{"id":151,"date":"2026-07-25T04:00:10","date_gmt":"2026-07-25T02:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/start.fahrschule-fahrplan.de\/blog\/sonderfahrten\/"},"modified":"2026-09-17T01:28:04","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T23:28:04","slug":"sonderfahrten","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fahrschule-fahrplan.de\/en\/blog\/sonderfahrten\/","title":{"rendered":"Special training drives for your driving licence: Country roads, motorway, night driving explained"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fp-rg\">\n<div class=\"fp-rg-kopf\">\n<p class=\"fp-rg-eyebrow\">Guide \u00b7 Special training drives<\/p>\n<p class=\"fp-rg-leitfrage\">How many country-road, motorway and night drives are required, and what do you learn on them?<\/p>\n<p>Twelve driving lessons of your training are required by law \u2013 and of all things, they are the ones that many people respect the most: country roads, motorways, darkness. Time for an honest demystification: what really happens during special training drives, why they are the most educational hours of training and what rules (and myths) surround them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"fp-rg-meta\">Updated: September 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fp-toc\" style=\"background:#f5f7fa;border-left:4px solid #30b1f8;border-radius:6px;padding:18px 24px;margin:24px 0;\"><strong>Contents of this guide<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul style=\"margin:10px 0 0;\">\n<li><a href=\"#abschnitt-1\">What special drives are \u2013 and why they exist<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#abschnitt-2\">The overview: 5 \u2013 4 \u2013 3<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#abschnitt-3\">The cross-country drives: underestimated and most important<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#abschnitt-4\">Motorway driving: the arch-nemesis that isn't one<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#abschnitt-5\">Night driving: seeing and being seen<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#abschnitt-6\">Rules and myths surrounding special training drives<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#abschnitt-7\">How to prepare for any special training drive<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#abschnitt-8\">Frequently asked questions about the special training drives<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#abschnitt-9\">Conclusion: compulsory programme with the greatest learning curve<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"abschnitt-1\">What special drives are \u2013 and why they exist<\/h2>\n<p>Special training drives (officially \u201cbesondere Ausbildungsfahrten\u201d, Annex 4 of the Fahrsch\u00fcler-Ausbildungsordnung) are the <strong>only legally required driving lessons<\/strong> for category B \u2013 all remaining training sessions depend on your ability. The law aims to ensure that every novice driver has experienced the three most challenging environments under supervision before driving alone: country roads, motorways and darkness. Each special training drive lasts 45 minutes; in practice, they are almost always combined into double or triple sessions.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"abschnitt-2\">The overview: 5 \u2013 4 \u2013 3<\/h2>\n<div class=\"fp-rg-tabelle\">\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th><strong>Special training drive<\/strong><\/th>\n<th><strong>Number<\/strong><\/th>\n<th><strong>Core learning objectives<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Cross-country journeys<\/td>\n<td>5 \u00d7 45 mins.<\/td>\n<td>rural road speed limits, overtaking, cornering, right of way outside built-up areas<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Motorway driving<\/td>\n<td>4 \u00d7 45 mins.<\/td>\n<td>Merging and joining, following distance, changing lanes at high speed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Night drives<\/td>\n<td>3 \u00d7 45 mins.<\/td>\n<td>Driving at dawn\/dusk, lights, glare<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p>The 12 special training drives apply unchanged also for the <strong>Accompanied Driving (BF17)<\/strong> \u2013 and they take place at the end of the training, once your level of training makes them appropriate.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"abschnitt-3\">The cross-country drives: underestimated and most important<\/h2>\n<p>The country road seems harmless \u2013 but statistically it is the environment with the most severe accidents in later driving life. Exactly why most mandatory lessons take place here. You learn: <strong>constant driving at up to 100 km\/h<\/strong>, proper behaviour in bends (adjusting speed BEFORE the bend), <strong>Overtake<\/strong> with realistic gap estimation \u2013 and the patience not to do it when there is oncoming traffic \u2013 right-of-way situations at rural junctions, tractors, cyclists and wildlife crossing areas. Many learner drivers find rural drives to be the most relaxing hours: finally driving instead of constantly stopping \u2013 with a real learning effect for anticipating traffic.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"fp-rg-bild\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fahrschule-fahrplan.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/sonderfahrt-ueberland-kurve-1024x572.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fahrschule-fahrplan.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/sonderfahrt-ueberland-kurve-768x429.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.fahrschule-fahrplan.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/sonderfahrt-ueberland-kurve-1024x572.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.fahrschule-fahrplan.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/sonderfahrt-ueberland-kurve.