If you’re driving to Germany for work or looking to explore German culture on holiday, there are a number of rules you will need to follow. Our guide is designed to take the stress out of your trip by providing you with everything you need to know.
What driving licence do I need to drive in Germany?
Thankfully if you hold a full UK driving licence you do not need to apply for another type before visiting Germany if you’re aged 18 and over.
International driving permits are recognised in Germany, but are not a legal requirement.
Documents needed to drive in Germany
Besides your full UK driving licence, there are a number of other documents that you will need to take with you. This includes:
- Proof of ID such as a passport
- V5 registration document
- Car insurance certificate
- Emissions sticker
These will need to be carried with you when you drive, just in case you are pulled over by German police.
Your vehicle is allowed to be temporarily imported into Germany for up to six months from the UK without formality.
What do I need to drive in Germany?
Besides the legal documents you need to take whilst driving in Germany, there are other items you should be aware of when crossing the channel to our European neighbours, including mandatory ones.
If you’re driving through France to get to Germany, take a look at our guidance for driving in France.
Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)
Motorists driving in Germany will need to pack a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which replaces the old European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
GHIC offers similar protection for travellers as that afforded by EHIC when a UK resident is in the EU on a temporary stay, for business or pleasure. The GHIC does not cover you in Liechtenstein or Switzerland, just in case you’re thinking of driving further into the continent.
GHICs can be obtained through the NHS website and are free of charge. Travellers are advised to apply at least two weeks before their trip.
It must be noted this shouldn’t be seen as a replacement for regular travel insurance, which you should take out for protection in case of emergency illness or injury.
Car insurance
If you’re driving in Germany it’s always best to ensure your car insurance covers you whilst you are abroad, as you may not have overseas cover.
We offer free European cover with our car insurance policies for up to 30, 60 or 90 days depending on your needs.
European breakdown cover
Our European breakdown cover is available from £42 a year and provides you with 60 days’ breakdown cover while driving in Germany, in any one calendar year. Sterling can arrange roadside recovery or a reliable home repair service, whether your car or van breaks down in the UK, Europe or further afield.
Check your satnav
It’s illegal in Germany and several other EU countries to use satnavs or other electronic equipment that alerts you of speed enforcement cameras. If yours provides such alerts, it’s recommended you switch them off before you enter Europe.
Reflective jackets
You could be fined for walking on a road or on a hard shoulder if you are not wearing a reflective jacket should you breakdown. You should therefore consider taking reflective jackets for yourself and any passengers along with you when you travel in Germany.
Warning triangle
A warning triangle is compulsory for every vehicle with four wheels or more.
Headlamp beam deflectors
Deflector stickers are needed to prevent dazzling oncoming drivers. You can buy deflector stickers from most car shops and, more expensively, at ferry ports and the Eurostar terminal. You may also be able to adjust the beam manually.
Bulbs, basic tools and other spares
It’s also advised that you bring replacement bulbs, belts, wiper blades, oil, water and other lubricants, along with the tools to fit replacement parts or top-up lubricant levels with you on your trip.
UK sticker
If your vehicle is registered in the UK you will need a UK sticker on your car. This used to be a GB sticker, but has since changed since September 2021, partly due to Brexit.
This is so German law enforcement can identify where the vehicle has come from.
Winter tyres
Winter tyres or all-season tyres are compulsory in Germany when driving in wintry conditions. The rules were introduced in 2010 for all motorcycles and vehicles.
First-aid kit
These are compulsory for anyone driving a four-wheeled vehicle registered in Germany. So if you plan on hiring another vehicle once you get there, you will need to ensure you have a first-aid kit with you.
Even if you’re driving your own vehicle, a first-aid kit can prove useful in the event you get injured on your trip or your car breaks down.
Crash helmets
Whilst it may seem like common sense, you will need to wear a crash helmet if you’re riding a moped or motorcycle. You will also need to have passing lights turned on at all times, even when riding in the daylight.
