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Germany is the paradise for all passionate drivers. It has excellent motorways (called Autobahn) that include many sections without speed limits. And best of all, motorways are free to use for cars. Another great thing is that Germans drive correctly. They almost always obey traffic rules. Some might not obey speed limits on motorways, but will get a fine for sure, as Autobahn Police is very active. They are using unmarked but very powerful cars. If you obey all traffic rules, it is very unlikely you will meet any police.
Speed limits are very important in Germany, make sure you obey them all the times. Both traffic cameras and policemen are very effective at finding those that break these limits. In cities and towns, the usual speed limit is 50 km/h. There are a lot of lower speed limits in residential areas. You may find "30-Zone", "20-Zone" or even "10-Zone" signs. These mean the limits are 30 km/h, 20 km/h or 10 km/h respectively. When you see a blue sign with kids playing, those areas have 7 km/h speed limits. On regular roads outside cities, the speed limit is 100 km/h. The motorways have no speed limit, but the recommended speed is 130 km/h. You will find many sections on motorways that are limited to lower speeds, as they are considered dangerous (e.g. in curves or when there is work in progress). Electronic displays may also limit the speed during bad weather.
All types of radar detectors or jammers are strictly banned. Even having your GPS system display speed cameras is illegal. Speed fines may get to almost €1,000 and may also suspend your right to drive for some months.
Germans drive very fast on motorways. Watch carefully in our side mirrors when overtaking, as vehicles with hundreds of horsepower will get right after you in a few seconds, as they often drive at 250 km/h. The good part is that these drivers are polite and will allow you to finish overtaking, but it is not polite of you to have them wait for too long. It is forbidden to overtake on the right side while outside cities. Germans rarely look in their right mirror when they are not in a city, so it is very dangerous for you to pass on the right. The only situation when this is permitted is in traffic jams, when you might drive a little bit faster even if you are on the right. You have also to be careful when you are on the second or third lane on motorways. In Germany, if a driver wants to overtake and starts to blink their lights to show this, they will overtake immediately and possibly get in front of you, sometimes without looking in side mirrors. You have to brake if necessary and wait behind them, without tailgating.
When driving on motorways, always keep enough fuel in your tank. Gas stations are not as many as in other countries. Don't stop on the emergency lane unless you really have an emergency. On some crowded motorway sections, emergency lanes may be used for driving. This is announced by electronic signs.
The alcohol tolerance is 0.05% (50 mg of alcohol for 100 ml of blood). As always, our recommendation is not to drink at all while driving, as it is easy to get over this limit and German policemen are very determined to keep the traffic safe. You may even get fined below the limit if they consider you are unable to drive. Besides getting fined, you may also have your driving licence suspended for a long time. The alcohol tolerance is zero for people under 21.
It is compulsory to wear seatbelts for all the passengers in a car. For all fines you get in traffic, policemen are allowed to collect them on spot. If you do not have enough money, your car might be taken by them until you pay. This will cost you some extra cash.
Free motorways come with a price. Fuel is very expensive in Germany. You will have to pay about €1.30 for a liter of gas or €1.10 for a liter of diesel.
Some cities have limitations for cars that pollute most. You will have to buy a special sticker that will show how much your car is polluting. These stickers are green, yellow or red. Signs on the road will show what sticker you need in order to enter that zone.
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