one-day course in extreme driving.
We drove on wet roads, performed emergency braking manoeuvres, and tested the capabilities and limits not only of our cars, but also of our reactions. All of this was backed up by theory.
And at the end, our instructor decided to be clever. There was a wet section of road with a sharp turn. He said to us, "Whoever drives through it the fastest will pass."
And many got caught! In the heat of the moment, very few participants managed to drive fast and stay on the lane. I flew off my lane.
That was the instructor's intention. At the end, he explained how adrenaline and the thirst for competition spoil the driving experience. And in general, it can be dangerous.
You can sign up for this course after driving 4,000 kilometres, if I'm not mistaken. You must have the experience by that point.
How much does it cost?
It's difficult for me to give a specific amount right now. I studied quite a long time ago, before COVID, and prices have definitely gone up since then, especially due to inflation.
If I'm not mistaken, it cost me about €2,500. That's including the fact that I took the test twice. In other words, there were additional driving lessons. It cost my husband about €2,000, because he passed on his first attempt.
The school issues invoices for payment itself:
- First, pay for the theory and exam. Once you have paid, you can start learning.
- Then they bill you for practical lessons with an instructor and a driving test.
- If you roll more, they will issue an additional bill.
- If you don't pass, you will also be charged an additional fee for the minimum number of hours required and a repeat exam.
Learning to drive with an automatic gearbox is more expensive than with a manual one. But I think it's quicker to learn with an automatic, as it's much easier.
There is another interesting life hack. If you have a friend or relative who has been driving for more than three years, they can replace the instructor. To do this, you first need to complete 16 hours with an accredited instructor, and then register your friend and their car with the driving school.
You definitely need to take this course with an instructor, because you don't have dual controls in your car, which means you need additional skills. It's dangerous, after all.
What documents are required?
To obtain a licence, you will need:
- Medical examination. A special medical examination is required for a driving licence;
- Certificate of no criminal record from all countries where you have lived;
- Identity card.
The results of the medical examination will be issued in a sealed envelope. It must be taken to the school unopened to confirm that you have not changed anything inside. For example, my commission report states that I can only drive while wearing glasses.
If there are any additional requirements or changes, the school itself will certainly provide more detailed information.
Without a car, you can't go anywhere.
A car in Luxembourg is not just a means of transport, it is almost part of integration. Many of the people I know simply cannot imagine their lives without a car. Especially if you live outside the city. After a few years here, you get used to compactness and even an hour on the road seems long.
Therefore, no matter how much the state supports public transport, it cannot yet replace cars. It has one drawback: unclear routes. It is often the case that you can get from point A to point B with detours and transfers.
That's how it was with my girlfriend. It took about 10 minutes to drive from where I lived in Luxembourg to her house. But by bus, it took 40 minutes! I had to change buses, and it only ran once an hour, and not at all on Sundays.
And then, don't forget that the pandemic began in 2020. I simply cannot imagine how it would have been possible to cope in such a situation without a car. Thanks to it, I was able to drive to the shop and buy enough groceries for a whole week, so many bags that I simply couldn't have carried them all on the bus.
Another thing that saved us was that we went hiking. You can wander to hidden corners of the forest where there is no one else and admire the beauty — isn't that happiness?
Procedure for future motorists
So, to obtain a licence, you need to:
- Enrol in a driving school and pay the tuition fees;
- Complete the theoretical part;
- Pass an exam;
- Pay for driving lessons and the driving test;
- Complete the required hours with an instructor;
- Pass your driving test;
- Obtain a temporary licence for 2 years;
- Drive at least 3,000 kilometres;
- Take a one-day extreme driving course and pass the exam;
- Obtain permanent rights.