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This page last updated July 5, 2024 |
Below is an overview of the important points of the German traffic code based on my interpretation of the current Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung (Road Traffic Ordinances), what I have read on other sites, as well as contributions by readers.
On this page:
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Probably the most important section for foreigners is the right-of-way discussion. |
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Licensing
The minimum age to drive in Germany in 18. If you are visiting Germany and will not be establishing residency, then your own driver's license from your home country, state, or province is valid in Germany for as long as you're there. If you will be establishing residency in Germany, your driver's license is valid for six months from the date when permanent residency is established, which in practice is generally assumed to be the date you enter the country. You will have to obtain a German driver's license in order to continue driving after that six month grace period expires. If your residency will be for longer than six months but less than one year (and you can legally prove it), you can obtain a six month extension to use your existing license.
If your license does not have those numbers, then you're supposed to carry an official translation of your license in addition to the license itself. This is where IDP comes in. You will need to purchase one in your home country before leaving for Germany. In the US, these are available from AAA for $20 plus two passport photos.
That said, I have found that if you speak German well enough, you can probably get by without an IDP and, should you get into a situation where you need to have your license translated, you can get one from the ADAC automobile club for about €40. If you're unsure or just want to be safe, my recommendation is to get an IDP before you go.
It's important to keep in mind that an IDP does not replace your official driver's license — it is just a translation of it in an internationally recognized format. You must carry your official license with your IDP in order for it to be valid.
If you are not affiliated with the US military and are going to be living in Germany longer than one year, you will need to get a German Driver's License (Führerschein) If you have a valid license in your home country and have not lived in Germany for more than three years, you may be able to convert your existing license. The process starts with a visit to the local traffic office (Straßenverkehrsamt). What happens next will depend on where you hail from. Germany has reciprocal agreements with many countries and US states allowing driver's licenses to be converted. If you're lucky, you may have to do nothing more than fill-out some paperwork (although after you finally finish all the required forms, you may wonder just how lucky you really are!) If not, you may still get off only having to take the written test. Otherwise, you'll have to go through the whole testing procedure, just like the Germans do. Note, though, that when a conversion is possible, only holders of non-commercial vehicle licenses can convert their existing license to a German license.
If your license was issued in one of the following US states, you can convert your license to a German license without any testing: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington (state), Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Puerto Rico.
Licenses from these US states require the applicant to take just the written test: Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oregon, and Tennessee.
For a complete and current list of all US states, Canadian provinces, and other countries with reciprocal license agreements, see the sites listed in the links section at the bottom of this page.
Conversion of licenses from all other US states will require you to take both the written and practical (road) tests. In all cases, you will have to take a vision test, which is usually administered by a commercial eye doctor (at your own expense, of course.) You may also be required to take a first-aid class.
If you can convert your license without testing, simply complete the required paperwork and submit it. If you have to take the written tests, it will be given at the traffic office. The test consists of sections covering laws, signs, vocabulary, theory, and energy conservation. To prepare for the test, you can study this site and/or take a course at a German driving school (Fahrschule). Be wary, though — you just want the short laws and signs class, not the full driving course. The latter course currently costs around €1,500 and consists of 25-45 hours of instruction, including 12 hours of theory, and oodles of practical experience including night and Autobahn driving. Make sure you ask for the special class for new residents. If a school tells you they don't offer it, find one that does.
If you have to take the practical on-the-road test, it will be conducted by a driving school (not at the traffic office as is often the case in the US) and will last about an hour. It will most likely include a short trip on the Autobahn. If you need practice, most driving schools offer short courses to prepare for the practical test as well. Once you pass these tests, you will take the paperwork to the traffic office where you will be awarded a German driver's license valid for the rest of your life!
General laws and enforcement
The basic premise of German traffic law is the "doctrine of confidence", which in effect says that motorists must be alert, know nad obey the law, and drive defensively at all times so that all motorists and other road users (including pedestrians) can have confidence in each other. Motorists must be especially alert for and anticipate the actions of elderly or disabled pedestrians or children, all of whom are exempt from the doctrine of confidence. All road users must act to prevent endangering, hindering, and unreasonably inconveniencing other road users.
