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National
Transport
Rules of
the Road |
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| This page last updated
April 9, 2013 |
Below is a rather
complete overview of the German traffic code based on my interpretation
of the current Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung (Road Traffic
Ordinances), as well as numerous contributions by readers.
On this page:
 |
The
most important section for foreigners is the right-of-way discussion.
When
you're done, you can test your knowledge here. |
Licensing
If you are
visiting Germany and will not be establishing residency, then your own
driver's license from your home country, state, or province is valid in
Germany for as long as you're there. If you will be establishing
residency in Germany, your driver's license is valid for six months
from the date when permanent residency is established, which in
practice is generally assumed to be the date you enter the
country. You will have to obtain a German driver's license in
order to continue driving after that six month grace period
expires. If your residency will be for longer than six months but
less than one year (and you can legally prove it), you can obtain a six
month extension to use your existing license.
If you're using a
foreign license to drive in Germany, you're supposed to carry an
official translation of your license in addition to the license itself,
but if you speak the language well enough, I've found that you should
get by fine. If you should get into a situation where you need to
have a translation, you can get one from the ADAC automobile club for
about €40. If you want to have a bit of "insurance", you can
take care of this before arriving by getting an International Driving
Permit (IDP) in your home country. In the US, these are available
from AAA for $10 plus two passport photos. (If you're unsure, my
recommendation is to get an IDP before you go-- better safe than
sorry.) Keep in mind that an IDP does not replace your
official driver's license-- it is just a translation of it in an
internationally recognized format. You must carry your official
license with your IDP in order for it to be valid.
If you will be in
stationed in Germany with the US military, you will need to obtain a
driver's license issued by the US Armed Forces. See the USAREUR
driver's handbook at
http://www.hqusareur.army.mil/rmv/regulations/aep190-34.pdf,
then come back here for a supplemental guide!
If you are not
affiliated with the US military and are going to be living in Germany
longer than one year, you will need to get a German Driver's License (Führerschein).
To do this, you must have a valid license in your home country and have
not lived in Germany for more than three years. The process
starts with a visit to the local traffic office (Straßenverkehrsamt).
What happens next will depend on where you hail from. Germany has
reciprocal agreements with many countries and US states allowing
driver's licenses to be converted. If you're lucky, you may have
to do nothing more than fill-out some paperwork (although after you
finally finish all the required forms, you may wonder just how lucky
you really are!) If not, you may still get off only having to
take the written test. Otherwise, you'll have to go through the
whole testing procedure, just like the Germans do. Note, though,
that when a conversion is possible, only holders of non-commercial
vehicle licenses can convert their existing license to a German license.
If your license
was issued in one of the following US states, you can convert your
license to a German license without any testing: Alabama, Arizona,
Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio,
Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah,
Virginia, West Virginia, Washington (state), Wisconsin, Wyoming, and
Puerto Rico.
Licenses from
these US states require the applicant to take just the written test:
Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Indiana, Minnesota,
Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oregon, and Tennessee.
For a complete
and current list of all US states, Canadian provinces, and other
countries with reciprocal license agreements, see the sites listed in
the links section at the bottom of this page.
Conversion of
licenses from all other US states will require you to take both the
written and practical (road) tests. In all cases, you will
probably have to take the vision test, which is usually administered by
a commercial eye doctor (at your own expense, of course.) You may
also be required to take a first-aid class.
If you can
convert your license without testing, simply complete the required
paperwork and submit it. If you have to take the written test, it
will be given at the traffic office. The test consists of
sections
covering laws, signs, vocabulary, theory, and energy
conservation. To prepare for the test, you can study this site
and/or take a course at a German driving school (Fahrschule).
Be wary, though-- you just want the short laws and signs class, not the
full driving course. The latter course currently costs around
€1,500 and consists of 25-45 hours of instruction, including 12
hours of theory, and oodles of practical experience including night and
Autobahn driving. Make sure you ask for the special class for new
residents. If a school tells you they don't offer it, find one
that does.
