Below find information on:

Rules & Regulations

• Drive on the right in Germany
• The legal age for driving is 18 years
• It is compulsory for a driver to have driving licence, car registration and ownership (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I und II) and insurance documents in the car
• Third party insurance (Haftpflichtversicherung) is compulsory in Germany and is the minimum insurance requirement
• Valid German, EU, EEA and foreign driving licences represented by an international driving licence are accepted in Germany
• Motor vehicle tax (Kraftfahrzeugsteuer) is compulsory. It is payable for a year in advance at the request of the local tax office (Finanzamt)
• It is illegal to drive while wearing headphones (Kopfhörer)
• Mobile cellular telephones may only be used with a "handsfree" system. Using a handheld mobile phone while driving a motor vehicle or bicycle is punishable with a fine and (if applicable) points on the driving licence
• Devices to evade police vigilance (such as radar detectors) are illegal
• Children under three may not travel in the front of a car. Children under 12 or less than 1.5m tall may not travel in the front seat unless they are seated in a child safety seat
• Child seats may not be used in the front of a vehicle if the airbag is active
• Snow chains are recommended for travel in mountainous regions and are legally required if there are signs depicting a tyre with snow chains. A 50 Km/h speed limit applies to vehicles with snow chains attached
• Dipped headlights are compulsory when driving through tunnels. U-turns and stops may only be made in the event of an emergency or breakdown otherwise they are punishable by law
• Overtake to the left of the other vehicle in free flowing traffic. Overtaking on the right is only permissible in stationary traffic
• Yellow headlights are illegal and dipped headlights must be used at night. It is illegal to use full beam headlights in urban areas
• Any driver involved in an accident must stop, secure the scene of the accident and call the police Tel:110. If there are injuries first aid must be provided at the scene and an ambulance called Tel: 112
• A first aid kit must be carried in all cars (Pkw-Verbandkasten)
• It is illegal to cross the road at a pedestrian crossing when the light is on red and the police will act if they witness this
• Cars may not be washed in public places (such as at the roadside) unless there is a designated sign (Autowaschstraße or Waschplatz) and some Federal States even have restrictions on which days car washing is permitted. Most garages have car washes (Autowaschanlage), but the vehicle must not be occupied when the carwash is in operation

Further rules for motorbikes

• Motorcyclists may carry children as passengers. Children under seven should have a child seat with foot supports and seatbelt. Children must also wear protective clothing and helmet
• Motorcyclists must ride with helmets and dipped headlights on at all times

Recommendations

• It is recommended, but not compulsory, for dogs to be restrained when travelling by car. Insurance claims may be invalidated if an unrestrained dog is involved in an accident

Seatbelts

Seatbelts (Sicherheitsgurte) are compulsory in the front and back (if seatbelts are fitted) with a few exemptions:

• vehicles which cannot travel over 20 Km/h
• a vehicle being reversed
• vehicles making house-to-house deliveries
• exemption on the grounds of a certified medical condition
• taxi drivers with passengers on board may drive without a seatbelt. If no passengers are in the taxi, then the driver must wear a seatbelt

It is illegal to transport children under the age of three in a vehicle which has no fitted seatbelts. Children travelling in a motor vehicle must have a child restraint. If three children are travelling in the rear of a vehicle and there is not enough room for three child restraints, an exception will be made. Drivers failing to ensure that all passengers comply with seatbelt regulations may be fined and points added to their licence.

What to Carry in the Car

It is obligatory to carry certain items in a car at all times and failure to do so may result in a fine if the vehicle is stopped by the police. However, the rules can vary from one Federal State to another. Typically, the following must be carried:

• Documentation (vehicle registration, insurance, driving licence)
• A first aid kit (Pkw-Verbandkasten)
• A warning triangle (Warndreieck)
• A spare wheel, inflated and the tools necessary to change it
• Reflective waistcoats (reflektierende Unfallweste) are obligatory for company vehicles and are recommended, but not obligatory, for privately owned cars
• For an up-to-date list of recommended and compulsory requirements for drivers in Europe see the UK Automobile Association document (Word Doc)

Official Organisations & Government Bodies

For extensive official information on all driving related matters there are a number of sources.

The Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs (Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Bau und Stadtenwicklung, BMVBS) provides information on road traffic regulations in Germany as well as information on fines, driving licences and motor vehicle regulations.

• BMVBS
  At: Invalidenstrasse 44, 10115 Berlin
  Tel: 030 183 003 060 (Monday to Friday from 09:00-12:00)
  Fax: 030 183 001 942
  e-mail
  Website
• The Federal Motor Vehicle Authority (Kraftfahrt–Bundesamt, KBA)
  At: Fördestraße 16, 24944 Flensburg
  Tel: 046 131 60
  e-mail
  Website

The overseeing body for technical requirements and vehicle inspection is the Technische Überwachungs-Verein, TÜV). In the new Federal States (formerly East Germany) this is done by DEKRA, which is identical to the TÜV.