Traffic in Germany and all of continental Europe drives on the right side of the road (not on the left, as many Americans think.)
Always lock your vehicle and take the keys whenever you leave it. You should leave your doors unlocked while driving to facilitate rescue in an accident.
It is illegal to drive with your parking lights only; you must use your headlights at night and during inclement weather.
Motorcyclists and moped riders must ride with helmets and headlights on at all times.
Vehicles must carry a warning triangle (Warndreieck), safety vest (Warnweste), and a super-duper highway first aid kit (Pkw-Verbandkasten) in which I defy you to find a simple band-aid. Germany does not require a fire extinguisher (Feuerlöscher) to be carried, but it's not a bad idea to have one anyway.
In the event your vehicle becomes disabled due to a breakdown or crash, you are required to turn on your hazard flashers (Warnblinklicht) and place your warning triangle 100 meters behind your vehicle (200 meters on the Autobahn), although I rarely see anyone actually put it that far back.
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Citations for violations caught by enforcement cameras are mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle within a few weeks. If you're driving a rental car, the ticket will go to the rental agency. They, in turn, will report you to the police as the driver of the vehicle (and likely charge you a non-trivial administrative fee to do it) and the ticket will be forwarded to you, although authorities sometimes drop cases against non-EU residents. An interesting footnote about automated enforcement: the police stopped sending a copy of the photo a while back when several spouses discovered cases of infidelity when they opened the violation notice. Now, you have to go to the police station yourself to see the photo and contest it if you so desire. Such an effort is usually fruitless, though.
Some enforcement
is still done the old-fashioned way with police using both marked and
unmarked vehicles looking for violations. If you get busted, the police
vehicle will typically pass you and then you'll be signaled to
pull over by a "lollypop" traffic paddle (Anhaltekelle,
see picture to the left) being held out of the window of the police
vehicle and/or by a flashing sign on the back of the vehicle reading "Polizei —
bitte folgen" ("police — please follow".) If this happens, reduce speed and follow
the police vehicle — they'll lead you to a safe place to stop. Then
turn off the engine and wait for further instructions from the
officers. These vehicles typically have on-board cameras recording constantly and the video is used as evidence
if the violation is disputed or if you evade them.
In some cases, instead of being stopped using a vehicle, a police officer on the side of the road will motion for you to pull over. In these cases, a hidden police unit further back observed a violation and radioed your vehicle's description, or it may be a random traffic stop or checkpoint (Verkehrskontrolle) for general safety checks, sobriety checks, or for drug or other criminal activity searches.
German police officers are very professional and typically courteous, so if you are stopped for any reason, remain calm and cooperative and you should be fine. Most police officers speak English, so let them know right way if you do not speak German. Be sure you know where the vehicle registration and insurance card are, especially if you have a rental car (the rental agreement satisfies these requirements.) Also know where the warning triangle, safety vest, and first aid kit are — police often ask to check these during traffic stops. If you are stationed in Germany with the US military, you can ask the officer to contact the nearest US garrison military police if you feel that's necessary.
If you are unable or unwilling to pay (you have the legal right to do so if you wish to contest it), the police can demand collateral to ensure you will appear in court. Often, this can mean the vehicle or some valuable object in your possession is impounded. In most cases, however, if you live in Germany, you'll probably just be issued a citation to appear in court later, and if you're a foreigner, you may be let off with just a verbal or written warning.
Note that if you refuse to pay the spot fine and go to court, you may be assessed a higher fine (Bußgeld) there, and some fines are based on your income.
You need not fear when paying spot fines — the German police are very professional and corruption is very rare, and you will always be given a receipt for the payment.
Some traffic violations are considered to be felonies and may be punishable by imprisonment if lives or property are endangered. These include driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, leaving the scene of an accident, illegal passing, U-turns and wrong-way driving or backing-up on the Autobahn, running a red light, failure to yield the right-of-way, and reckless driving including excessive speeding.