If you have to
take the practical on-the-road test, it will be conducted by a driving
school and will last about an hour. It will most likely include a
short trip on the Autobahn. If you need practice, most driving
schools offer short courses to prepare for the practical test as
well. Once you pass these tests, you will have a German driver's
license valid for the rest of your life!
New EU-standard German driver's license
General
laws and enforcement
The minimum age
to drive in Germany is 18. Traffic drives on the right and passes
on the left (not the other way around, as some Americans inexplicably
think.) Seatbelts must be worn by all passengers. Children
under 12 years old or shorter than 1.5 meters may not sit in the front
seat unless they are in an approved child safety seat. However,
you may not use a child safety seat in the front seat if there is an
active airbag.
The basic premise
of German traffic law is the "doctrine of confidence", which in effect
says that motorists must be alert, obey the law, and drive defensively
at all times so that all motorists and other road users (including
pedestrians) can have confidence in each other. Motorists must be
especially alert for and anticipate the actions of elderly or disabled
pedestrians or children, all of who are exempt from the doctrine of
confidence. All road users must act to prevent endangering,
hindering, and unreasonably inconveniencing other road users.
Drivers must have
third-party liability insurance and must carry proof of that insurance
as well as proof of ownership (registration or rental papers) at all
times. Vehicles must carry a warning triangle (Warndreieck)
and a super-duper highway first aid kit (Pkw-Verbandkasten) in
which I defy you to find any band-aids. Germany does not require
a fire extinguisher (Feuerlöscher) to be carried, but you
may want one anyway. You are required to place the warning
triangle 100 meters behind your vehicle if it is disabled (200 meters
on the Autobahn), although I have yet to see anyone actually put it
that far back.
You must leave
your doors unlocked while driving to facilitate rescue in an
accident. It is illegal to drive with your parking lights only;
you must use your headlights at night and during inclement
weather. Motorcyclists must ride with helmets and headlights on
at all times.
Fines and
penalties
The police are allowed to collect fines (Verwarnungsgeld) for
most minor traffic offenses on the spot. If you don't have enough
cash on hand, you can usually pay with a credit/debit card. If
you are unable or unwilling to pay (you have the legal right to do so),
your vehicle may be impounded (at additional cost to you, of course),
although in most cases you'll probably just be issued a citation to
appear in court later. Note that if you refuse to pay the spot
fine, you may be assessed a higher fine when you go to court, and some
fines are based on your income. You need not fear when paying
spot fines-- the German police are very professional and corruption is
very rare, and you will always be given a receipt for the payment.
Some traffic
violations are considered to be felonies and may be punishable by
imprisonment if lives or property are endangered. These include
driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, leaving the scene of
an accident, illegal passing, U-turns and wrong-way driving or
backing-up on the Autobahn, failure to yield the right-of-way, and
reckless driving including excessive speeding.
Germany operates
a point system for driving offenses. Most minor violations accrue
one to four points, with more serious violations earning five or more
points. Points for minor offenses are expunged after three years;
other offenses will remain on the record for five to 10 years depending
on the offense. Motorists who exceed four points on their record
at any given time can attend a driving safety class to eliminate four
points from their record (two points if the total is greater than
nine.) Those who accumulate 14 points are required to attend the
safety class. They may then voluntarily obtain counseling from a
traffic psychologist to eliminate two points from their record.
Anyone who accumulates 18 or more points will have their license
suspended indefinitely. The US military also has a point system
that varies somewhat from the German system.
