Guide for driving in Europe - Germany some of this information supplied from companies we work with - jmlvillas.com, insurance4carhire.com, Holiday Autos, Essential Travel and Economy Car Hire and other acknowledged sources. It is presented on this site without responsibilty of jml Property Services / insurance4carrental.com and should not be relied on for accuracy.

Driving in Germany

Key rules, regulations and things to know

Driving: Drive on the right and overtake on the left.

Speed limits: Autobahns in Germany do not have a maximum speed limit, the suggested speed is 130km/h (80mph). Open road 100 km/h (62 mph) and in towns 50 km/h (31 mph).

Drink and Driving: Blood alcohol limit is 0.05 More information Here This is a low limit and drinking more than one small glass of wine will be over the limit.

Seat Belts: Seat belts front and rear must be worn by all occupants everywhere.

Motorways/ Autobahn:There are no tolls to pay on German Autobahns. (See Speed limits above)

Warning / Emergency Equipment: It is advisable to carry a warning triangle, first aid kit, reflective vest and a fire extinguisher. These items might not be provided with the average rental car until the law states the items must be in a vehicle.

Parking: There is a parking disc system operating in major towns. You can obtain a disc from the police, tourist offices and tobacconists. It is also an offence to park facing oncoming traffic.

Disabled Parking: The Blue Badge is recognised in all European countries - More information Here

Drivers licence and vehicle documentation should be carried at all times.

Headlights: Use dipped headlights in poor visibility.

Horns: In built-up areas, the use of horns is only permitted for emergencies.

Trams: You must give way to trams and do not pass them at their stopping points.

Buses have right of way when leaving bus stops. You must not overtake or passing a school bus which has stopped outside a built-up area when red lights are flashing is not permitted.

Winter Tyre Requirement: Not compulsory in Germany, however drivers may be fined for not having fitted winter tyres if involved in an accident. Cars fitted with summer tyres cannot be used when there is snow or ice about.

Travel tips: Germany borders, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland. It has a diversity of landscapes which include the famous Rhine, Bavaria and Black Forest. The country is divided into 16 states known as Bundesländer which include the city of Berlin.

Each region has its own distinctive character, dialect, traditional dress and food. In the East, river basins cover a major part of the landscape and the South is well known for its beer halls, Black Forest and Lake Constance. Along the Rhine and Moselle are steep terraced vineyards and beautiful castles. The North is best known for its seafaring cities of Hamburg and Bremen and its health resorts.

Information source holiday autos

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To enter the site, click on the image above left - The ADAC - Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil - Club e.V. is Germany's largest automobile club

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Capital: Berlin

Telephone Country Code: +49

Berlin in February is fantastic, but can be very cold - A weekend break in Berlin is great value, there is so much history about and you won't have a quiet moment, however if you are going in the winter months, take plenty of warm clothing, you will need it.Find out more here

Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Germany? - Click on the image below

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