Germany operates a point system for driving offenses. Most minor violations accrue one to four points, with more serious violations earning five or more points. Points for minor offenses are expunged after three years; other offenses will remain on the record for five to 10 years depending on the offense. Motorists who exceed four points on their record at any given time can attend a driving safety class to eliminate four points from their record (two points if the total is greater than nine.) Those who accumulate 14 points are required to attend the safety class. They may then voluntarily obtain counseling from a traffic psychologist (yep, there is such a thing) to eliminate two points from their record. Anyone who accumulates 18 or more points will have their license suspended indefinitely. The agency that records traffic points is in the city of Flensburg, so references about the traffic point system often use that name. The US military also has a point system that varies somewhat from the German system.
Right-of-way
Germany uses a hierarchical system to assign right-of-way (Vorfahrt, Vorrang) at intersections as follows:
- Police officer: A police officer directing traffic overrides all other traffic controls. Officers sometimes use obvious motions such as waving and pointing to direct traffic. However, if an officer is not motioning, then the position of the officer indicates if you must stop or can proceed:
- An officer standing with both shoulders facing you (sometimes with arms outstretched) means you must stop and wait. This applies to traffic both in front of and behind the officer. In German, they say, "Siest du Brust oder Rücken, musst du auf die Bremse drücken.", which translates as "If you see the chest or back, you must step on the brake." (Yeah, it sounds better in German.)
- An officer standing with just one shoulder facing you (again, possibly with arms outstretched) means you may proceed straight ahead or turn right. ("Siehst du die Hosennaht, hast du freie Fahrt", or "If you see the pants seam, you have free travel.") If you want to turn left, wait until the officer directly motions for you to turn; this may be done by the officer pointing one hand toward you and his other hand or wand to your left, oftentimes while making eye contact.
- If the officer has one arm in the air, he or she is preparing to change the traffic flow (equivalent to a yellow light.) All approaching traffic must stop, and those in the intersection must vacate it.
Officers directing traffic may use a black and white striped wand or a traffic paddle ("lollypop", see photo above.)
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Police officer signaling "stop"
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Police officer signaling all traffic to stop, be ready for change of control
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Police officer signaling "go"
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- Traffic signals: Traffic signals are the
next highest right-of-way control. Traffic signals are discussed in detail on the Signs, Signals, and Markings page. Remember that you cannot turn right on red in Germany unless
there is a green arrow sign
next
to the signal, in which case you must come to a
complete stop first and yield to all other traffic
including pedestrians before turning.
-
Signs: Signs are the most common right-of-way control. Germany and Europe use
a system of "priority roads" (Vorfahrtstraße) to assign
right-of-way. Priority roads are marked with the "priority road" sign
. Traffic on a
priority road has the right-of-way ("priority") over other traffic at all intersections along
the way. Intersecting streets will have a yield or stop
sign. The "yield" sign
indicates that you must give the right-of-way, but you don't have to stop if the way is
clear. The "stop" sign 
indicates that you must first come to a complete stop, then proceed when the way is
clear. (Note to Americans: You will find far fewer stop signs in Germany than in the US. Yield signs or no signs at all are the right-of-way control of choice in Germany.)
Often, priority roads make turns at intersections in towns. These turns are indicated by an accompanying schematic sign
on all approaches to the intersection showing the priority road with a thick line. On the schematic,
you are always approaching from the bottom. Traffic leaving the priority road
must yield to other traffic continuing along the priority road but still has the
right-of-way over traffic on the other streets. By the way, if
you are following a priority road that turns, you still must use your
turn signal.Priority roads are cancelled by the "end of priority road" sign
or by a yield or stop sign. On roads that are not priority roads, right-of-way may
be granted at individual intersections by the "priority" sign
.
