Career change as a driving instructor

Career change paths

• Fleet manager

  Also: Head of vehicle fleet

  With on-the-job training

  As fleet manager of a company or authority you manage the purchase, maintenance, insurance and damage of the vehicles, check driving licenses, and organize driver briefings.

  What you bring:

  You know vehicles, driving license classes, traffic law and safety at the wheel, and you can train drivers.

  How to get there:

  Companies and fleet service providers usually give career changers with vehicle and legal knowledge a few months of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung). Certificate courses in fleet management at training providers take a few days to a few weeks. Commercial knowledge and confident use of spreadsheets are expected.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €6,004gross per monthMedian salary

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• Dispatcher in freight transport

  Also: Dispatcher in bus transport

  With on-the-job training

  As a dispatcher you plan routes and driver assignments, react to traffic jams, cancellations and customer wishes, and keep operations running.

  What you bring:

  You know driving and rest times, vehicles and roads, and you can guide people on the phone calmly and clearly.

  How to get there:

  Freight forwarders and transport companies usually give career changers with driving experience a few weeks of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in dispatching software and processes. You can earn a qualification through retraining (Umschulung) as freight forwarding and logistics services clerk (Kaufmann für Spedition und Logistikdienstleistung), which usually takes about two years.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically lightIn an office

  €4,414gross per monthMedian salary

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• Motor claims adjuster

  Also: Claims clerk at an insurer

  With on-the-job training

  As a motor claims adjuster at insurers or claims service providers you check accident damage, clarify questions of fault based on documents and expert reports, and decide on the settlement.

  What you bring:

  You know traffic rules, typical accident situations and vehicle technology, and you can assess events objectively.

  How to get there:

  Insurers usually give career changers with traffic and vehicle knowledge a few months of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in policy terms, liability law and claims software. Alongside your job, you can take further training at training providers of the insurance industry.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office

  €4,797gross per monthMedian salary

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• Driving license office clerk

  Also: Vehicle registration office clerk

  With on-the-job training

  In the driving license authority you process applications for driving licenses, check documents and suitability, and advise citizens, with regular working hours.

  What you bring:

  You know driving license classes, driving license law and exam processes from daily cooperation with authorities and testing organizations.

  How to get there:

  Districts and cities hire career changers as employees under collective pay agreements (Tarif) and give them a few months of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in driving license law and specialist procedures. Administrative course I (Angestelltenlehrgang I, called Verwaltungslehrgang I in some states) often follows alongside the job. Your knowledge of driving school training and exams helps you there.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an office

  €3,822gross per monthMedian salary

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• Driving school owner

  Also: Responsible manager of a driving school

  With further trainingPromotion

  As owner or responsible manager you run a driving school with driving instructors, vehicles and an office, plan training and exams, and bear the financial responsibility.

  What you bring:

  You know training, exam processes and vehicles, and you know what makes a good driving school.

  How to get there:

  For your own driving school you need a driving school license (Fahrschulerlaubnis) from the responsible authority. Requirements include a minimum age of 25, the driving instructor license for the class you apply for, at least two years of full-time work as an employed driving instructor, and a course in driving school management of at least 70 teaching units.*Regulated by law (Driving Instructor Act (FahrlG) §§ 17, 18).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €3,977gross per monthMedian salary

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• Trainer for professional drivers

  Also: Trainer at a logistics company

  With further training

  As a trainer you look after apprentices training to become professional drivers (Berufskraftfahrer) in a freight forwarding or transport company, plan the training, and prepare them for the exam.

  What you bring:

  You have been explaining driving physics, traffic law and safe driving for years and, with the right license classes, you also know trucks and buses.

  How to get there:

  You meet the professional requirements with a suitable final exam, or a recognized exam before an examining authority, plus work experience. The Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) clarifies whether your driving instructor exam counts; otherwise the responsible state authority can grant the aptitude. You also need to pass the trainer aptitude exam (Ausbildereignungsprüfung), and the preparation course takes a few weeks. Full-time jobs exist mainly at larger freight forwarders, transport companies and training providers.*Regulated by law (Vocational Training Act (BBiG) § 30, Trainer Aptitude Ordinance (AEVO) §§ 2, 4).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €4,462gross per monthMedian salary

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• Dangerous goods safety adviser (Gefahrgutbeauftragter)

  With further training

  As a dangerous goods safety adviser you monitor compliance with the regulations in companies that ship or transport dangerous goods, train employees, and document incidents.

  What you bring:

  You know load securing, vehicle technology and road traffic regulations, and you can explain rules clearly.

  How to get there:

  Dangerous goods safety advisers need a training certificate from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), which you get after a recognized course of at least 22.5 hours for one mode of transport and an exam at the IHK. It is valid for five years and is extended with another exam. An external person can also take on the role for several businesses or combine it with logistics or occupational safety.*Regulated by law (Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser Ordinance (GbV) §§ 3, 4, 5).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €4,948gross per monthMedian salary

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• Train driver (Triebfahrzeugführer)

  Also: Locomotive driver in passenger transport

  With further training

  As a train driver you drive freight or passenger trains according to the timetable and signals, check your vehicle before the trip, and fix minor faults.

  What you bring:

  You drive safely and with foresight, follow rules exactly, and stay calm even with disruptions.

  How to get there:

  You qualify as a train driver at a railway company or training provider, which usually takes about one year. Funding through an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein) is possible if the Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) or Jobcenter approves it. The law requires a lower secondary school certificate (Hauptschulabschluss), as a rule a minimum age of 20, and medical and psychological fitness.*Regulated by law (Train Driver License Ordinance (TfV) § 5).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €4,322gross per monthMedian salary

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Salary: median of all full-time employees in the job, gross per month excluding special payments, as of April 2025. Half earn more, half earn less. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), table 62361-0030, license dl-de/by-2-0. Assigned to the jobs by quereinsteiger.de. No guarantee of accuracy.