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 780px\" width=\"1024\" height=\"572\" alt=\"Learner driver and her driving instructor taking a bend on a country road between fields\" decoding=\"async\"><figcaption>On country roads the rule is: adjust your speed before the bend and look far ahead.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"abschnitt-4\">Motorway driving: the arch-nemesis that isn't one<\/h2>\n<p>Hardly any special training drive is so dreaded \u2013 and hardly any settles down so quickly: on the motorway there is no oncoming traffic, no traffic lights, no junctions. How it works: your driving instructor will choose a route with slips roads that are easy to see. You practice what really matters: <strong>accelerate decisively and merge<\/strong> (the most common beginner\u2019s mistake is approaching too tentatively at 70 km\/h \u2013 not too fast), <strong>Keep your distance<\/strong> (rule of thumb \u201chalf the speedometer reading\u201d), lane changing with the mirror and blind spot check routine, the surroundings of lorries including slipstream, driving through roadworks and exiting with timely deceleration. Empirical value from thousands of driving lessons: after about ten minutes the pulse returns to normal \u2013 and after the fourth motorway drive, the motorway is one of the favourite environments for most people.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"fp-rg-bild\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fahrschule-fahrplan.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/sonderfahrt-autobahn-fahrstunde-1024x572.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fahrschule-fahrplan.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/sonderfahrt-autobahn-fahrstunde-768x429.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.fahrschule-fahrplan.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/sonderfahrt-autobahn-fahrstunde-1024x572.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.fahrschule-fahrplan.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/sonderfahrt-autobahn-fahrstunde.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 780px\" width=\"1024\" height=\"572\" alt=\"Learner driver on the motorway with his driving instructor, both wearing seatbelts\" decoding=\"async\"><figcaption>On the motorway drive you practise merging decisively, keeping your distance and changing lanes safely.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"abschnitt-5\">Night driving: seeing and being seen<\/h2>\n<p>At dusk and in the dark you learn a completely separate discipline: <strong>Using lighting correctly<\/strong> (when to use high beam, when to dip), with <strong>glare<\/strong> Avoid oncoming traffic (keep an eye on the right-hand side of the road), spot pedestrians and cyclists who aren\u2019t wearing reflective clothing early on, and adjust your speed to suit the visibility \u2013 you must only drive fast enough to be able to stop within a manageable distance. A practical planning tip: <strong>In winter, night driving is possible as early as the early evening.<\/strong> \u2013 anyone who schedules their training during the dark winter months completes it without late appointments.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"fp-rg-bild\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fahrschule-fahrplan.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/sonderfahrt-nachtfahrt-1024x572.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fahrschule-fahrplan.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/sonderfahrt-nachtfahrt-768x429.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.fahrschule-fahrplan.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/sonderfahrt-nachtfahrt-1024x572.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.fahrschule-fahrplan.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/sonderfahrt-nachtfahrt.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 780px\" width=\"1024\" height=\"572\" alt=\"Learner driver driving at night with his driving instructor on a dark country road, oncoming headlights ahead\" decoding=\"async\"><figcaption>In the dark you learn to use your lights correctly and to cope with glare from oncoming traffic.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"abschnitt-6\">Rules and myths surrounding special training drives<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>There is no prescribed order.<\/strong> The usual sequence is rural roads \u2192 motorway \u2192 night-time driving because it builds up educationally \u2013 it isn't mandatory, and combinations (e.g. rural roads + night driving in a single evening session) are everyday occurrences.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Special training drives are not tests<\/strong> \u2013 but no hours just to pass the time either: your driving instructor has to confirm your level of training. If a drive goes completely wrong, it can happen that a part has to be repeated \u2013 rarely happens in practice, because the drives are only scheduled when you are ready.<\/li>\n<li><strong>\u201cFirst the theory test, then the special training drives\u201d<\/strong> it's not a legal requirement, but widespread (and sensible) driving school practice \u2013 this way you won't run out of time with the 12-month limit.<\/li>\n<li><strong>When changing driving schools<\/strong> completed special training drives are not lost \u2013 they are documented in the training record and will be carried over.<\/li>\n<li><strong>You are on the home straight:<\/strong> Following the special training drives, usually only the finishing touches towards the test remain \u2013 whoever has those behind them is on the home straight. The guide shows where they lie in the overall schedule <a href=\"\/en\/blog\/fuehrerschein-dauer\/\">How long does it take to get a driving licence?