Free driving licence in Hungary: here is whom it concerns – Important UPDATE

From September, driving licences will be free of charge for high school students in Hungary, with the necessary theory and practical lessons, including the exams.

Please read the crucial update below.

“From 1 September 2024, the state will provide licences free of charge for secondary school students,” Justice Minister Bence Tuzson wrote on Facebook. He added that this includes the theoretical and practical lessons and exams needed to obtain a driving licence

Earlier, the Ministry of Justice confirmed that the subsidy will be available from the school year starting in the autumn, but the details are still being worked out. More information will be announced soon.

Expensive driving licences

The government already supported the acquisition of licences for young people under the age of 20. HUF 25,000 (EUR 63) could be claimed back from the State Treasury for the course and exam fees, Economx writes.

According to data from the Central Statistical Office (KSH), by the end of 2022, it cost HUF 305,000 (EUR 770) to obtain a licence. However, in reality, the amount that students have to spend to obtain a category B driving licence exceeds HUF 500,000 (EUR 1261). A category B licence currently costs around that amount.

UPDATE: No free licence

Half a day after the announcement, Justice Minister Bence Tuzson, correcting himself, said that driving licences would not be free for secondary school students. In his latest Facebook post, Tuzson writes: “It’s good news that the state is piloting free practical training this year.”

Read also:

• Austrians are flocking to Hungary to get cheap driving lessons