This sign indicates that you have the right-of-way only at the next intersection. It should not be
confused with the "uncontrolled intersection" sign 
which
indicates that right-of-way must be given to the traffic approaching
from the right at the next intersection.Be aware that right-of-way signs are also usually posted at signalized intersections; however, the signal takes precedence over the signs unless the signal is not operating, in which case the signs then govern.
Also, note that the "end of traffic calming zone" sign
and "end of pedestrian zone" sign 
also require drivers to yield to all other traffic including pedestrians. - Default right-of-way scheme: If there is no police officer, no signal, or no sign indicating the right-of-way, then the following default scheme is used:
- Public road has priority: Traffic on public highways has priority over private drives, forest and farm paths, and dirt roads. Also, sunken curbstones ("curb cut") across your roadway indicate that you must yield.
- "Right before left":
When two public roads cross at an
uncontrolled intersection, then right-of-way is always given to traffic
approaching from the right ("rechts vor links".) This
includes "T" intersections! In the US, traffic on the through
street of a "T" has the right-of-way, but in Germany, you must yield to the right, even
if you are on the through road. This also includes the rare
situation where a main thoroughfare and small side street cross at an
uncontrolled intersection. Uncontrolled intersections are sometimes marked
with the "uncontrolled intersection" sign ,
especially if the intersection and/or right-of-way situation is
unexpected.
- Zipper rule: When traffic is congested, the normal right-of-way rules go out the window and the "zipper rule" (Reißverschlussverfahren) goes into effect. This means that cars feed one at a time alternating from each direction, regardless of who has the posted right-of-way. The zipper rule also applies when one lane ends and merges into another — each vehicle in the through lane must allow one vehicle from the truncated lane to merge in.
- In situations of otherwise equal right-of-way, vehicles going straight have priority, followed by right turns; left turns go last.
- Traffic entering a roundabout technically has the right-of-way unless the
entrance is marked with both a "yield" sign and
"roundabout" sign
(which it almost always is.)
(Footnote: you must use your turn signal when you exit a roundabout, but not as you approach or
enter it as in some other countries.) - Emergency vehicles with a flashing blue light and siren sounding always have the right-of-way at intersections. Outside of intersections, you must pull-over to the right-hand side of the road when one approaches.
- Pedestrians always have the right-of-way in a crosswalk.
The "pedestrian crossing" sign
marks a zebra crossing where you are required to reduce speed and
yield to pedestrians in or approaching the crosswalk.
You may not stop or park on or within 5 meters of the crosswalk
and may not overtake another vehicle. - You should yield to streetcars at intersections. Do not pass a stopped streetcar if it is discharging passengers directly onto the street. You may continue on after the doors have closed.
- Yield to buses leaving a marked bus stop.
- On narrow road sections, the "priority over oncoming traffic" sign
gives
you the right-of-way over oncoming
traffic, and the "yield to oncoming traffic" sign 
means you must yield to oncoming traffic. - On narrow mountainous roads, traffic going uphill has the right-of-way if not otherwise marked.
- On roads where passing is difficult or not allowed, slower traffic is required to pull over when possible to allow faster traffic to go by (waysides or pull-outs are sometimes provided for this purpose.)
- Do not enter an intersection if traffic is backed-up on the other side of the junction, even if you have a green light.
- Vehicles entering an Autobahn or expressway must yield to other traffic already on the main roadway.
- When required to yield, drivers must make it clear to other motorists that they are preparing to yield, e.g. reduce your speed sufficiently before the intersection, and only proceed when traffic with the right-of-way is not endangered or hindered.
- If you are required to yield and the view of the intersecting roadway is obstructed, you may carefully edge forward into the intersection until you have a clear view.
- Drivers must never assert their right-of-way — safety takes precedence in all situations.
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Speed limits
The speed limit sign is a number inside a red ring 
. Speed
limits are shown in kilometers per hour.
There is a set of general or "default" statutory speed limits (Geschwindigkeitbeschränkung, Geschwindigkeitbegrenzung, Tempolimit) that apply in the absence of signs:
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Posted speed limits, of course, supersede the statutory limits.