Enforcement
Most moving-violation enforcement in Germany is done via enforcement
cameras. Germany probably uses such cameras more than anyone else
(except possibly Britain). Permanent and temporary cameras-- both
automated and manually-operated-- are used to catch speeders, red-light
violators, and tailgaters. Sometimes an obscure sign will warn
you of the existence of such a camera, but it's usually too late by the
time you see it. Citations are mailed to the registered owner of
the vehicle within a few weeks. If you're driving a rental car,
the ticket will go to the rental agency. They, in turn, will
report you to the police as the driver of the vehicle and the ticket
will be forwarded to you, although they frequently drop cases against
non-EU residents-- it's too much of a hassle since the odds of
collecting are pretty slim. An interesting footnote: the police
stopped sending a copy of the photo a while back when several spouses
discovered cases of infidelity when they opened the violation
notice. Now, you have to go to the police station yourself to see
the photo and contest it if you so desire. Such an effort is
usually fruitless, though.
Some enforcement
is still done the old-fashioned way with police using both marked and
unmarked vehicles looking for violations. If you get busted,
you'll likely be signaled to pull over by a "lollypop" traffic paddle
(see picture below) being held out of the window and perhaps a flashing
sign on the back of the vehicle reading "Polizei-- bitte folgen"
("police-- please follow".) These vehicles typically have
on-board cameras recording constantly and the video is used as evidence
if the violation is disputed.
Right-of-way
Germany uses a
hierarchical system to assign right-of-way (Vorfahrt, Vorrang)
at intersections as follows:
- Police
officer: A police officer directing traffic overrides all other
traffic controls. Many officers use obvious motions to direct
traffic. However, if an officer is not motioning and has both
shoulders facing you (often with arms outstretched), you must
wait. This applies to traffic behind him as well as in front of
him. If he has just one shoulder facing you (i.e. standing
parallel to your path), you have the right-of-way. If he has one
hand in the air, he is preparing to change the traffic flow (equivalent
to a yellow light) and all traffic must stop. Police and crossing
guards may also use a traffic paddle ("lollypop")-- this is equivalent
to a stop sign.
- Traffic
signals: Traffic signals are the next highest right-of-way
control. Traffic signals are discussed in detail on the Signs, Signals, and Markings page.
Remember that you cannot turn right on red in Germany unless there is a
 sign next to the
signal. If a right on red is permitted, you must come to a
complete stop first.
-
Signs:
Signs are the most common right-of-way control. Germany uses a
system of "priority roads" (Vorfahrtstraßen) to assign
right-of-way. Priority roads are marked with the  sign. Traffic on a priority road has the
right-of-way ("priority") over other traffic at all intersections along
the way. Intersecting streets will have a yield or stop
sign. The yield sign  indicates that you
must give the right-of-way, but you don't have to stop if the way is
clear. The stop sign  indicates that you
must first come to a complete stop, then proceed when the way is
clear. Often, priority roads make turns at intersections in
towns. These turns are indicated by schematic signs  showing the direction of the turn.
(On the schematic, you are approaching from the bottom.) Traffic
proceeding in the direction of the thick line has the
right-of-way. Traffic leaving the priority road must yield to
other traffic continuing along the priority road but still has the
right-of-way over traffic on the other streets. By the way, if
you are following a priority road that turns, you still must use your
turn signal. Priority roads are cancelled by the  sign or by a yield or stop
sign. On roads that are not priority roads, right-of-way may be
granted by the  sign. This sign indicates that you
have the right-of-way only at the next intersection. Be aware
that right-of-way signs are also usually posted at signalized
intersections. However, the signal takes precedence over the signs
unless the signal is not operating; then the signs govern traffic.
Also, note that the "end of traffic calming zone" sign  and "end of pedestrian zone" sign  also require drivers to yield to
all other traffic including pedestrians.
- Default
right-of-way scheme: If there is no policeman, no signal, or no
sign indicating the right-of-way, then the following default scheme is
used:
- Public
road has priority: Traffic on public highways has priority over
private drives, forest and farm paths, and dirt roads. Also,
sunken curbstones across your roadway indicate that you must yield.
- Right
has right-of-way: When two public roads cross at an
uncontrolled intersection, then right-of-way is always given to traffic
approaching from the right. This includes "T" intersections!
