Apprentice credit for driving licence & car: 5 steps to financing
7 Jul 2025
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
The desire for your own car or driving licence is strong during training, but financial resources are often limited. Many banks are hesitant to grant loans to trainees. However, with the right strategy, you can successfully apply for a trainee loan for a driving licence or your first car.
The topic in brief and concise terms
As an apprentice, you need to be of legal age, prove a regular income, and have a clean credit record.
The probationary period is a major hurdle; a loan application is significantly more promising after it ends.
Securities, such as a parental guarantee or a second borrower, increase the chances of approval and significantly improve the conditions.
Für viele Auszubildende bedeutet ein eigenes Auto oder der Führerschein einen großen Schritt in Richtung Unabhängigkeit und berufliche Flexibilität. Oftmals ist der Arbeitsplatz ohne eigenen fahrbaren Untersatz nur schwer erreichbar. Die Finanzierung stellt jedoch eine Hürde dar: Das Ausbildungsgehalt ist meist gering, und die Probezeit schafft zusätzliche Unsicherheit bei den Banken. Dieser Artikel führt Sie durch den gesamten Prozess. Wir zeigen Ihnen, wie Sie Ihre Chancen auf eine Kreditzusage signifikant erhöhen, welche Unterlagen Sie benötigen und wie Sie Fallstricke gezielt umgehen, um Ihren Traum von der Mobilität zu verwirklichen.
Check requirements: The basis for your loan application
Before you apply for a loan, several basic requirements must be met. Banks in Germany generally require the applicant to be of legal age, meaning a minimum age of 18 years. A permanent residence in Germany is another condition demanded by almost all financial institutions. The most important criterion is a regular, personal income from your training relationship.
Many banks set a minimum income threshold, which often exceeds 600 euros net. Child benefits or BAföG are not counted as income. A clean credit report without negative entries is also crucial for creditworthiness, the so-called credit rating. The probationary period represents a particular hurdle, as banks are wary of the risk of dismissal; many institutions only grant loans after it has ended.
Drawing up a detailed overview of your finances is the next logical step to demonstrate your financial capability.
Calculate credit amount and rate realistically
A precise budget plan is essential to avoid falling into debt. The cost of obtaining a driving license can quickly reach €2,500, while a reliable first car is rarely available for less than €5,000. Create an accurate household budget for the loan application, where you compare all monthly income and expenses. The amount remaining after deducting all fixed costs determines the maximum possible loan rate.
The loan term directly impacts the monthly burden. While a longer term reduces the rate, it increases the overall cost due to interest. For example, a loan of €3,000 with an effective annual interest rate of 11.2 percent results in a monthly payment of €97.74 over a 36-month term. Choose a rate that leaves you with enough financial leeway even with unforeseen expenses. A loan with a long term could be an option here to keep the burden low.
A solid calculation is half the battle, but often your own funds are not sufficient as security.
Providing security and enhancing creditworthiness
To increase the chances of a loan approval, additional collateral can be crucial. Banks consider trainees as a risk group due to low income. One of the most common methods of securing a loan is through a guarantee by a third party, usually the parents. A guarantor with good creditworthiness and a stable income commits to covering the instalments if you become insolvent.
The following options are available to improve your creditworthiness:
Guarantee: A person with a positive credit rating and stable income stands as guarantor for your loan.
Second Borrower: You take out the loan jointly with another person, for example, a parent. Both are then jointly and severally liable.
Transfer of Ownership as Security: In a car loan, the financed vehicle itself serves as security. The bank retains the vehicle registration document (part II of the registration certificate) until the loan is fully repaid.
Proof of an Employment Contract: If your training company has already guaranteed you a permanent position after your apprenticeship, this significantly reduces the risk for the bank.
A car loan with a guarantor is often the key to success. With these securities in place, you can now start comparing specific offers.
Compare credit offers and avoid pitfalls
Comparing different loan offers is essential to find the best conditions. Do not only focus on the nominal interest rate, but always on the effective annual interest rate. This includes all costs and fees of the loan and makes offers truly comparable. The interest rates for trainee loans can vary greatly, often ranging from five to over ten percent.