In some cases, buses, trucks, and vehicles towing a trailer may be exempt from the general limit
for their vehicle class. In this case, they will have a decal resembling a speed limit sign
displayed on the back of their vehicle indicating the speed they are authorized to travel.
Beware of "speed limit zone" sign 
.
These indicate the speed limit for an entire neighborhood, and the speed limit on
the sign remains in effect on all streets beyond this sign until you pass
an "end of speed limit zone" sign 
.
Here are a few other points about speed limit signs to be aware of:
-
Although the "end of speed limit" signs
will only show the last posted speed limit, it actually
cancels all previous posted limits and indicates a return to the
statutory speed limit for the road you are on. For example, you're
traveling down a rural road at the statutory speed
limit of 100 km/h when
you come to a "speed limit 80" sign , so you
slow down to 80. A hundred meters or so further, you come to a
"speed limit
60" sign 
, so you
slow down to 60. After a while, you
pass an "end speed limit 60" sign . What
speed do you return to? The answer is the statutory speed
limit of 100 km/h. The "end
speed limit 60" sign
cancels all previous posted speed limits, not just the 60 km/h limit. -
Whenever a speed limit sign is mounted beneath a warning sign, the speed limit applies until you pass the hazard indicated on the warning sign. For instance, if you you come to a "traffic signals ahead" sign
with
a "speed limit 60" sign below it, the 60 km/h speed limit is in effect only until you pass the traffic signals, after which
you can then return to the statutory speed limit if no other speed limit
signs are posted. -
The "end of all restrictions" sign
indicates the end of all previous posted speed limits and the end of any no passing
zones. However, remember that the statutory speed
limit for that roadway still applies.
-
When fog reduces visibility to less than 50 meters, the maximum speed you may drive is 50 km/h.
-
When a public transit bus or marked school bus is stopped at a bus stop with its hazard lights flashing, traffic in both directions may only pass at a speed of 7 km/h or less (i.e. "walking pace".)
-
Whenever a child, elderly, or handicapped person is near the road, drivers are required to remove their foot from the accelerator and be prepared to stop. German courts have upheld that the driver is ultimately responsible for preventing accidents in these situations no matter the actions of the pedestrian.
Passing/overtaking
Passing or overtaking is prohibited in the following situations:
- When there is a solid white line on your side of the center of the road and/or a "no passing" sign
- At or approaching pedestrian crosswalks
- At or on the approach to a railway crossing (i.e. between the initial warning sign and the crossing)
Do not overtake a public transit bus or marked school bus that is approaching a marked stop with its hazard lights flashing. You may slowly and carefully continue pass the bus once it has stopped.
When passing another vehicle:
- You may not exceed the speed limit.
- You must use turn signals before pulling out to the left and again when returning to the right lane.
- You must return to the right lane as soon as safely possible without endangering or impeding the vehicle you are overtaking.
Drivers being overtaken must allow plenty of space for the passing vehicle to complete their maneuver and must slow down to accomplish this if necessary. It is illegal (and stupid, frankly) to speed-up to prevent being passed.
Passing on the right is prohibited except on multilane roads (including the Autobahn) when traffic in the left lane is stopped or is moving at less than 60 km/h. In those cases, traffic in the right lane may not exceed 80 km/h. Passing on the right is also allowed on roads controlled by traffic signals, although in practice traffic is typically traveling at less than 60 km/h in those cases anyway.
On roads where passing is difficult or not allowed, slower traffic is required to pull over when possible to allow faster traffic to go by (waysides or pull-outs are sometimes provided for this purpose.)
When passing cyclists, e-scooters, or pedestrians, drivers must maintain a buffer of 1.5 meters in built-up areas and 2 meters outside built-up areas.
