Driving In Germany Tips & Info
More and more people organise road trips to Germany. With the ability to drive to Germany from the UK and other European destinations with ease becoming more known among the public conscience, Germany offers pristine roads, romantic road trips with stunning countryside in between its famous cities.
Whether you just want to test your vehicle’s top speed on its famous autobahns or you want to visit some of the best-preserved castles in Europe, our Driving In Germany guide will be helpful.
What Do I Need to Drive in Germany?
When you’re driving in Germany with a hire car or otherwise, you will need the following documents at all times:
- Your full driving licence
- Your V5C certificate to prove ownership of your car
- Your passport
- Proof of insurance
In addition, you will need to carry with you in the car:
- Warning triangle (compulsory in all vehicles with four wheels or more)
- Reflective safety jackets
- First aid kit
- Beam deflectors
- Snow chains in winter
Germany Road Info
Germany’s road network covers more than half a million kilometres of roads.
According to the German Federal Motor Transport Authority, the road system is divided into four main categories:
- Autobahn – highway
- Bundesstraßen – national roads
- Landesstraße – country road
- Kreisstraße – local roads
The Autobahn or the German highway system is one of the longest in the world. According to The German Federal Statistic Office, in 2015 the Autobahn covers 12,949 kilometres (7,982 mi).
Here is how the highway system is numbered:
- A 10 to A 19 are in eastern Germany (Berlin, Saxony-Anhalt, parts of Saxony and Brandenburg)
- A 20 to A 29 are in northern and north-eastern Germany
- A 30 to A 39 are in Lower Saxony (north-western Germany) and Thuringia
- A 40 to A 49 are in the Rhine-Ruhr to Frankfurt Rhine-Main
- A 50 to A 59 are in the Lower Rhine region to Cologne
- A 60 to A 69 are in Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and Hesse
- A 70 to A 79 are in Thuringia, northern Bavaria and parts of Saxony
- A 80 to A 89 are in Baden-Württemberg
- A 90 to A 99 are in (southern) Bavaria
Driving In Germany – What you need to know
- There are no tolls to pay on German Autobahns. However, there are two toll tunnels in Germany where you will have to pay to go through, namely Wamov and Herrentunnel
- Traffic offences are subject to on-the-spot fines
- Overtake to the left of the other vehicle
- Cars on a roundabout have right of way, except where signs indicate otherwise.
- You only need to indicate when leaving a roundabout.
- Give way to emergency services
- It is illegal to drive while wearing headphones
- Radar detectors are illegal
- Seatbelts must be worn at all times by both the driver and passengers. Failure to do so while driving in Germany will result in a fine
Seat Belt Requirements
In Germany wearing the front and rear seat belts are mandatory everywhere. Not complying with the regulations may lead to a 30 Euros fine.
Travelling With Children
First of all, you must know that the children under 3 must be transported only on the rear seats and use child restrain systems (ECE 44/03 norm).
The children under 12 or who measures less than 1.5m must be seated in a child seat.
Wacky Driving Rules
- It’s illegal to stop unnecessarily on the highway, so don’t run out of gas.
- Driving too slow on the Autobahn is illegal.
- Showing someone the middle finger while you’re driving on the autobahn might cost you up to 500 euros.
Speed Limits in Germany
Normally when driving on the autobahn there is no speed limit imposed. However, the latest German Road Traffic Regulations recommend not to drive faster than 130 km/h.
On the national roads the limit is 100 km/h and on the local roads the limit is 50 km/h.
See a breakdown of speed limits in Germany below:
- Motorways – 130 km/h (80 m/ph)
- Main roads – 100 km/h (60 m/ph)
- Urban areas – 50 km/h (30 m/ph)
Driving Side
Like in most of the European countries, in Germany too, you should drive on the right side of the road.
Alcohol Limit
Despite beer drinking being one of Germany’s favourite pastimes, the rules on drink driving are even stricter than in the UK. 0.05% maximum blood level, zero tolerance for drivers with less than two years experience or aged under 21.
Police can demand a breath test if they suspect you of being under the influence when they pull you over. There is also zero tolerance on drug use when driving.
Driving Licence Requirements
UK full driving licences are accepted in Germany and all licences written in Roman Alphabet.
Emergency Numbers
As in the rest of the EU also in Germany the main emergency number is 112 for Ambulance, Police and Fire Brigade. For police, you can also call 110.
Here are all the emergency numbers in Germany:
- Police: 110 or 112
- Fire Brigade: 112
- Ambulance: 112
- Non Emergency Medical: 116 117
- Toxic Substance Emergency: 192 40
- Road Assistance ADAC: (01802) 22 22 22
- Road Assistance ACE: (01802) 34 35 36
- Road Assistance AVD: (0691) 66060
Fuel Costs
Here are the fuel prices recorded in October 2022:
- Gasoline 95: € 2.01
- Diesel: € 2.14
- LPG: € 1.07
Parking Rules in Germany
Incorrect parking can lead to an on-the-spot fine which if unpaid can risk the confiscation of your vehicle.
In Germany a vehicle is considered parked if it is stationary for more than three minutes. You are not permitted to park in the following circumstances:
- Within 10m of traffic lights
- Closer than 5m to pedestrian crossings and intersections
- Closer than 15m to a bus stop or other public vehicle area
- By the kerbside facing oncoming traffic
- Blocking entry to buildings, or on the opposite side of the street from an entrance if this makes the road too narrow for vehicles to access
- At any place marked with a parking prohibited sign
- On a bike lane
- Next to a traffic island
Contiune Reading: Hiring a Car in Germany
Want to keep reading to find out more about driving in Germany? Check out these pages below.
- Road Trip Across The Romantic Road Germany
- Debit Card Car Hire Germany Q&A
- Top rated destinations in Germany
Driving in Germany FAQs
Like most of Europe, drivers in Germany drive on the right-hand side and overtake on the left.
Germany has some of the best-quality roads in Europe, if not the road. Even on the Autobahn, which in places has no restrictions on speed limits, is famously safe.
You will need a UK sticker on the rear of your car, as the GB stickers have been discontinued.
18 is the minimum age to legally drive in Germany.
Winter tyres with the Alpine snowflake symbol are a legal requirement at certain times of the year in Germany. Make sure you check this before your trip if you plan on driving in Germany in winter.
On certain sections of the Autobahn there are no speed limits (denoted by a circular white sign with five diagonal black lines). Some other areas have variable speed limits, so keep a look out for signs.