Low emission zone sticker
It is now a legal requirement for cars to have an emissions sticker (also known as a Umweltplakette) to enter some of Germany’s major towns and cities. The stickers are designed to help improve the air quality in certain areas and display how much pollution your vehicle emits. They cost very little, but the fines you receive for not displaying a sticker can be very expensive.
Drivers travelling through parts of Germany should now display a windscreen emissions sticker labelling how polluting their car is. The label will set holidaymakers back £4, but should you fail to correctly display one, you may end up with a big fine.
They range from 0/E to 5 with the cleanest polluting cars such as electric and hydrogen fuelled engines requiring a 0/E.
Some cities that have low emission zones could prohibit your car at certain times of the day, and depending on how much your vehicle pollutes, they could ban you from driving in the area altogether. You can find out where you will need an emissions sticker and which of the six stickers you will need online.
There are a number of cities that are affected by these stickers such as Berlin, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Munich, Stuttgart, Hannover and Bonn. Each city has its own designated areas, emission standards and timings so make sure you check the specific area you’re travelling to.
These are often referred to as ‘Umweltzone’ on signs which signal the start of the environmental zone and they indicate which vehicles can travel within, similar to ULEZ in the UK. Before travelling within the country, it’s a good idea to download the ‘Green-Zones’ app which tells you where these areas are, which sticker you need and whether your vehicle qualifies to drive in the permitted zone.
The best places to apply for your sticker are the official state websites for the area you are travelling to, for example the Berline.de site for driving in Berlin.
What can’t I take in my car to Germany?
When visiting Germany, you’re not permitted to take any meat or products containing meat, milk or dairy products.
On top of this, you are not allowed to take vegetables, plants or fresh fruit, unless you are willing to pay for them to be inspected upon entry to the country.
If you require these items for medical reasons, then exceptions may be granted, but you will need to contact the embassy before you leave for your trip.
Are driving rules different in Germany?
Like most countries, driving rules have slight variants in Germany. For a start they drive on the opposite (wrong) side of the road to us in the UK.
Below are some of the other differences you will encounter:
Overtaking
As a general rule of thumb, you will need to drive on the right and overtake on the left of a vehicle on roads that permit overtaking. However, if there is heavy traffic that has built up on two or more lanes in the same direction, you may overtake on the left.
Trams must also be overtaken on the right if they are moving, unless there is inadequate space to do so, then you may perform the manoeuvre on the left. If it is on a one-way street, you may overtake on either side, but note priority needs to be given to pedestrians alighting or boarding.
You are not allowed to overtake a school bus that stopped in a built-up area to let students on or off. These can be identified by their red flashing lights.
Finally, a ‘no overtaking sign’ means you cannot pass a vehicle with more than two wheels.
Seatbelts and car seats
Just like the UK, seatbelts must be used by everyone in the vehicle. If you have a passenger who is under 18, it is the driver’s responsibility to ensure they are wearing one. Failing to do so will result in a fine of €30.
You may also be fined €60 plus a penalty point on your driving licence for a child not wearing a seatbelt, or being securely fastened in their car seat.
Traffic light system
Germany still uses the three-coloured traffic light system we use in the UK, however they have one noticeable difference.
A red light with a green arrow pointing to the right will allow you to turn right on the condition that you have given way to other road users and pedestrians.
Who has priority when driving?
The priority rules for driving in Germany are also slightly different from those in the UK. As a general rule though you must give priority to vehicles coming from the right or on rails unless signs dictate differently.
And, similar to the UK, pedestrians on crossings and cyclists also have priority, as well as emergency vehicles that have flashing blue lights.
It’s also worth noting that roundabouts work the same way in Germany as they do in the UK in terms of giving way to traffic already circling. However, keep in mind that you will travel anti-clockwise, due to the nature of driving on the opposite side of the road.
Buses and school buses have priority when leaving a stop, and you must give way when a bus has signalled its intention to leave said bus stop.
