Driving in Germany

If you're driving in Germany you'll need:

• A valid UK driving licence both the photo card and paper counterpart
• A GB sticker displayed clearly on the back of your car - unless your car has 'Euro-plates' (number-plates that show a circle of 12 stars on a blue background)
• Your motor insurance certificate
• A warning triangle to use if you break down or need to pull over to change a wheel or deal with any other problems
• Headlamp converters (stickers you put on your headlights when you're driving on the right, so your lights don't dazzle motorists coming the other way)
• A first aid kit

You must also:

• Be 18 or over
• Wear your seatbelt at all times (this applies to everyone in the car)
• Wear a crash helmet if you're riding a motorcycle

It's a good idea to have:

• Spare bulbs for your external lights
• A fire extinguisher
• A Green Card - it's a useful back-up to your motor insurance documents and shows you've got the minimum legal level of cover. If you'd like to find out more, contact your insurance company
• A Camping Card International to give you additional proof of identity, third party liability insurance, plus discounts at a wide range of campsites and tourist attractions. Find out more here

Other things you should know:

• You don't generally have to pay motorway tolls in Germany
• Petrol, diesel and LPG are readily available. You won't be able to find lead replacement petrol (LRP) but you can buy a lead additive substitute to put in your fuel tank
• Children under 12 or less than 1.5m tall can't travel in the front seat without a suitable child restraint
• The speed limit is 50kph in built-up areas. There's no official speed limit on motorways but a top speed of around 130kph is generally recommended. In all other areas it's 100kph unless the signs say otherwise
• It's illegal to carry any radar detection equipment, whether or not it's switched on
• If you have a GPS navigation system that shows you where any fixed speed cameras are, you must deactivate this function
• Blinking yellow lights at a junction mean you have to stop
• If you're involved in an accident, it's illegal to leave the scene without getting help or offering assistance. If it's just your car in the accident, you must wait there for at least 30 minutes
• The drink driving limit is 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood for most drivers (less than the UK limit of 80mg per 100ml). If you're under 21 or have held your licence for less than two years, you can't drink alcohol at all before driving
• Using dipped headlights is recommended at all times - and it's compulsory to use them in rain, snow or fog. Using side lights only is not allowed
• You can't overtake a school bus if it's slowing down and getting ready to stop
• Some cities have 'green zones' and you need a special badge before you can drive in them. You can get a badge by taking your car and V5 registration document to a range of outlets such as a repair centre or car dealership in these cities. Badges cost around €5/10 and last for the lifetime of the car
• In built-up areas, if there's no yellow diamond sign, you must give way to any cars coming out of a side turning on the right

Useful guides and maps

• Michelin - National Map Germany
• Michelin Motoring Atlas: Europe

What RAC can do for you

RAC offers great-value, flexible RAC European break down Cover tailored to meet your needs. We also offer comprehensive travel insurance, including cover for medical expenses, baggage, personal money and belongings.

Disclaimer: RAC are not responsible for the content of external websites. The information provided is correct as of August 2009 to the best of our knowledge and should be referred to for information purposes only - it should not be relied upon as formal advice. Please always check the current requirements of the country you are visiting before you leave.