Nick has his German license!

Nick had to miss school yesterday to take his German driving test. The system is different here; the kids do not drive even once with their family before the test. You have to pay a driving instructor $50 for each hour of driving practice. You even have to pay the driving school during the test because it is taken in the Fahrschule's car; in addition to the state examiner, the applicant's instructor from the driving school has to be in the car. In Nick's case, another girl was also slated to take her test, so first she drove 45 minutes (also on the autobahn) with the four of them in the car, passed, then Nick drove 45 minutes and passed. Whew.

Unbelievable how expensive it is in Germany to get a license. Nick got a "good deal" because he "just" had to transfer his CA license, but still it cost well over $1000! A small list of expenses:
1. Application (43€=$62)
2. Translation of the ten words on the US driver's license (36€=$52)
2. Eye test (10€=$14.50)
3. Red cross first aid course (15€=$22)
4. Driving lessons (14 hours) because he hadn't driven stick shift in the US (504 €=$731)

3. Theoretical exam (70€=$102)

5. Driving practical exam (210 €=$304)
A grand total of around 888€, or $1288

The ironic thing is that had he gotten his license in Kentucky, he wouldn't have needed to take the exam at all because Germany and Kentucky have some kind of agreement whereby they fully recognize each other's licenses.