In the US, traffic on the through street of a "T" has the
right-of-way. In Germany, you must yield to the right, even if
you are on the through road. This also includes the rare
situation where a main road and small side street cross at an
uncontrolled intersection.
- Zipper
rule: When traffic is congested,
normal right-of-way rules go out the window and the "zipper rule" (Reißverschluss)
goes into effect. This means that cars feed one at a time
alternating from each direction, regardless of who has the posted
right-of-way. The zipper rule also applies when one lane
ends
and merges into another-- each vehicle in the through lane must allow
one vehicle from the truncated lane to merge in.
Other
right-of-way rules
- In situations
of otherwise equal right-of-way, vehicles going straight have priority,
followed by right turns; left turns go last.
- Traffic
entering a roundabout technically has the right-of-way unless the
entrance is marked with a
 sign (which it usually is). (Footnote: you must use
your turn signal when you exit a roundabout, but not as you approach or
enter it as in other countries.)
- Emergency
vehicles with a flashing blue light and siren sounding always have the
right-of-way; you must pull-over to the right-hand side of the road
when one approaches.
- You should
yield to streetcars at intersections. Don't pass a stopped
streetcar if it is discharging passengers directly onto the street; you
may continue on when the doors have closed.
- Buses leaving
a marked bus stop have the right-of-way.
- On narrow road
sections, the
 sign gives you the priority over oncoming
traffic and the  sign means you must yield to oncoming
traffic. On narrow mountainous roads, traffic going uphill has
the right-of-way.
- On roads where
passing is difficult or not allowed, slower traffic is required to pull
over when possible to allow faster traffic to go by (waysides are
sometimes provided for this purpose.)
- Pedestrians
always have the right-of-way when in a crosswalk.
- Do not enter
an
intersection if traffic is backed-up on the other side of the junction,
even if you have a green light.
- Vehicles
entering an Autobahn or expressway must yield to other traffic already
on the main roadway.
- Drivers must
never assert their right-of-way-- safety takes precedence in all
situations.
Speed
limits
In Germany, there
is a set of general or "default" speed limits (Geschwindigkeitbeschränkung).
These are the limits you must obey in the absence of signs:
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Posted
speed limits,
of course, supersede the default limits.
Vehicles that are
limited to a lower speed limit will usually have a decal resembling a
speed limit sign displayed on the back of a vehicle indicating the
speed it is authorized to travel depending on its specific
characteristics. In some cases, those vehicles may be authorized
to travel slower or faster than the general limit and will display the
appropriate decal indicating such.
Beware
of  signs. These indicate the
speed limit for an entire neighborhood. The speed limit on the
sign remains in effect on all streets within the zone until you pass a  sign.
Here are a few other points about speed limit signs to be aware of:
-
Although
the speed limit cancellation sign  will only show the last posted speed limit, it actually
cancels all previous posted limits and indicates a return to the
default speed limit for the road you are on. For example: You're
traveling down a rural road at the default speed limit of 100 km/h when
you come to a  sign. So you
slow down to 80. A kilometer or so later, you come to a  sign, so you slow down to 60.
After a while, you pass a sign. What speed do you return to? The answer
is the default speed limit of 100 km/h. The sign cancels all previous posted
speed limits, not just the 60 km/h limit.
-
Whenever
a speed limit sign is mounted beneath a warning sign, the speed limit
only applies until you pass the hazard indicated on the warning
sign. For instance, if you you come to a  sign with a sign below it, the 60 km/h speed
limit is in effect only until you pass the traffic signals, after which
you can then return to the default speed limit if no other speed limit
signs are posted.
-
The
 sign indicates the
end of all previous posted speed limits and the end of any no passing
zones. However, remember that the default speed limit for that
roadway still applies.
Other
speed limits
-
When
fog reduces visibility to less than 50 meters, the maximum speed you
may drive is 50 km/h.
