October 20, 2026, 5:59 am | Read time: 3 minutes
The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution is set to gain access to data from the Central Driver’s License Register. A corresponding initiative from Brandenburg was approved by the Bundesrat on October 16 with a large majority. This will allow federal and state security agencies to determine, among other things, which vehicle classes observed individuals are permitted to drive.
Driver’s License Data to Close Information Gap
Until now, the protection agencies could query vehicle owner data to find out to whom a vehicle is registered. However, they have no access to information about the driver’s license of an observed person.
This gap is significant because owning a vehicle is not necessary to use one. Individuals can drive rental cars or use car-sharing services.
The targeted use of rental vehicles can have serious consequences, as demonstrated by the attacks in Nice in 2016, Magdeburg in 2024, and on the sidelines of the Berlin Pride Parade in July 2026. In all three cases, rented vehicles were deliberately driven into crowds. In Nice, 86 people lost their lives, in Magdeburg, six. During the Berlin attack, one woman died, and several others were seriously injured.
What Data the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution Should Receive
The additional information is intended to help the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution better assess the threat posed by specific suspected extremists. Based on this, the authorities could plan their measures more precisely, should the initiative be implemented.
Brandenburg’s Interior Minister Jan Redmann emphasizes the importance of this information. Regarding the security agencies, he says: “Their knowledge can mean the difference between life and death.” The necessary information is held by the Federal Motor Transport Authority in the Central Driver’s License Register, which includes names, birth dates, driver’s license classes, and possible restrictions.
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The entries also indicate whether a driver’s license is still valid and its expiration date. This could help authorities determine if an observed person is allowed to drive a car or a heavy truck.
Federal Government to Decide on Further Action
The Bundesrat’s decision does not automatically grant the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution access to the register. The decision is a resolution.
This does not obligate the federal government to present a corresponding bill. It can decide independently whether and when to address the Bundesrat’s demand.