Drinking and driving
The penalties for driving under the influence in Germany are harsh. Severe penalties are assessed to first time offenders, usually including the suspension of your license. The blood-alcohol limit for most drivers is 0.05%. For drivers who commit a moving violation or are involved in a crash, the limit drops to 0.03%. For drivers under 21 and drivers with less than two years experience, the limit is 0.00%. The limit for bicyclists is 0.16%. If you are involved in a crash, the courts may determine whether alcohol was a factor even if your blood alcohol content is below the limit.
With the high alcohol content of German adult beverages, it doesn't take long to hit the limit. The best advice is this: if you drink AT ALL, don't drive! Don't forget that driving under the influence of drugs (prescription or recreational) is also illegal.
Parking regulations
In Germany, you are considered "parked" if you leave your vehicle or if you stop/stand for longer than 3 minutes unless you are actively boarding or discharging passengers or loading or unloading cargo.
You may not park:
- Within 5 meters on either side of an intersection, or within 8 meters of an intersection if there is a marked bicycle lane
- In front of driveway entrances or exits, or on the opposite side of the street if the roadway is too narrow to allow vehicles to enter or exit the driveway
- If parking will obstruct the use of marked parking places
- Within 15 meters on either side of a bus or streetcar stop marked with a "bus or
streetcar stop" sign
- Within 50 meters on either side of a "railway crossing" sign
when
outside of urban areas or within 5 meters when inside an urban area - On a priority road outside of urban areas
- In front of a curb-cut or wheelchair ramp
- Adjacent to a traffic island or median
- On the street side of another parked vehicle ("double parked")
- On a marked bicycle lane
- Anywhere there is an "X" or "N" pavement marking
- Anywhere there is a "no parking" sign
on the same side of the street
You may not stop or stand (which includes parking):
- On narrow roads or in blind spots
- Near sharp curves
- On or within 5 meters approaching a pedestrian crosswalk
- On railway crossings or tracks
- Within 10 meters in front of "yield"
, "stop"
, or
"railway crossing"
signs, or traffic signals, if parking would obstruct the view of the sign or signal
- In or adjacent to turn lanes (those marked with arrows on the pavement)
- In front of and approaching a fire station driveway
- Within a traffic circle or roundabout
- At a taxi stand marked with a "taxi stand" sign
- On the Autobahn
- Anywhere there are "zig-zig" pavement markings
- Anywhere there is a "no stopping" sign
on the same side of the street
Except where prohibited (see above), on-street parking is generally
permitted. When you park, there must be a gap of a least 3 meters
between your vehicle and the middle of the street or the nearest lane
line. In many places, you may park partially or entirely on the sidewalk to
fulfill this requirement, but look for signs permitting this 
(or
other vehicles doing so) before you do it. If you do, make sure
there is sufficient room for pedestrians on the sidewalk. Vehicles
over 2.8t may not park on the sidewalk.
You must park on the right side of the street unless:
- You are on a one-way street and parking on the left would leave sufficient room for vehicles to pass.
- There are rails along the right side.
You may not park, stop, or stand in a traffic lane if there is a shoulder or parking lane unless, of course, you are stopping to comply with a traffic sign or signal or due to congestion.
When parking on a street at night, you must use your parking lights unless you are parked
near an all-night streetlight. Streetlights that do not
remain on for the entire night are marked by a white and red band
around the lamppost.
The "parking area" sign
indicates where parking is permitted on
streets or gives directions to an off-street parking
facility. When used to mark on-street parking, it is usually
accompanied by additional signs indicating when parking is permitted, who is permitted
to park, or that the use of a parking permit, voucher, or disc is
required. For more information on finding parking in cities
and using parking facilities, see the Driving and Parking in German Cities
page.
indicates the entrance to an area or neighborhood where there is a general parking
restriction. All streets beyond this sign are included in this
restriction until you pass an "end of parking restriction zone" sign 
.
The "parking management zone" sign
indicates the entrance to an area or neighborhood
where parking is permitted on all streets in the area with the use of a
parking disc or voucher as indicated by a supplemental sign. The
requirements apply to all streets beyond this sign until you pass an "end of parking
management zone" sign
.
