I learned to drive around the Beltway; parallel parking was the norm at school, there were 104 different police departments who could pull you over, HOV was lyfe, and learning how not to get sucked into the vast Pentagon parking lot while heading for Memorial was my #personalstruggle. Because of these experiences, I felt like a competent driver, ready for the challenge of driving in a foreign country, whenever that opportunity should present itself. And, I had a bit of a speed habit, so Germany seemed obvious.
I was so unprepared for being completely rocked in my little VW Golf on the A3 by some Mercedes wagon flying by at 120mph+, the lack of stop/yield signs, and the road lanes being narrower than some goat tracks.
But it’s fun, and if you get to drive while you’re in Germany, which I hope you do, here’s what you need to know.
For more driving and road information, I recommend the Guide to Getting Around Germany, where I found many of the images for this article, as well as reminders for myself!
Am I legally allowed to drive?
If you know you will be in Germany for less than 6 months, then you do not need to get a German driver’s license. If you know your visit will be at least 9 months, you can apply for an extension to your home license to make it through the extra three months you need. You can do this for up to a year of residency.
I will be here less than a year (non resident).
Most countries will offer their citizens International Driving Permits (permit, not license) which is an acceptable way to travel the world and drive in various countries. While some countries don’t require this permit, some car rental companies might, and vice versa. These permits are generally issued via automobile clubs and not government centers (ie AAA vs the DMV).
It should be noted this permit is only valid along with your country’s government’s officially issue license and in most cases is only valid for either one year OR the duration of your traveler’s visa in specific countries which place these restrictions. The permit is not a valid license on its own and therefore can only be obtained if you already have a valid driver’s license.
For Americans, these are available at AAA offices and cost approximately $15. You can also apply online.
Here is a small list of countries with direct links to IDP portals:
Canada
Australia
New Zealand
South Africa
Ireland
United Kingdom
For others, here is an excellent website explaining the rules (and for policy nerds, all the different UN Council Resolutions enacting and enforcing the international policy):
I will be here longer than a year...
You get to go to driving school! Or maybe not!
Some Americans are fortunate in that Germany recognizes certain state’s driving regulations as comparable enough to meet German standards, meaning for those Americans they need some paperwork and a little money, a little time, and they switch* their American license for a German one.
For others, there are three possible combinations:
- Recognition of the writing exam
- Recognition of the practical exam
- Neither of the above
Luckily, a list exists online where one may find how their state is classified. In addition, I am from a state which has German driving standards and I wrote about this process here.
You must actually switch to using your German license. You cannot produce your American license and claim to be foreign and incompetent. They will find out.
This is subject to change. Consult your on base resources.
All persons under SOFA need to take a driving test on base. Luckily, the test will be in English and it is much cheaper than the German test. There is also a required course one must take as well, however this is all available online.
As I am not under SOFA, I have not been through the process, and it’s been a few years since Z did it. That being said, here are the basics (taken from the SOP for Driver’s Testing and Training Station (DTTS)):
- Valid States license or any other civilian driver’s license.
- U.S. military ID card.
- The cost is $20.00 to be paid with either a check, money order or credit
card. DTTS cannot accept cash payments. - If glasses or contact lenses are required for driving have them available for
the mandatory eye test as well. - For family members the sponsors ID card and SSN is required.
- The complete military mailing address to include CMR#, Unit#, Box# and
the civilian and DSN/VOIP telephone numbers.
Autobahns
Theoretically, you can drive as fast as you want on about 50% of the highways in Germany, but it’s at your own risk. The myth is no Autobahn has a speed limit but that is definitely untrue and fines start at 2kmh over posted limits. There are also many stretches of road with speed cameras along them to catch those who aren’t paying attention. What you most likely will not find though are speed traps with actual humans and radar guns present. These are much less common than in the states.
When there are speed limits on Autobahns, make sure to be alert for the red circle signs as the speed can change rapidly on the highway due to upcoming town boundaries or construction zones or sometimes due to traffic volume control measures,
Speed Cameras
These come in a variety of shapes and sizes but most of the time, at least on the Autobahn, the controlled sections will be marked. In town however, they will be hidden. They are mostly found on town borders but also within borders as well. The person to whom the car is registered will receive the ticket with photo in the mail. All the information you need to pay the fine, including where to send payment, will be there.
There are three cameras in and around Wiesbaden which we are very aware of:
Speed Limits
The rules for speed limits are simple and well marked. Within city limits the speed does not go over 50kmh and there are lots of places where the limit is 30kmh (around schools and smaller residential zones). Outside city limits there is a general limit of 70kmh when entering and entering a city, and if you are entering an Autobahn that does have limits, the upper end here is 120kmh.
Once you are on a no speed limit Autobahn, be aware that there is a cautionary 130kmh which is not a legal limit, but is the threshold one can drive before speed is considered dangerous and a liability. As an example: if you are driving 140kmh and someone cuts in front of you, causing you to sideswipe a barrier, you are likely to be found at fault and the other driver may not receive a penalty.
Tolls & Vignettes
Germany does not charge private vehicles tolls to drive on its roads, though this might be changing in the near future. However if you are driving through Germany to another country, you may run across toll stations at borders and bridges.
Austria and Switzerland have special tolls called Vignettes one must purchase right before they cross the border. They are affixed to the windshield and have different lengths of expiry plus costs. You can also purchase these from ADAC before your trip.
France is also rolling out a Vignette program for certain areas of the country, which will expand in the coming years. One place which is popular with Americans is around Strasburg, so make sure to pay attention to the new requirements. The difference here is the French version relies on environmental regulations to classify vehicles, whereas Austria and Switzerland uses theirs as more of a toll or tax applied to all visitors.
