The Hungary Driver’s Licence 2025 process has been one of the most detailed and complicated topics I researched while writing my ebook HOW TO HUNGARY: Budapest & Beyond. Driving in Hungary isn’t just about getting your Hungary Driver’s Licence 2025. It’s about understanding the entire system: insurance requirements, buying and registering vehicles, toll payments, parking permits, and more. And yes, mastering the Hungarian roundabout still remains its own rite of passage.
Of course, at the core of it all is the Hungary Driver’s Licence 2025 itself. Whether you’re brand new here, returning after years abroad, or simply curious about how Hungary handles it all these days, here’s the guide I pulled together after sifting through official sources, multiple driving schools, and no small amount of Hungarian fine print.
The Basic Requirements: Who Can Apply?
To apply for a Hungary Driver’s Licence 2025 (category B – standard car licence), you must:
- Be at least 17 years old to take the practical driving test (but you can begin courses from 16.5).
- Hold at least a primary school education certificate.
- Have a valid ID card and Hungarian residence card.
- Obtain a valid medical fitness certificate.
Once you’ve ticked those boxes, you can register at any Hungarian driving school. Hungary’s National Transport Authority maintains a list of certified driving schools. I also include my personal recommendations in my ebook.
The Full Licence Process (a.k.a. The Bureaucracy Olympics)
Here’s your Hungary Driver’s Licence 2025 roadmap:
- Register at your chosen driving school.
- Take the traffic law (KRESZ) course and first aid course.
- Pass your KRESZ theory exam and first aid exam.
- Complete at least 29 hours of practical driving lessons.
- Pass the practical driving test.
- Apply for your official plastic driver’s licence at any Hungarian Kormányablak.
Hungary Driver’s Licence 2025: What It Costs
| Item | 2025 Average Price |
|---|---|
| Traffic law course (KRESZ) | 40,000 HUF |
| KRESZ exam fee | 4,600 HUF |
| First aid course | 23,000 HUF |
| First aid exam (Hungarian Red Cross) | 19,900 HUF |
| Practical driving lessons (minimum 29 hours) | 300,000 HUF |
| Driving test fee | 11,000 HUF |
| Medical fitness certificate | 1,700 – 7,200 HUF |
| First plastic licence card | Free under 25; 6,900 HUF otherwise |
Expect to pay approximately 369,000 HUF total.
Hungarian Red Cross for first aid exam info: https://voroskereszt.hu/
Medical Fitness Certificate: The Age-Based Fee Twist
- Under 40: 7,200 HUF
- 40–60: 4,800 HUF
- 60–70: 2,500 HUF
- Over 70: 1,700 HUF
(Note: These are public clinic prices; private clinics often charge higher fees, sometimes significantly so depending on the provider.)
Renewal, Re-Tests, and Extra Fees
- Licence renewal (general): 4,000 HUF
- Licence renewal (from 62 years): 1,500 HUF
- Temporary licence: 2,300 HUF
- Secondary medical exam: 3,200 HUF to 10,800 HUF depending on age.
Is It Ever Free? Surprisingly, Yes.
Under Government Decree 55/2018 (III. 23.), some applicants may receive reimbursement for:
- The KRESZ theory exam fee
- The KRESZ course fee
The maximum reimbursement is 25,000 HUF.
Some drivers in Hungary must retake both theory and practical tests if their foreign licence isn’t eligible for exchange under the Vienna Convention rules. Not every country has a bilateral agreement – so prepare for a full retest if yours isn’t on the list.
What About Truck and Bus Licences?
Commercial licences (C and D categories) may be subsidised by employers, particularly in the transport sector.
Patience Is a Virtue (and a Requirement)
Approach the Hungary Driver’s Licence 2025 process like a national sport. Pace yourself, bring snacks, and double-check your documents before any office visit.
Thinking about moving to Hungary or already living here and need some help? My HOW TO HUNGARY ebook is your definitive guide to navigating Hungarian life with confidence – written by someone who’s actually done it. Because even if you’ve lived here a while, there’s always something new to learn!
Additionally, sign up for my FREE monthly newsletter – the HOW TO HUNGARY Insider.
Living in a new country is never simple – but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
Anikó Woods is a Canadian-Hungarian writer, technology specialist, and digital strategist who swapped Toronto traffic for Hungarian bureaucracy. She’s the creator of HOW TO HUNGARY: Budapest & Beyond. Since moving to Hungary in 2017, she’s been deep in the paperwork trenches—fact-checking, interviewing experts, and helping others make sense of the madness. Her writing turns chaos into clarity, with a few laughs (and wine recommendations) along the way.