Urban traffic regulations
The "entering urban area" sign
marks the entrance to a built-up area. Upon passing this sign, several special
traffic regulations go into effect:
- Speed limit: 50 km/h
- You may not honk your horn except when necessary to avoid a collision.
- Parking is prohibited within 5 meters of a railroad crossing.
- You must ensure that your vehicle can be seen when parked at night. This
may require the use of parking lights if street lighting is inadequate
or does not remain on all night. Such lights are marked by a red and white band
The "leaving urban area" sign
indicates that you are leaving a built-up area and its associated traffic
regulations. The following general regulations apply:
- Speed limit: 100 km/h
- Parking is prohibited on priority roads.
- Parking is prohibited within 50 meters of a railroad crossing.
- Disabled vehicles must be marked with a warning triangle.
Traffic calming zones
Traffic calming zones (Verkehrsberuhigtezone)
are usually implemented on small residential streets. The start of a traffic calming zone is
marked by the "traffic calming zone" sign
and the "end of traffic calming zone" sign
marks the exit from such a zone. Within traffic calming zones, the following rules apply:
- Traffic must maintain the lowest possible speed — no more than 7 km/h.
- Pedestrians may use the entire street, and children are permitted to play in the street.
- Motorists may not endanger or hinder pedestrians; when necessary, motorists must wait.
- Pedestrians may not unnecessarily hinder traffic.
- Parking is not permitted outside of marked spaces except for boarding/discharging and loading/unloading.
- When leaving the zone, you must yield to all other traffic.
Bicycle lanes, streets, and zones
Bicycle lanes (Fahrradspur) are present on many urban streets. They can be marked with either a solid line or broken line. When marked with a solid line, motor vehicles may not drive or park in the lane, and may only turn across the lane to access driveways or parking spaces and must yield to bicycles in the lane when doing so. When a broken line is used, motorists may drive in the bike lane when necessary to pass oncoming traffic, and may park in the lane briefly to make deliveries.
Bicycle streets (Fahrradstraße) and zones (Fahrradzone) are the latest trend in traffic calming in Germany.
The entrance or beginning of a bicycle street is
marked by the "bicycle street" sign
and the exit or end is marked by the "end bicycle street" sign
.
These are typically smaller residential streets that provide
connectivity between major roadways for cyclists. In many cases,
supplemental signs indicate that motor vehicles are also allowed on
these streets, although frequently only in one direction (whereas
bicycles can travel in both directions.)
The following rules apply on bicycle streets:
- Only bicycles are permitted unless other vehicles are allowed by a supplemental sign. Small electric vehicles, such as e-scooters, are also allowed.
- The maximum speed limit for all vehicles is 30 km/h.
- Unless indicated otherwise, pedestrians, roller skaters, and small children on bicycles must use the sidewalk except when crossing the street.
- Motorists may not endanger or hinder bicyclists; when necessary, motorists must reduce speed.
- Bicyclists may ride 2 or more abreast.
- Regular right-of-way rules apply.
.
The same rules as a bicycle street apply on all streets beyond this sign
until the "end of bicycle zone" sign
is reached.
Autobahn traffic regulations
Special rules apply when driving on the Autobahn. These are listed on the Autobahn page.
Additional prohibitions
- Mobile phones: Use of mobile phones is prohibited while your vehicle is in operation. The only time you are permitted to use a mobile phone is if you are parked and the engine is off. You may use a hands-free mobile phone when driving if it does not impede your ability to hear traffic sounds.
- Sunday truck ban: Vehicles with a gross permitted weight of 7.5 tons or more (with several exceptions) are prohibited from all public roads on Sundays and public holidays from midnight to 10:00 pm. This is to help prevent traffic jams.