-
When
a bus is stopped at a bus stop with its hazard lights flashing, traffic
in both directions may only pass at a speed of 7 km/h or less (i.e.
"walking pace").
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Whenever
a child, elderly, or handicapped person is near the road, drivers
are required to remove their foot from the accelerator and be prepared
to stop. German courts have upheld that the driver is ultimately
responsible for preventing accidents in these situations no matter the
actions of the pedestrian.
Passing/overtaking
Passing or
overtaking is not permitted in the following situations:
- When there is
a solid white line on your side of the road and/or a no-passing sign
- At pedestrian
crosswalks
- At or on the
approach to a railway crossing (i.e. between the initial warning sign
and the crossing)
When passing
another vehicle:
- You may not
exceed the speed limit
- You must use
turn signals before pulling out and again when returning to the right
lane
- You must
return to the right lane as soon as safely possible without endangering
or impeding the vehicle you are overtaking
Drivers being
overtaken must allow plenty of space for the passing vehicle to
complete their maneuver; they must slow down to accomplish this if
necessary. It is illegal to speed-up to prevent being passed.
Passing on the
right is prohibited except on multilane roads (including the Autobahn)
when traffic in the left lane is stopped or is moving at less than 60
km/h; in those cases, traffic in the right lane may not exceed 80
km/h. Passing on the right is also allowed on roads controlled by
traffic signals, although in practice traffic is typically traveling at
less than 60 km/h in those cases anyway.
On roads where
passing is difficult or not allowed, slower traffic is required to pull
over when possible to allow faster traffic to go by (waysides are
sometimes provided for this purpose.)
Drinking
& driving
The penalties for
driving under the influence in Germany are harsh. Severe
penalties are assessed to first time offenders, usually including the
suspension of your license. Penalties for drunk driving now start
with a blood alcohol limit as low as 0.03. With the high alcohol
content of German social beverages, it doesn't take long to hit the
limit. And, if you have an accident, the courts may determine
whether alcohol was a factor even if your blood alcohol content is
below the limit. The best advice is this: if you drink AT ALL, don't
drive! Don't forget that driving under the influence of
drugs (prescription or recreational) is also illegal.
Parking
regulations
In Germany, you
are considered "parked" if you leave your vehicle or if you stop/stand
for longer than 3 minutes, unless you are actively boarding or
discharging passengers or loading or unloading cargo.
You may not park:
- Within 5
meters on either side of an intersection
- In front of
driveway entrances or exits, or on the opposite side of the street if
the roadway is too narrow to allow vehicles to enter or exit the
driveway
- If parking
will obstruct the use of marked parking places
- Within 15
meters on either side of a bus or streetcar stop marked with a
 sign
- Within 50
meters on either side of a
sign when outside of urban areas or within 5 meters when inside an
urban area
- On a priority
road outside of urban areas
- In front of a
curb-cut or wheelchair ramp
- Adjacent to a
traffic island or median
- On the street
side of another parked vehicle ("double parked")
- On a marked
bike lane
- Anywhere there
is a
 sign on the same side of the street
You may not stop
or stand (on the side of the road):
- On narrow
roads or in blind spots
- Near sharp
curves
- On or within 5
meters approaching a pedestrian crosswalk
- On railway
crossings or tracks
- In or adjacent
to turn lanes (those marked with arrows on the pavement)
- In front of
and approaching a fire station driveway
- Within a
traffic circle or roundabout
- At a taxi
stand marked with a
 sign
- On the Autobahn
- Within 10
meters in front of , , or signs, or traffic
signals, if parking would obstruct the view of the sign or signal
- Anywhere there
is a
 sign on the same side of the street
Except where
prohibited (see above), on-street parking is generally permitted.
