Wheels Away in the '80s: The Glorious Days of Class III Driving License and You Could Rule the Road with "Everything"
- by Gernot Kramper
- 4 Min
Obtaining a Class 3 Driving License Yields 2000 Points, Expanding Your Driving Capabilities to Operate Multiple Vehicles - Achieving a total of 2000 marks in Class 3 enables you to operate "various" vehicles.
The good ol' days, they say. Well, when it comes to motorists' licenses, the Boomers surely had the cake. It wasn't always a bed of roses, but back in the day, a car driver's license didn't burn a hole in your pocket like it does now. Costing between €2,100 and €4,400 according to ADAC, it used to be a much cheaper deal, only setting the author back around €2,000 German Marks (DM) in 1980, with a minor flunk in the practical exam. His school buddies, on the other hand, were quite thrifty at €1,200 DM.
But the license wasn't just affordable; it was a powerhouse. Today, all you can drive with class B is a car, but back then, with Class III, you could take the reins of practically any heavy-duty vehicle, tow hefty trailers, and even ride a light motorcycle!
Class III: The Jack of All Trades, Master of Many
The old Class III was the norm, allowing you to drive vehicles up to a colossal 7.5-ton permissible weight, including heavy-duty pickups, box vans, and even some light trucks. However, the big boys were off-limits.
When it comes to trailers, Class III was the king. You could tow a small cart, although hooking up a caravan was a no-go unless you opted for a tiny, lightweight one. Compared to today's meager permissions, the old Class III was a game-changer.
A One-Stop Shop: Motorcycles, Trucks, and Everything in Between
The old Class III was particularly generous with motorcycles, too. If you acquired the license before April 1, 1980, you could even ride a small motorcycle with an engine capacity of up to 125 cubic centimeters and a maximum power of 15 PS or 11 kW without having to obtain a separate Class A1 license.
The old Class III was also lenient towards trailers, allowing a combined weight of up to 18.75 tons. However, if the weight exceeds 12 tons and the holder is over 50 years old, a regular health check is mandatory.
A Blast from the Past: Class III versus Today's Classes
With Class III, you could drive vehicles that today correspond to Classes B, A1, and C1 or C1E. So when comparing costs just to Class B, you're looking at an incomplete picture. Adjusting for inflation, the price of driving a car in the past has increased about 4.5 times.
Regarding costs, prepare to spend €1,000 to €3,000 for a small motorcycle driver's license A1. A truck will set you back more. The combination of C1 and E will run around €4,000.
If you average these costs, a driver's license today comes at roughly €9,250 – and that’s not counting the cost of the vehicles, as massive machines require a truck class! Meanwhile, converting the €2,000 DM paid in the past (which was already on the pricier side) to euros, the price increased about 4.5 times. Seems like driving a car has become quite the luxury for the younger generation.
More Expensive but More Safe?
With the old Class III's generous permissions, a new driver could, in theory, jump behind the wheel of a Golf and then take off on an adventurous tour with an 18-tonne vehicle, zigzagging through the countryside. But was it practical? Highly doubtful. Experience and gradual exposure to lower-risk scenarios were the norm back then, and any reckless drivers likely thought twice about taking such a trip.
The question remains: with the steep increase in driving school expenses and tighter regulations, has road safety improved? It's challenging to say for sure, as the narrowly defined new classes only affected new drivers, and other factors have likely played a role in the steady decline in traffic fatalities since 1970. Nonetheless, the shift suggests a growing emphasis on rules and regulations compared to self-regulation and insight.
An Extraordinary Privilege: Everlasting Validity
Alas, the newcomers don't enjoy this luxury. Boomers like the author can still drive trucks up to 7.5 tonnes – and even haul a whopping 12-ton trailer – while a small motorcycle license remains off-limits.
- Motorists' Licenses
- Driving School
- Vehicle
- Traffic Law
- ADAC
- EU Driver's License Directive
- Historical Regulation
- Nazi Germany
Enrichment Data:
The historical evolution of driver's license classes in Germany reflects changes in vehicle technology, regulatory requirements, and European harmonization. Here’s an overview of how the system has changed, especially focusing on the contrasts between the old "Class 3" license and the current categories B, A1, C1, and C1E.
Historical Development
Early Regulation (Pre-World War II)While not strictly about license classes, it is notable that anti-Jewish legislation in Nazi Germany included the stripping of driving privileges from Jewish citizens, highlighting the significance of driving rights in German society[1]. However, these laws were not about vehicle category distinctions but rather about restricting civil rights.
Post-War and Late 20th CenturyBy the mid-20th century, Germany (and later, both East and West Germany) had established a license class system tailored to vehicle types and intended uses. The Class 3 license was, for many decades, the standard car and light motorcycle license in Germany.
License Class Evolution
Class 3 (Historical)
- Permitted Vehicles: Cars (up to a certain weight, typically 7.5 tonnes permissible total mass), motorcycles with a maximum of 50cc engine capacity and up to 60 km/h, and light trailers where the combination did not exceed certain limits.
- Scope: Very broad, often acquired before more specialized classes. Valid for manual and automatic transmission cars, but with some restrictions on heavier vehicles and motorcycles.
- Training and Testing: A single practical and theoretical exam covered this wide range, making it the "default" license for most Germans.
Current European License Classes
Since the adoption of the EU driver's license directive, Germany transitioned to a system with more specific and harmonized license classes.
| License Class | Permitted Vehicles ||---------------|-------------------|| B | Cars up to 3.5 tonnes (max. 3,500 kg permissible total mass), trailers up to 750 kg, or heavier if total does not exceed 3.5 tonnes, and other conditions met (e.g., code 96 for BE, or heavier with additional test).|| A1 | Light motorcycles up to 125cc and 11 kW (15 hp), with a power/weight ratio not exceeding 0.1 kW/kg. || C1 | Trucks from 3.5 to 7.5 tonnes permissible total mass (with optional trailer up to 750 kg; C1E for heavier trailers). || C1E | Combinations where the towing vehicle is in class C1 and the trailer exceeds 750 kg (but total does not exceed 12,000 kg). |
Key Differences and Evolution
- Specificity: The old Class 3 was more broadly defined, allowing drivers to operate a wide range of vehicles with a single license. The modern system is more specialized, with distinct classes for cars, light motorcycles, and different categories of trucks.
- European Harmonization: The current system (B, A1, C1, C1E) aligns with EU-wide standards, promoting consistency across member states and enabling easier international mobility.
- Training and Testing: Obtaining a license now involves more tailored training and tests for each vehicle category, as opposed to the more general training associated with the old Class 3.
- The old 'Class III' motorist's license allowed individuals to drive a wide range of vehicles, including heavy-duty pickups, box vans, light trucks, and even take the reins of motorcycles, offering a versatility that today's Class B licenses do not.
- When it comes to trailers, the old 'Class III' license was particularly generous, as it allowed a combined weight of up to 18.75 tons without the need for a regular health check, unlike today's meager permissions.
- A striking contrast between the old 'Class III' and the current classes B, A1, C1, and C1E is the cost. Adjusting for inflation, the price of driving a car in the past has increased about 4.5 times, making it a luxury for the younger generation compared to the more affordable prices in the past.
- While the old 'Class III' license offered a one-stop shop for motorcycles, trucks, and everything in between, the current system requires different licenses for each category, indicating a growing emphasis on rules and regulations compared to self-regulation and insight.