There are other types of vignettes and tolls in the countries surrounding Germany, but these are the main three driving destinations. This site appears to be pretty good at staying up to date.
Environmental Protections in Germany
Germany has had a vehicle permitting system based on environmental controls for years. Cars which do not meet certain standards cannot drive through certain areas of cities and surrounding areas. Your permit must be affixed to your windshield and the license plate numbers must match (a very expensive lesson we learned the hard way, 50€ ticket x 4 before we figured out why we got the tickets!).
Wiesbaden started an environmental protection program (Green Zones) in 2012. To obtain your Umwelt Plakette, you can order them online here (your vehicle should have been registered in Germany/the EU beforehand) or visit your local mechanic after purchasing or shipping your vehicle.
Diesel Cars
In 2018, some areas in Germany have begun to ban diesel cars, dependent on weather and traffic conditions. These bans are experimental and may lead to the development of “blue zones” where diesel cars might be banned permanently.
Basic Driving Rules
Driving in Germany is mostly like driving in the USA, with some fun exceptions.
- There is no right turn on red, ever.
- When approaching an intersection, the cars on the main thoroughfare have the right of way (marked by a yellow diamond).
- If the right of way is not marked, and two cars approach at the same time, the car to the driver’s rightside has the right of way.
- If there is a power outage at a stoplight, there will either be a police presence immediately or look for the traffic signs on the polls.
- Often times, traffic lights are turned off during peak hours (anecdotally, side streets around 9pm and main thoroughfares at 10 or 11pm. In this case, use the right of way rules above.
- EMERGENCY VEHICLES
- On a one lane street, pull over to the right and stop.
- On an Autobahn or more than one lane street, pull over to the nearest shoulder, forming a Rettungsgasse.
- The “O to O” rule: from Oktober to Easter (Oster) you should have winter tires on your car. While you won’t be fined for not having them, the penalties for getting into an accident will increase. Luckily, there are lots of tire changing services available at these times of year since everyone makes the change. All-season tires should be checked with a mechanic to determine if they will meet German standards.
Fines & Penalties
It’s quite possible that even the most careful driver may find themselves in situations which aren’t legal and result in paying a fine. Compared to some of the fines in the USA, the fines here are relatively low in cost. This doesn’t mean driving laws can be taken lightly however. There is also a points system in place which tracks traffic infractions.
The tables below show the penalties one can incur if they speed, both in town and out of town borders:
If you find yourself racking up penalties, you may want to check your driving records for points. You can do so here:
How Do I Pay?
If you receive a speeding or parking ticket, payment is easy through the SEPA system. Look for the IBAN on the letter, as well as a citation number (Aktenzeichen), and setup a payment transfer with your bank. I would recommend putting in your last name along with the citation number, just in case. The number (and your name if you choose) go in the field Verwendungszwecks.
Haven’t done a payment before? Don’t have a bank yet? Look here.
I got a speeding ticket but don't live in germany
Since I assume you rented a car, the rental company will happily forward you the bill to your home address, along with their service fee for this convenience.
ADAC & Vehicle Insurance
Insurance is always important, and as you’ve probably noticed by now Germany loves insurance. Policies tend to be more conservative here so you may need to buy more coverage with higher limits than you are used to. One very easy option, though limited in availability to all, is purchasing USAA coverage since they have many years of experience with families stationed in Germany. I had USAA before I arrived here and switching was easy. I also didn’t see a price increase, even when adding on a second car when I got here AND adding a second driver AND combining this with rental insurance.
The bare minimum one must have to register their car is third party liability insurance. Surprisingly, collision and comprehensive isn’t required by law, however most policies will come with it built in. There are many providers in and around Germany which specialize in helping English speakers transition over to the German system, and some provide other services as well, such as vehicle shipping.
Parking
Wiesbaden has resident parking permits available at the Bürgeramt. These do not guarantee you a spot, but they allow you to park without exception in the zone you live in. The cost is around 30 € for two years.
Parking garages are much smaller in Europe. If you have a larger vehicle, say an F150, you’ll want to map out the garages around your home that will fit your truck! I find the garage fees all over to be generally cheaper than anything around DC.
If you’d prefer to park on the street, have coins handy. Not all the machines take cards or parking apps yet. I think street parking in Wiesbaden has gotten really expensive since I’ve lived here. The city is trying to discourage people from driving in and this is one of the ways they’re doing it.
But what about street parking when you see blue and white disks in car windows? It’s called a Parkscheibe and it’s an honor system method of parking. Set the time you arrived by rotating the wheel, and follow the time allotment on the nearest street sign to know when you need to come back.
Rental Cars
Renting a car is easy, your home country’s driving license plus an international driving permit is needed, or just your German driving license. I recommend the company Sixt for their network and prices. Make sure to tell them if you plan to travel across borders, you could invalidate your contract if you do so without informing them first.
I've Decided I Do Not Want to Drive in Germany.
Fair enough. Not everyone loves the idea of driving in a foreign country, and sometimes finding parking, gas stations, and general navigating take away from limited vacation times.
Germany has fabulous public transport. Trains are my favorite way to travel (when I have the luxury of time, sometimes trains just take too long) and if I could, I’d plan all my Continental vacations around train time tables.
Taxis are quite nice, nicer than the states in my opinion. My favorite app to use is MyTaxi, now called FreeNow, I don’t know why. Uber is not always available or legal, double check your location before taking or relying on an Uber!
(2022 Update: Uber came back! Uber is widely available in Rhein-Main, but can be spotty after hours.)
2 Responses
Your blogs are fabulous Audrey. Can’t wait for the Narbonne blog 😉