Germany

Germany is not only one of the largest countries in Europe, but also one of the UK’s most important trade partners, so many Brits often travel there. These trips can be for holidays, for work, or for further travel to, for instance, Denmark, Poland, Italy, Austria or Switzerland. Before you drive your car to Germany, we recommend that you be fully aware of the country’s traffic regulations. Although there are many similarities, there are definitely more than a few differences between the UK and Germany.

Let’s start with the German vignette. The German Umweltzones are a familiar and growing phenomenon. More and more German cities are converting their city centres and certain districts into environmental zones. This is an area you, as the driver of a vehicle, may only enter if you have obtained a (green) environmental sticker. If you enter an environmental zone without a green sticker on your windscreen, you can face a hefty fine. This fine is roughly €80. If you consider the fact that you can buy the environmental sticker on this site for a one-off fee of €12.50, you should not take that risk. Order the green German environmental sticker here and pay using iDEAL, for example.

In many countries, a toll vignette is one of the mandatory items you must have on a journey. This is not yet the case in Germany, although there has long been talk of introducing a toll system for passenger cars, motorbikes and minibuses, in addition to freight transport, which is already subject to tolls. The implementation has been postponed until at least 2022 but there is a good chance that these ideas will not make it.

When you drive a car in Germany, you are required to carry certain items with you. We would like to list these mandatory items for you and explain them in more detail. When you travel to Germany, you should always carry a warning triangle, a safety vest and a first-aid kit. Want more information? Read all about it here.

Refuelling in Germany is not only a phenomenon (as fuel is often cheaper there), but it is also comparable to refuelling in the UK. Petrol is widely available. However, the names of the fuel types are sometimes slightly different. We are more than happy to help you with a complete summary and more information about refuelling in Germany.

Many traffic regulations from the UK also apply in Germany. But, of course, there are some differences. We will provide you with a comprehensive overview, including the details on traffic regulations, alcohol consumption, overtaking and speed limits. Read the details here.

Traffic fines in Germany can be hefty. In the case of speeding, driving through a red light, or violating the ban on overtaking, the amount to be paid can range from tens of euros to many hundreds of euros. The German police also have the right to (temporarily) confiscate your driving licence. Other offences (parking offences, driving without a seat belt, use of a mobile phone while driving) are also often subject to hefty fines. Do you want to know more? Read all about it here.