What Does a Forklift Licence Cost?

With external providers, a forklift licence costs between 150 and 600 euros per person – depending on the course format, provider and region. One-day courses for people with prior knowledge sit at the lower end of the range; multi-day standard courses for beginners are more likely to be 300–500 euros. In-house training for larger groups can work out cheaper depending on the number of participants.

Price research as at August 2026, external providers (Dekra, TÜV, BGW-certified bodies, regional training providers).

Course format	Typical price range	Target group
One-day course (1 day)	150–350 €	Experienced staff, refreshers
Standard course (2 days)	250–500 €	Beginners with no prior knowledge
Intensive course (2–3 days, incl. examination fee)	300–600 €	Beginners, higher service level
In-house training (group, flat rate from 6 persons)	600–1,800 €	Employers with several candidates
Stage 2 supplementary qualification	150–350 €	Stage 1 holders, special-truck use

All prices excluding VAT. Actual prices vary by region and provider.

Not every course price covers the same services. The following points should be checked before booking:

Usually included:

• Theoretical and practical training to DGUV Principle 308-001
• Examination (theory + practice) by recognised examiners
• Issue of the driving authorisation once the examination is passed
• Course material (learning documents, operating instructions)

Frequently not included – to be clarified separately:

• Retaking the examination after a fail (10–80 €)
• Laminated card/credit-card format (5–20 € surcharge)
• G25 fitness examination (80–150 €, at the company doctor)
• Travel and accommodation with providers operating across regions

Practical tip: low-cost offers often advertise a low entry price and then bill the examination fee and materials separately. Comparisons must always be made on the basis of the total price (including all additional costs).

Region and location. In metropolitan areas (Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt), courses tend to be more expensive than in rural areas. Transport and the rent for practice grounds feed into the course price.

Type of provider. National certification bodies (Dekra, TÜV Rheinland, BGW) cost their courses differently from regional training providers or chamber institutions. Manufacturer academies (Jungheinrich, Still, Linde) offer brand-specific courses that also cover machine-specific particularities.

Group size. The more participants, the lower the individual price – especially for in-house courses. For companies with several employees to be qualified, the group almost always pays off.

Prior knowledge. Anyone who can demonstrate previous experience with industrial trucks can in some cases be directed to the one-day course – with a correspondingly lower course fee.

Course date and availability. Short-notice bookings at peak times can be more expensive. Anyone who can book flexibly is more likely to find cheaper dates.

Costs borne by the employer. In most cases the employer covers the course costs where the qualification is necessary for the job. This also makes sense from a liability perspective: without demonstrated qualification, the employee may not operate the forklift.

Costs borne by private individuals. Anyone acquiring the forklift licence on their own initiative can draw on the following support:

• Education voucher (Bildungsgutschein) from the Federal Employment Agency: for jobseekers or persons at risk of unemployment, the Federal Employment Agency covers the course costs in full, provided the course is completed with a provider accredited under the AZAV.
• Educational leave (Bildungsurlaub): in most federal states, employees are entitled to paid educational leave (5 days per year), which can be used for recognised qualification measures.
• Tax deductibility: anyone who bears the course costs privately and uses the licence professionally can claim the expenditure as income-related expenses (employees) or business expenses (self-employed).

Retaking the examination. Anyone who does not pass the theory or practical examination at the first attempt pays again for the retake date – as a rule 30–80 euros. Some providers offer price reductions where the whole course was completed with them.

G25 examination. Many employers require the G25 fitness examination before course registration. Cost: 80–150 euros at the company doctor or occupational health service. These costs are not included in the course price.

Conversion course by truck type. Anyone who is deployed on a different truck type after basic training (for example switching from a counterbalance truck to a reach truck) has to complete a type-specific supplementary qualification (Stage 2) – cost: an additional 150–350 euros.

What does a forklift licence cost at Dekra?

Dekra courses for the driving authorisation for industrial trucks range from 270 to 550 euros per person depending on location and format (individual booking, 2-day standard course). One-day courses for experienced staff are cheaper. Current prices and dates can be found directly on the Dekra website.

Can I get the forklift licence in one day, and what does that cost?

Yes, one-day courses exist – but they are designed for people with demonstrable prior knowledge. Cost: 150–350 euros. Not every provider accepts participants without previous experience for one-day courses. If in doubt, clarify in advance whether a one-day course is an option for your own level of experience.

Does the employer cover the costs?

As a rule yes, where the qualification is necessary for the job being done or aimed for. Under DGUV Regulation 68, employers are obliged to deploy only qualified persons – covering the costs is therefore also an instrument for securing themselves against liability.

Is there funding from the Federal Employment Agency?

Yes. With an education voucher from the Federal Employment Agency, the full course costs can be covered – provided the provider is AZAV-certified and the measure is recognised in labour-market terms. The voucher is issued by the responsible employment adviser.

What does the forklift licence cost if I pay myself – that is, without an employer?

The course fees remain the same: 150–600 euros depending on format. Without employer funding it is worth looking at the education voucher from the Federal Employment Agency or at educational leave. Anyone who can use neither funding nor leave bears the costs themselves – and can claim them for tax purposes as income-related expenses.

Once you are qualified, Luibl Rental provides the right machine: forklifts, electric forklifts, reach trucks and telehandlers – available to rent at short notice, deliverable throughout Germany and throughout Europe.

→ Rent forklifts from Luibl Rental → How long does the training take?