Use online comparison portals to get an initial overview. A conditions inquiry at Schufa is neutral and does not affect your score. In contrast, a firm loan inquiry at multiple banks can worsen your score. Read the small print carefully: Are free special repayments possible to pay off the loan more quickly? Is there an option for a payment break in case of financial difficulties?
A favourable driving licence loan with small instalments is often found at direct banks on the internet. Once you have found the right offer, it’s time to move on to the formal application.
Examine alternatives to personal loans
A classic installment loan isn't always the best or only option. It's worth considering other ways to finance a driving licence or your first car. A popular alternative is the so-called three-way financing or balloon financing offered by car dealerships. This option attracts with low monthly payments, but requires a large final payment at the end of the contract term.
Another option is the educational loan from KfW Bank, which under certain circumstances can also be used for educational-related purchases like a driving licence. The interest rates here are often significantly better than at private banks. Be cautious with dealer financing advertised as “zero percent financing.” The costs are often hidden within the vehicle's purchase price. A used car financing without a down payment can also be an option, but it requires even better creditworthiness.
Request your individual risk analysis now: Have your insurance situation checked for free and receive specific optimisation suggestions.
More useful links
Bundesagentur für Arbeit provides information on Berufsausbildungsbeihilfe (BAB), a financial support for trainees.
KfW offers information about the KfW Bank education loan for students and trainees.
Statistisches Bundesamt provides statistics on driving licences in Germany.
Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA) publishes the annual report on driving licences in Germany.
Institut für Finanzdienstleistungen (iff) offers a study on the credit competence of young people and financial education.
Deutscher Verkehrssicherheitsrat (DVR) releases a press announcement on the topic of affordable driving licences.
Verbraucherzentrale provides information on the withdrawal of car loans and the possibilities for reversal.
FAQ
Welche Bank gibt Azubis einen Kredit?
Viele Direktbanken und Online-Kreditvermittler bieten Kredite für Auszubildende an, da ihre Prozesse oft flexibler sind als bei klassischen Filialbanken. Auch die Hausbank kann ein Ansprechpartner sein, insbesondere wenn dort schon lange ein Konto besteht. Ein Vergleich ist in jedem Fall empfehlenswert.
Wird ein Kredit für Azubis ohne Schufa-Prüfung angeboten?
Angebote für Kredite ohne Schufa-Prüfung sind fast immer unseriös und mit extrem hohen Zinsen verbunden. Jede seriöse Bank in Deutschland ist gesetzlich zu einer Bonitätsprüfung verpflichtet, wozu auch die Schufa-Abfrage gehört.
Kann ich einen Azubi-Kredit auch für andere Dinge als Auto oder Führerschein verwenden?
Ja, die meisten Azubi-Kredite sind Ratenkredite zur freien Verwendung. Sie können das Geld also auch für einen Umzug, Möbel oder die Ablösung eines teuren Dispokredits nutzen. Ein zweckgebundener Autokredit kann jedoch günstigere Zinsen haben.
Was passiert, wenn ich nach der Ausbildung nicht übernommen werde?
Der Kreditvertrag läuft weiter und die Raten müssen weiterhin bezahlt werden. Daher ist es wichtig, die Ratenhöhe so zu wählen, dass sie auch mit Arbeitslosengeld I noch tragbar wäre. Informieren Sie die Bank proaktiv über Ihre Situation; manchmal ist eine vorübergehende Ratenstundung möglich.
Verbessert ein zweiter Kreditnehmer meine Chancen?
Ja, erheblich. Ein zweiter Kreditnehmer mit guter Bonität, zum Beispiel ein Elternteil, haftet vollumfänglich für den Kredit. Für die Bank sinkt das Ausfallrisiko dadurch massiv, was nicht nur die Zusagewahrscheinlichkeit erhöht, sondern oft auch zu besseren Zinskonditionen führt.
Kann ich den Kredit vorzeitig zurückzahlen?
Bei den meisten modernen Kreditverträgen sind kostenlose Sondertilgungen oder eine vollständige vorzeitige Ablösung möglich. Achten Sie vor dem Abschluss auf entsprechende Klauseln im Vertrag, um flexibel zu bleiben und Zinskosten zu sparen.
