Posted on November 06, 2009 by Fiona Hilliard

Driving in a strange place can be a daunting experience, but even more so if you find yourself in a country where speed limits are non-existent and parochial quirks are ever present. Welcome to Germany.

Some Advice:

When renting a car in Germany you’ll need a driver’s license and passport. Before you leave the car rental lot, make sure you’ve got your green insurance certificate, known as a “Green Card”.  Check that you’ve got emergency equipment including warning triangle, first aid kit, spare tyre and a jack, as well as a parking disc.  Also, remember to check what type of fuel your vehicle uses.

On the Open Road

Germany is home to the world’s second largest road system, making day-trips easy.  With over 80 themed highways for tourists, there are plenty of options open to you. The most famous is the Romantic Road, a 180-mile route that winds through pretty Bavarian hamlets from Wurzburg to the foothills of the Alps at Fussen.  Other scenic routes include the Castle Road (Burgenstrasse) from Heidelberg to Nurnberg and the charming Fairy Tale Road (Marchenstrasse) from Frankfurt to Hannover.

You’ll find these routes are well sign-posted and itineraries/tourist information is available at villages along the way.  If you’re thinking of taking a drive along one of these scenic routes it is best to do so outside of the peak tourist season so that you can enjoy the views without the stress of traffic jams.

Some Issues with Driving in Germany

German motorways don’t generally have a speed limit. There is a speed limit in place for lorries and other vehicles exceeding 3.5 tonnes however.  This sometimes creates problems as it forces all other drivers to exit the right lane and leave it for the use of trucks only – the thing is, the law requires you to drive on the right when you’re not overtaking.

Those in the left lane will have to put up with two kinds of drivers –

1.  Those classy types who only drive dark coloured Mercedes and BMWs.  There is some leeway however for other makes or models – just make sure they’re dark blue. Oh, and don’t even go there if your car is white.

2.  Mannerly, strait-laced drivers who long for a speed limit of (100-120km/h).  They’ll normally indicate right when they see somebody approaching in the rear view mirror and flick the indicator off when the other car is immediately behind them (without going anywhere), just to teach them a lesson about safe driving.
The worst thing about having two lanes is that it leads to exasperated honking and repeated headlight flashing.  Meanwhile the right lane is a veritable ghost town, apart from the odd lorry now and again.

And another thing – when overtaking somebody on the right hand side, you should be extra careful not to go any faster than 5mph.  When you’re stuck in a traffic jam, you should always change to the lane that goes fastest. At times like these, every inch counts (no matter how small).  When the lanes remain static, you should use the hard shoulder.

Road Rules in Germany

Like almost any country, there are some road rules in Germany that only locals are aware of.  There’s no point playing the innocent tourist though when you’re slapped with a fine.  It’s worth swotting up on a few common signs such as the following, they may even help prevent you from a potential accident when driving in Germany:

• Blinking yellow lights placed at an intersection signify a stop
• Be aware of traffic calming zones. These are indicated by a sign of a pedestrian child playing with a ball
• All drivers should slow down when buses have stopped.  You may overtake them but this should only be done at a very low speed
• It is important to watch out for different parking signs.  It can be expensive and nightmarish to recover if you find your car has been towed away.  If you’re serious about driving in Germany, learn the signs before you go – check online for German road signs and their meanings.
• Never drive on a snow-covered road if you haven’t been equipped with snow tyres

…and exhale! But seriously, confusing as they may seem, there’s no way you should rule out taking to the Autobahns of Germany. Driving is definitely the best way to see the country’s stunning scenery.

Written by Fiona Hilliard

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About the Author:  Fiona likes to travel – especially to cities. Her favourites include: New York, London, Copenhagen, Madrid and Lisbon. She doesn't like flying with budget airlines, baggage restrictions, liquid restrictions, airport security queues…

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