Towing a camper or caravan in Germany
Your campervan, or a car with a caravan, must not exceed more than 12 metres in length and four metres in height. It must also have two side rear-view mirrors, which can be foldable.
If the caravan contains expensive or unusual items, an inventory is required. When towed by a motorcycle or private car, the fully laden weight of the trailer must not exceed 750kg.
Parking
Parking is slightly different in Germany. If a vehicle is stationary for more than three minutes, it will be classified as parked.
You are not allowed to park anywhere with a ‘parking prohibited’ sign, on taxi ranks, in narrow roads with low visibility, less than ten metres from traffic lights, on the curb facing oncoming traffic, within 15 metres of a bus stop, in front of properties or within five metres of crossings and intersections.
If you are parking at night, you should ensure your vehicle is illuminated in the front and rear on a public highway. However, in built-up areas, this rule does not apply to cars and motorcycles if they’re sufficiently illuminated by street lighting, or if parked in an authorised parking place. Trailers must always show lights.
Failing to park properly can result in a fine between €10 and €35. The cost to retrieve a vehicle that has been impounded can reach €300.
What happens if I get fined whilst driving in Germany?
Thanks to an EU cross-border directive in May 2017, drivers who commit traffic offences whilst in EU countries can be tracked down and fined.
This means that if you commit a driving offence abroad, you will be prosecuted once you get back home.
German police can hand out on-the-spot fines of up to €55 for those who violate traffic regulations. You will then have a week to pay the fine, otherwise legal proceedings could ensue.
What to do in an emergency in Germany when driving
Emergency telephones are linked to an SOS line, similar to the UK, and are installed every two kilometres along the motorways.
You can also dial 112 from anywhere in Europe and an operator will connect you to an emergency service in the country you’re visiting. Operators can answer your call in English.
Speed limits in Germany
Germany, like most countries in Europe, uses the metric system for all of their road signs, meaning speeds will be measured in km/h instead of mph like in the UK.
General speed limits in Germany are below, but road signs may indicate the actual limit, so always keep a look out:
- Built-up areas are 50km/h (31mph)
- Outside built-up areas between 90km/h (55mph) and 100km/h (62mph)
- City roads 30km/h (18mph)
- Motorways 130km/h (80mph)
- Motorways and dual carriageways may not be used by vehicles that cannot reach a minimum speed of 60km/h (37mph).
Speed limits are also lowered when it’s raining and other adverse weather conditions, while special restrictions apply for certain classes of vehicle, including coaches, motorhomes, mopeds and cars with trailers.
Vehicles that are equipped with snow chains must not exceed 50km/h (31mph).
Speeding fines in Germany
Speeding fines in Germany work differently than the UK and other countries within Europe.
Instead of being charged a flat fee, you will be fined depending on how far over the speed limit you are and which road you are driving on.
Fines range from €20 for exceeding the speed limit by less than 10km/h on a motorway to €800 and a driving ban for travelling 70km/h faster than you are supposed to in a built-up area.
It’s also illegal to have a GPS system that tells you where speed cameras are on the roads in Germany. If you have one, or are using an app on your smartphone to do so, you must deactivate this feature.
Who can hire a car in Germany?
To hire a car in Germany you must be 18 years old, although the minimum age may go up depending on the type of car you are looking to use.
You must also own a full UK driving licence and provide a secondary method of ID such as a passport. It’s also worth noting that most rentals will not lend you a vehicle unless you have been driving for at least one to three years, and may ask you for a credit card to make the deposit.
European car insurance and breakdown cover
If you’re planning on driving in Germany you will need to ensure you have the right European car insurance to give you peace of mind should the worst happen.
No matter the vehicle, make sure to take our breakdown insurance with you. It costs from as little as £46.80 a year. Read this blog to discover the true cost of not having breakdown cover.
Sterling also has a range of car insurance policies for every sort of car, van and campervan, with prices starting from £125 a year and EU cover available. Call us on 0344 381 9990 for a quote or request a callback at a time better suited to you.