Car Tax (Kraftfahrzeugsteuer, Kfz-Steuer)

The calculation of car tax depends on the type of vehicle, engine size, emissions, and whether the car has a petrol or diesel engine. The motor vehicle tax must be paid for a year in advance at the local tax office (Finanzamt)

• For an overview of all the tax categories: Click here (in German)
• An official guide to car tax at the Federal Ministry for Finance (in German)

Types of Roads

• The motorway network is the Autobahn with blue road signs
• There are also express routes Kraftfahrstraßen
• The regional roads are Landesstrassen with yellow road signs

Motorways

• Motorway police are Autobahnpolizei
• German motorways are toll-free for cars. HGVs pay a per-Km fee which is collected electronically
• There is an advisory speed limit of 130 Km/h and 80 Km/h for HGVs, coaches, trucks and vehicles with trailers attached
• Certain buses and vehicles with trailers are permitted to travel at 100 Km/h on the Autobahn and will have an official sticker attached indicating this
• In roadwork sections the advisory speed limit is often lowered to 60 Km/h
• Vehicles with a top speed of less than 60 Km/h (e.g. mopeds) are banned on the Autobahn
• The advisory speed limit is also often reduced in hazardous weather conditions
• It is customary for motorists at the rear of a traffic jam to switch on their hazard warning lights to warn oncoming traffic
• In stationary traffic on the Autobahn cars in the left lane are required to move as far to the left as possible and cars in the centre or right lanes must move as far to the right in their lane as possible. This is to create a gap for emergency vehicles to pass through
• During peak times traffic jams (Staus) occur frequently on the Autobahn. Signs along the motorway indicate the name and frequency of the local regional radio station for current traffic reports (in German) called Verkehrsfunk, Verkehrsmeldungen or Verkehrsdienst
• Many sections of the Autobahn have electronic traffic monitoring and warning signs
• Emergency telephones are located every 1.5-3 Km along the hard shoulder and are marked by arrows on white posts in the direction of the next nearest call box
• In case of a breakdown or accident, pull over to the hard shoulder and place the warning triangle (Warndreick) 200m away to warn oncoming traffic. Call the breakdown services from the next nearest phone
• It is illegal to stop unnecessarily on the Autobahn and this includes running out of fuel which is deemed an avoidable occurrence by the motorway police (Autobahnpolizei)
• In exceptional circumstances traffic is sometimes permitted to use the hard shoulder to ease congestion and a blue sign with four arrows (one in the hard shoulder) will indicate this
• Motorway service areas (Rasthof or Raststätte) are usually every 40-60 Km and have filling stations, restaurants and accommodation facilities
• In addition to the service areas there are parking areas alongside the Autobahn with toilet facilities

Main Trunk Roads

• Dual carriageways have a speed limit of 100 Km/h for cars and 80 Km/h for cars with trailers and lorries/trucks weighing less than 7.5 ton
• For HGVs over 7.5 tons the speed limit is 60 Km/h

Rural and Secondary Roads

• Speed limits are 50 Km/h in built-up areas such as towns and villages. This is depicted by a sign with a yellow background, a black border and black writing bearing the name of the place. On leaving a town a similar sign, this time with the place name crossed out and the name and distance to the next town above, indicates that 100 Km/h applies once more
• Give way to rail traffic at railway crossings. Some crossings may not have a barrier
• Driving across a railway crossing once the warning lights start flashing is punishable by a fine and points on the licence
• Residential areas often have a 30 Km/h speed restriction (Tempo 30 Zone) which will be signposted
• There are also designated zones to protect children playing (Spielstrassen) which have a speed limit of 5-7 Km/h known as Schrittgeschwindigkeit (at a speed which barely registers on the speedometer)
• Mountain passes will be closed in extreme weather conditions

Priorities at crossroads

At unmarked crossroads priority is given to the vehicle approaching from the right. Failure to give way can is punishable by fines and licence points

• For a full explanation and illustration of traffic signs giving right-of-way: Click here

Parking in Germany

• Parking in a prohibited zone is punishable by a fine
• Persistent parking offenders will receive points on their licence
• Always park facing the same direction as the traffic on one-way streets
• Some streets are designated parking areas for residents only (Anwohnerparken or Anliegerfrei). Residents' permits must be applied for at the local town hall
• Parking for disabled persons (Behinderte) is usually signposted and requires an official permit
• Some areas require a parking disc (Parkscheibe), available from filling stations. The disc must be visible under the windscreen and show the time of arrival
• Some pay car parks (Parkschein) will provide a ticket or plastic coin on entry. This must be inserted into a pay machine (usually located near pedestrian exits to the car park) prior to leaving and payment made
• An illegally parked vehicle will be towed and a trip to the local police station will be necessary to recover it
• For a full explanation and illustration of German signs relating to parking: Click here

Drinking & Driving

Drinking and driving is banned in Germany. In line with most of Europe the legal blood alcohol limit is 0.5grams of alcohol per litre of blood. For bus and truck drivers the limit is 0.2g/l. For new drivers with less than two years' driving experience there is a zero alcohol limit. 

• Police have the power to carry out random alcohol testing on drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol
• Anyone who refuses a breathalyser test will be taken to a police station for a blood test or medical examination
• A driver's insurance becomes void if they cause an accident whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Drinking and driving rules also apply to cyclists

Vehicle Breakdown

Germany's national breakdown and recovery service is ADAC:

• Tel: 0180 222 2222
  Website

Further Information

• For a comprehensive guide (in English) to German road signs and regulations: Click here
• An English brochure on the German Highway Code can be obtained from the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs
• Tel: 01888 3000
  Fax: 01888 300 3428
  e-mail
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on the Green Card System
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Accidents in Germany
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Vehicle Insurance in Germany
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Vehicle Roadworthiness in Germany
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Buying & Selling a Car in Germany
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Registering a Foreign Vehicle in Germany
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Getting a German Driving Licence
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Exchanging a Foreign Driving Licence in Germany

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