If you take a look at the back of your German driving licence, you may notice entries such as L 174 or L 175. Many drivers wonder: What do key codes 174 and 175 on a driving licence mean? Do they grant additional driving privileges, or do they impose restrictions?
This guide explains the meaning of the German driving licence key codes 174 and 175, who they apply to, and which vehicles you are allowed to drive with them.
The numbers listed in Field 12 of your driving licence are known as key codes (Schlüsselzahlen). They provide additional information about your driving entitlement and specify any extensions, conditions, or restrictions that apply.
There are two types of key codes:
Key code 174 extends the driving entitlement for Licence Class L.
It authorizes the holder to drive:
Key code 174 is commonly found on licences held by drivers who obtained their licence under older German regulations and later exchanged it for the EU card-style driving licence.
Its purpose is to preserve certain grandfather rights that are not fully covered by today's licence categories.
Key code 175 is another national extension for Licence Class L.
It additionally allows the holder to drive:
This code broadens the range of vehicles that may be driven under German licensing regulations.
The codes appear on the back of the EU driving licence card in Field 12.
If your licence shows L – 174 or L – 175, these additional driving privileges apply only to Licence Class L.
Depending on which code is listed on your licence, you may have different driving privileges.
The vehicles you are legally permitted to drive always depend on your complete driving licence and the categories listed on it.
No. Key codes 174 and 175 are German national key codes.
This means the additional driving privileges generally apply only within Germany and are not automatically recognized in other countries.
These entries mainly exist because of transitional regulations and grandfather rights.
Drivers who obtained their licences under older licensing laws and later exchanged them for the EU card licence often receive these national key codes so they can retain their previous driving entitlements.
Newly issued licences usually do not include these codes unless the holder qualifies under the relevant transitional provisions.
The driving licence key codes L 174 and L 175 are German national driving entitlements that apply only within Germany.
Drivers who have these codes on their licences generally benefit from grandfather rights under previous German driving licence regulations. Understanding these entries helps ensure you know exactly which vehicles you are legally permitted to drive.
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