When you park, there must be a gap of a least 3 meters between your
vehicle and the middle of the street or the nearest lane line. In
many places, you may park partially or entirely on the sidewalk to
fulfill this requirement, but look for signs permitting this (or other
vehicles doing so) before you do it. If you do, make sure there
is sufficient room for pedestrians on the sidewalk. Vehicles over
2.8t may not park on the sidewalk.
You must park on
the right side of the street unless:
- You are on a
one-way street and parking on the left would leave sufficient room for
vehicles to pass.
- There are
rails along the right side.
You may not park,
stop, or stand in a traffic lane if there is a shoulder or parking lane.
When parking on a
street at night, you must use your parking lights unless you are parked
near an all-night street light. Street lights that do not remain
on for the entire night are marked by a white and red band  around the lamppost.
The  sign indicates where parking is permitted on
streets or gives directions to an off-street parking facility.
When used to mark on-street parking, it is usually accompanied by
additional signs indicating when parking is permitted, who is permitted
to park, or that the use of a parking permit, voucher, or disc is
required. For more information on finding parking in cities and
using parking facilities, see the Driving
& Parking in German Cities page.
Parking
Control Zones
The  sign indicates the
entrance to an area or neighborhood where there is a general parking
restriction. All streets in the area are included in this
restriction until the  sign is reached.
The  sign indicates the entrance to an
area or neighborhood
where parking is permitted on all streets in the area with the use of a
parking disc or voucher as indicated by a supplemental sign. All streets in the
area are included in this restriction until the  sign is reached.
Parking
vouchers, discs, and meters
Signage for on-street parking may require you to use a voucher,
disc, or meter to restrict the length of time you may park. See
the Driving & Parking in German Cities
page for information on using each of these systems.
Violations
Parking fines generally range from €5-25 and if you are
obstructing traffic or a driveway, your vehicle will, with great
Teutonic efficiency, almost surely become the temporary property of the
police. In such an event, call the police to settle the situation.
Urban
traffic regulations
The sign marks the entrance
to an urban area. Upon passing this sign, several special traffic
regulations go into effect:
- Speed limit:
50 km/h
- You may not
honk your horn except when necessary to avoid a collision.
- Parking is
prohibited within 5 meters of a railroad crossing.
- You must
ensure that your vehicle can be seen when parked at night. This
may require the use of parking lights if street lighting is inadequate
or does not remain on all night. Such lights are marked by a red &
white band around the lamppost.
The sign indicates that you
are leaving the built-up area and its associated traffic
regulations. The following general regulations apply:
- Speed limit:
100 km/h
- Parking is
prohibited on priority roads.
- Parking is
prohibited within 50 meters of a railroad crossing.
- Disabled
vehicles must be marked with a warning triangle.
Traffic
calming zones
Traffic calming
zones (Verkehrsberuhigtezone) are usually implemented on small
residential streets. The start of a traffic calming zone is
marked by the  sign and the sign marks the end of such a
zone. Within traffic calming zones, the following rules apply:
- Traffic must
maintain the lowest possible speed-- no more than 7 km/h.
- Pedestrians
may use the entire street; children are permitted to play in the street.
- Motorists may
not endanger or hinder pedestrians; when necessary, motorists must wait.
- Pedestrians
may not unnecessarily hinder traffic.
- Parking is not
permitted outside of marked spaces except for boarding/discharging and
loading/unloading.
- When leaving
the zone, you must yield to all other traffic.
Autobahn
traffic regulations
Special rules
apply when driving on the Autobahn. These are listed on the Autobahn page.
Additional
prohibitions
- Use of mobile
phones is prohibited while your vehicle is in operation. The only
time you are permitted to use a mobile phone is if you are parked and
the engine is turned-off. You may use a hands-free mobile phone
when driving if it does not impede your hearing (i.e. one earphone
only).
- Vehicles with
a gross permitted weight of 7.5 tons or more (with several exceptions)
are prohibited from all public roads on Sundays and public holidays
from 00:00 to 22:00. This is to help prevent traffic jams.
