Driving in Style - The Glory Days of Class III Driver's License
- by Gernot Kramper
- 4 Min
Obtain Class 3 License for 2000 Marks, Gaining Authorization to Operate All Vehicles - "- Attain 3 Class 3 exams, scoring 2000 marks each, to qualify for unrestricted driving privileges"
Back in the day, the Boomer generation had a sweet ride - not always, but when it came to driving, it sure was. Today, a regular car driver's license costs anywhere between 2100 and 4400 euros, as per ADAC. But back then in 1980, our author spent around 2000 German Marks (DM), with the occasional fail in the practical exam, while classmates managed with 1200 DM. This wasn't just cheaper, it was more powerful. Today, you can only get the higher course for class B. With it, you can drive a car - as long as the vehicle doesn't exceed 3500 kilograms in weight. For stronger vehicles, like delivery vans and heavy pickups, class B isn't enough.
Class III - The King of Roads
Old school class 3 seems like the top dog in traffic regulations compared to today's meager permissions. Until 1999, it was the standard driver's license, issued not only to Boomers, but also to Generation X. Class 3 let you drive cars up to 3.5 tons, but that's just the beginning. With this license, you could drive vehicles up to 7500 kilograms in total weight. This includes all heavy-duty pickups, heavy box vans, and "light" trucks. However, the really big ones were off-limits. Today, this permission corresponds to class C1.
Towing a Gladiator
Class 3 was quite the generous license when it comes to trailers: the combination of towing vehicle and trailer could weigh up to 18.75 tons. Today, this corresponds to the truck class C1 (up to 7.5 tons) with trailer extension E - so C1E - allowing the combination to weigh 12 tons, which is still more than enough for a horse trailer or a sales stand.
Not so lucky when it comes to a caravan. With class B, you can only tow a small "cart" from a home depot, not a full-sized caravan like in the good old days of class 3.
The Price of Progress
If we calculate the cost based on today's standards, Class 3 comes out at around 3250 Euro for a car, 2000 Euro for a small motorcycle license (A1), plus 4000 Euro for a truck license (C1E). This totals to 9250 Euro. Even if we convert the old 2000 DM price to Euros, it's clear that getting a driver's license has become significantly more expensive for youngsters.
Is Expensive Training Worth the Cost?
Is this just a case of bureaucratic costs or necessary training? The extreme example of the old class 3 license would be a fresh motorist traveling cross-country on a long tour with an 18-ton vehicle. This was allowed, but would have been a disaster waiting to happen. It's unlikely that anyone would dare to do this. Practical experience was the way to go back then, though it wasn't always mandatory. The state trusted citizens more in those days than it does now.
Did increased, more expensive training reduce accidents? It's difficult to say if there's a clear correlation between cost and safety. Apart from the special case of German reunification, the number of traffic fatalities has been decreasing since 1970, from over 19,000 deaths in the then West Germany to about 2,400 in 2023.
Forever Young
Even today, Boomers like our author can still drive a truck up to 7.5 tonnes, and with a trailer, even up to 12 tonnes. Only for the small motorcycle license did he arrive a bit too late.
- Driver's License
- Driving School
- Vehicle
- Traffic Law
- ADAC
- In today's financial landscape, the costs of vocational training for driving various vehicle classes, such as Class C1E for heavy trucks, would total around 9250 euros, a considerable increase from the past when Class III licenses cost roughly 2000 German Marks (DM).
- While the Community policy on traffic law has evolved, comprehensive vocational training, as seen in the past with Class III drivers who were allowed to operate heavy vehicles and trailers up to 18.75 tons, may still be debated in terms of its relevance to cost.
- In the early days, transportation advancements like automotive vehicles and trailers were commonly a part of vocational training programs, allowing for diverse industry opportunities, such as the automotive and transportation sectors, and even sports, with the ability to tow large equipment or trailers.