- Low emissions zones: Since 2008, local governments
have been permitted to establish so-called
"environmental zones" (Umweltzone.) Entry to these zones, marked with
"low emissions restriction zone" signs
,
is restricted to vehicles displaying a green colored emissions sticker. Since
2018, some cities also have begin restricting older diesel vehicles from
certain roads, districts, or citywide. Further information on these zones is on the
Driving and Parking in German Cities page. - Nuisances: Motorists are prohibited from unnecessarily revving their motors or slamming their car doors excessively. It is also illegal to drive back and forth unnecessarily (i.e. "cruising") in towns.
Accidents
If the unfortunate should happen and you should be involved in a collision, the steps to take are basically similar to those in the US and most other places. Here's a list of what you should do:
- Stop immediately. This also applies if you are not directly involved in the accident but are a witness. Germany's Good Samaritan law also requires you to stop and render aid if people need help, even if you are not a party to or did not witness the accident.
- Secure the accident site by switching on your hazard flashers (Warnblinklicht). Put your safety vest (Warnweste) on and place a warning triangle 100 meters behind the scene (200 meters on the Autobahn.) (A good rule of thumb is that the black and white roadside markers are generally about 50 meters apart.)
- If anyone is injured, call for an ambulance and the police. From a cell phone or public phone, dial 112. On the Autobahn and some major highways, you can use the nearest emergency telephone — the direction to the nearest one is marked by arrows atop the black and white posts along the roadside. You are required by the German "Good Samaritan Law" to give first aid to any injured persons. Remember that super-duper first aid kit you're supposed to carry? This is the time to use it. Do not move anybody that is injured unless it is absolutely necessary. If there is a fire or spilled fuel, get everyone involved away from the vehicles and call the fire department.
- If nobody is injured, and the vehicles can be moved safely, you should mark the location of each vehicle, then move them out of traffic. You can mark the locations either by taking photographs, drawing a diagram of the site and vehicles, or using "traffic accident chalk" (Verkehrsunfallmarkierungskreide) to mark the physical locations of the vehicles on the pavement before you move them; many German automotive emergency kits include a stick of this chalk (it looks like a big yellow or white crayon.)
- Exchange information with the other drivers including your driver's license, passport, insurance green card, and rental information. As a foreigner, it is in your best interest to then call the police to the scene (if you haven't already) and have them take a report (dial 110 or use an emergency phone.) This ensures that all the proper legal requirements are satisfied and helps protect you from future problems.
- The police may ask you or your passengers to make a statement regarding the circumstances of the accident. You are not required to make a statement, but you still must provide valid identification and other legal documents (e.g. car registration, insurance, etc.) and must sign the accident report.
- Do not sign any documents unless you know what you are signing. Never sign documents from people (other than uniformed police) who mysteriously appear at an accident scene — there have been reports of "helpful bystanders" (Unfallhelfer) who attempt to get those involved in an accident to sign powers of attorney, loan applications, car rental agreements, and other dubious documents in the confusion.
- If you damage an unoccupied vehicle, German law requires you to wait at the scene for at least 30 minutes for the owner to return. If the owner does not return, you must then report the accident to the police in person. As a foreigner, it is probably best to call the police to the scene rather than go to a police station. You might even want to do this immediately instead of waiting for the owner to return.
- Once the police have cleared you, you can leave the scene. If you are driving a rental car, you should contact the rental agency immediately to report the incident. They will give you instructions on what to do next and will dispatch a tow truck if necessary. If your accident happens on the Autobahn, your vehicle may be towed off the Autobahn immediately by the police.
- If you need further legal assistance or advice after an accident, you should contact the nearest consulate or embassy. If you are a member of the national auto club in your home country (e.g. AAA in the US), the German ADAC auto club may also be able to assist you as they have reciprocal agreements with most national auto clubs.
Other sites of interest
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Official Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/ |
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Traffic violation penalty catalog https://www.bussgeldkatalog.org/ |
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List of US states and Canadian provinces with reciprocal license agreements https://www.fahrtipps.de/ https://de.usembassy.gov/ |
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List of other countries with reciprocal license agreements https://www.fahrtipps.de/ |
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US military driver's handbook for Germany https://media.defense.gov/2010/ |