- Vehicles that
have not passed an emissions test may be banned from the central area
of cities during severe air pollution episodes. When pollution
reaches excessive levels, police set-up checkpoints marked with "SMOG"
 signs along major corridors into the city. Beginning
in 2007, local governments were permitted to establish so-called
"environmental zones". Access to these zones, marked with "Umwelt
Zone"  signs, is restricted to vehicles displaying one of the
red, yellow, or green colored emissions stickers specified on the
supplemental sign mounted below the main sign. These zones may be
permanent or may only be activated only during air pollution alerts.
- Motorists are
prohibited from unnecessarily revving their motors or slamming their
car doors excessively. It is also illegal to drive back and forth
unnecessarily (i.e. "cruising") in towns.
Accidents
If the
unfortunate should happen and you should be involved in an accident,
the steps to take are basically similar to those in the US and most
other places. Here's a list of what you should do:
- Stop
immediately. This also applies if you are not directly
involved in the accident but are a witness. Germany's Good
Samaritan law also requires you to stop and render aid if people need
help, even if you are not a party to or did not witness the accident.
- If anyone is
injured, call for an ambulance and the police. From a phone booth
or cell phone, dial 112; on Autobahns or other major highways, use the
nearest emergency telephone (the direction to which is marked by arrows
atop the black and white posts along the roadside). You are
required by law ("Good Samaritan Law") to give first aid to any injured
persons. Remember that super-duper first aid kit you're supposed
to carry? This is where it comes in handy. Do not move
anybody that is injured unless it is absolutely necessary. If
there is a fire or spilled fuel, get everyone involved away from the
vehicles and call the fire department (dial 112 or use an emergency
phone.)
- If nobody is
injured, and the vehicles can be moved safely, you should mark the
location of each vehicle, then move them out of traffic. You can
mark the locations either by drawing a diagram of the site and
vehicles, taking photographs, or using "traffic chalk" to mark the
physical locations of the vehicles on the pavement before you move
them. Many German automotive emergency kits have a stick of
traffic chalk (it looks like a big yellow or white crayon.)
Secure the accident site using a warning triangle placed 100 meters
behind the scene (200 meters on the Autobahn.)
- Exchange
information with the other drivers including your driver's license,
passport, insurance green card, and rental information. As a
tourist, it is in your best interest to then call the police to the
scene (if you haven't already) and have them take a report (dial 110 or
use an emergency phone). This ensures that all the proper legal
requirements are satisfied and helps protect you from future problems.
- The police may
ask you or your passengers to make a statement regarding the
circumstances of the accident. You are not required to make a
statement, but you still must provide valid identification and other
legal documents (e.g. car registration, insurance, etc.) and must sign
the accident report.
- Do not sign
any documents unless you know what you are signing. Never sign
documents from people (other than uniformed police) who mysteriously
appear at an accident scene-- there have been reports of "helpful
bystanders" (Unfallhelfer) who attempt to get those involved in
an accident to sign powers of attorney, loan applications, and other
dubious documents in the confusion.
- If you damage
an unoccupied vehicle, German law requires you to wait at the scene for
at least 30 minutes for the owner to return. If the owner does
not return, you must then report the accident to the police in
person. As a tourist, it is probably best to call the police to
the scene rather than go to a police station. You might even want
to do this immediately instead of waiting for the owner to return.
- Once the
police have cleared you, you can leave the scene. If you are
driving a rental car, you should contact the rental agency immediately
to report the incident. They will give you instructions on what
to do next and will dispatch a tow truck if necessary. If your
accident happens on the Autobahn, your vehicle may be towed off the
Autobahn immediately by the police.
- If you need
further legal assistance or advice after an accident, you should
contact the nearest consulate or embassy. If you are a member of
the national auto club in your home country (e.g. AAA in the US), the
German ADAC auto club may also be able to assist you as they have
reciprocal agreements with most national auto clubs.
Other
sites of interest
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Air