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"fp-rg-hinweis\">\n<h2 id=\"abschnitt-7\">How to prepare for any special training drive<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Before the cross-country journeys:<\/strong> Brush up on your knowledge of overtaking bans, stopping distances and right of way out of town \u2013 this is precisely the theory that becomes practical here. And eat something beforehand: 90 to 135 minutes of concentrated driving is more physically demanding than you think.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Before driving on the motorway:<\/strong> Go over the rules for merging, keeping to the right and following distance in your head (or in the learning app). Discuss with your driving instructor that the first slip road should be a quiet one \u2013 good driving instructors plan it that way anyway.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Before the night shifts:<\/strong> Arriving well-rested is doubly important here \u2013 darkness makes you tired. Spectacle wearers should bring clean lenses (scattered light!), and anyone driving in winter should allow five minutes for scraping ice and checking the lights.<\/li>\n<li><strong>After each special training drive:<\/strong> The debrief is part of the drive \u2013 don't let time pressure cut it short. What you learn here about your typical patterns (too close? too hesitant when overtaking?), is the real material for the test drive.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"abschnitt-8\">Frequently asked questions about the special training drives<\/h2>\n<div class=\"fp-rg-hinweis\">\n<h3 style=\"margin-top:.2rem\">How much do special training drives cost?<\/h3>\n<p>Special training drives cost an extra fee compared to normal driving lessons at most driving schools \u2013 the specific amounts are transparently listed on our <a href=\"\/en\/preise\/\">Pricing page<\/a>, the overall bill in the guide <a href=\"\/en\/fuehrerschein-kosten\/\">Driving licence costs<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fp-rg-hinweis\">\n<h3 style=\"margin-top:.2rem\">Can I do multiple special training drives in a row?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes \u2013 that is even the norm: cross-country driving lessons practically never consist of a single 45-minute session, but rather of double or triple appointments. Four to five appointments are usually enough for all twelve lessons.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fp-rg-hinweis\">\n<h3 style=\"margin-top:.2rem\">Are there fewer special training drives for the BF17?<\/h3>\n<p>No \u2013 the 12 special training drives also apply in full to the driving licence at 17.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fp-rg-hinweis\">\n<h3 style=\"margin-top:.2rem\">Are there special training drives for the BE trailer licence too?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes, in reduced numbers: 3 cross-country journeys, 1 motorway journey and 1 night-time journey. Further details on BE and the test-free alternative B96 can be found in the guide <a href=\"\/en\/blog\/b96-oder-be\/\">B96 or BE?<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fp-rg-weiter\">\n<h2>Read more<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/blog\/bf17-begleitetes-fahren\/\">Driving licence at 17 (BF17): Accompanied driving explained in full<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/blog\/wie-viele-fahrstunden\/\">How many driving lessons do you actually need?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/blog\/praktische-pruefung-tipps\/\">Practical test tips<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"abschnitt-9\">Conclusion: compulsory programme with the greatest learning curve<\/h2>\n<p>The special training drives are not a bureaucratic add-on, but the condensed best of driver training: the three environments that will really challenge you later on, thoroughly experienced once under supervision. Anyone who takes them seriously instead of just putting in the time will drive with more confidence from day one after getting their licence \u2013 and that is precisely their purpose.<\/p>\n<p>You can find the complete schedule for the practical training under <a href=\"\/en\/ablauf\/\">This is how you get your driving licence<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ratgeber \u00b7 Sonderfahrten Wie viele \u00dcberland-, Autobahn- und Nachtfahrten sind vorgeschrieben, und was lernst du dabei? Zw\u00f6lf Fahrstunden deiner Ausbildung sind gesetzlich vorgeschrieben \u2013 und es sind ausgerechnet die, vor denen viele den gr\u00f6\u00dften Respekt haben: Landstra\u00dfe, Autobahn, Dunkelheit. Zeit f\u00fcr eine ehrliche Entzauberung: was in den Sonderfahrten wirklich passiert, warum sie die lehrreichsten Stunden [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":960,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-151","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fahrschule-fahrplan.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/151","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fahrschule-fahrplan.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fahrschule-fahrplan.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fahrschule-fahrplan.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=151"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.fahrschule-fahrplan.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/151\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":963,"href":"https:\/\/www.fahrschule-fahrplan.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/151\/revisions\/963"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fahrschule-fahrplan.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/960"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fahrschule-fahrplan.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=151"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fahrschule-fahrplan.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=151"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fahrschule-fahrplan.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=151"}],"curies":[{"name":"WP","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}