Toll roads in Germany? How to buy a vignette in Germany? Fines in Germany? Parking in Germany? Autostrada in Germany? Toll tunnels in Germany? Ferries in Germany? We have collected answers to all these questions for you in this article.
Motorways in Germany
The length of the network of public roads in Germany is 644,480 km, all roads are paved. The length of highways is 12,917 km.
Toll roads in Germany
There are no toll roads in Germany. Entrance to the center of some cities (“Umweltzone“) and passage through two tunnels are subject to payment.
Roads in Germany will remain free, as before.
The European Court of Justice ruled against Germany’s plans to introduce tolls on German highways.
The judges decided that this initiative is indirect discrimination based on citizenship and violates two key principles of the EU: free movement of goods and freedom to provide services.
This is due to the fact that in Germany, in parallel, a tax reduction for owners of motor vehicles registered in Germany was foreseen, equivalent to the amount of the road user fee.
Ecological zones in Germany
Since January 1, 2008, ecological zones“Umweltzone” have been created in many German cities with the aim of reducing atmospheric air pollution with fine dust. a>
The ecological zone is marked with a road sign and an additional sign. The marking of cars with a special sign “Plakette” (a sticker on the inside of the windshield), as well as the correct ratio of the sticker to the corresponding car, is regulated by the Regulation on the marking of vehicles with less release of harmful substances (Regulations on labeling). The sticker is valid in all ecological zones in all German cities.
Cars with a corresponding sticker are allowed to enter the created ecological zones. Thus, only drivers who want to enter the ecological zone need to have a corresponding sticker on their car.
Toll roads in Germany for Toll Collect trucks: how to buy, prices, fines, tariffs.
A sticker is not required to enter the German territory.
The cost of a sticker for entering ecological zones ranges from €5 to €15. Entry into an ecological zone without a sign or permit is prohibited as an exception (fine – €80). The sticker can be obtained from technical inspection centers or authorized garages.
Owners of foreign vehicles can obtain a sticker by filling out the appropriate electronic form on the website of the State Registration Authority in Berlin, attaching a copy of the vehicle’s registration certificate with emission standards or the manufacturer’s certificate (preferably a PDF file).
After checking the documents, the registration authority sends the applicant a payment order by e-mail, which includes bank details. A fee of €6 is charged for processing documents and issuing a sticker. The sticker will be mailed to the applicant. Orders can take two to three weeks to process, so it is recommended that you order your sticker in advance.
You can also get a sticker from the Vehicle Registration Office in Cologne by sending copies of the vehicle documents and €5 (cash or check) to Kfz-Zulassungsstelle, Max-Glomsda-Straße 4, D-51105 Köln. For more information, visit www.stadt-koeln.de
Plots with special payment
Warnowtunnel in Germany
The Warnow tunnel runs under the Warnow river and connects the east and west banks north of Rostock. The tunnel is 790 meters long. It is the first toll road in modern Germany and was opened on September 12, 2003.
Travel rates for 2024:
| Type of vehicle | Height | Winter (01.11–30.04) | Summer (01.05–31.10) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle, Car, Car with trailer | h ≤ 2.05 m | €3.80 | € 4.70 | |
| Car with high trailer, Van, Motor home | 2.05 м < h < 2.60 m | € 4.40 | €5.80 | |
If you do not have automatic payment devices (RFID or Oscard), you must use lanes 2 or 3 to drive.
If you drive in 2 lanes, you can pay in cash. Banknotes in denominations of €100, €200 and €500 are not accepted. If you pay for your fare with a credit card for less than €10, an additional fee of €0.35 will be charged.
When driving through 3 lanes, you can pay with coins in the machine. Coins with denominations of €2, €1, €0.50, €0.20 and €0.10 are accepted for payment.
Please note that lanes 3 and 4 are not available for motorcyclists.
Herrentunnel in Germany
The Herren tunnel runs under the river Trave and is 780 meters long. It is part of the national highway Bundesstrasse 75 connecting Lübeck and Travemünde. This is the second toll tunnel in Germany. It was opened on August 26, 2005.
Travel rates for 2024:
| Type of vehicle | Height* | Travel Pass | Cash | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle, Car, Car with trailer | h ≤ 1.30 m | € 2.00 | € 2.10 | |
| Van, Truck, Bus | h > 1.30 m | — | €3.90 | |
* Height in the area of the first axis.
To pay in cash, use the two extreme right lanes. The next 2 lines are intended for payment with coins in the machine. The last lane is used for payment using automatic devices.
With automatic payment, coins with a denomination of 10 euros or more are accepted. Banknotes up to €50 are accepted when paying in cash at the cash desk.
Roßfeldpanoramastraße panoramic road in Germany
This high mountain road passes through Berchtesgaden National Park on the border of Germany and Austria. The length of the road is 154 km. The highest point is 1,570 m. The maximum slope of the road is 13%, and the height difference is 1,100 meters. The road passes through beautiful alpine meadows with wonderful surrounding views.
The road is open all year round.Tariffs for 2023:
| Vehicle | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle, including driver and passenger | €5.00 | |
| Passenger car, including passengers | € 8.50 | |
| Bus, including passengers | €60.00 | |
Parking in Germany
Parking in a prohibited zone is punishable by a fine. On some streets, parking is allowed only for local residents (Anwohnerparken or Anliegerfrei) . Parking against traffic is prohibited.
Some parking lots require a parking disc (Parkscheibe), which can be purchased at gas stations. The disk must be visible under the windshield and show the time of arrival.
At some parking lots (Parkschein) you need to take a ticket or plastic coins when entering. They are used to pay at the machine (usually located near the pedestrian exits to the parking lot) before leaving the parking lot.
Fines for parking violations recorded by automatic time control devices:
- up to 30 minutes – € 10;
- up to one hour – € 15;
- up to two hours – €20;
- up to three hours – €25;
- more than three hours – €30.
Road map of Germany
The main traffic laws of Germany
Speed limits in Germany
Standard speed limits in Germany (unless otherwise indicated on signs).
Cars and motorcycles:
- in the settlement – 50 km/h
- outside the settlement – 100 km/h
- on the Autobahn – 130 km/h (recommended)
Cars with a trailer:
- in the settlement – 50 km/h
- outside the settlement – 80 km/h
- on the autobahn – 80 km/h
Traffic on highways is prohibited for vehicles whose speed according to technical characteristics does not exceed 60 km/h.
For cars equipped with anti-skid chains, the maximum permitted speed is no more than 50 km/h.
Alcohol
Maximum permissible blood alcohol level in Germany 0.3‰.
If the level of alcohol in the blood is more than 0.3‰ and less than 0.5‰ and the driver has not committed any traffic violation, then no punishment is provided.
If the blood alcohol level exceeds 0.5‰, the driver will be fined €500 for the first offense. In case of repeated violation, the fine will be €1,000 and the driver’s license will be revoked for up to 3 months. For the third time, €1,500 and the suspension of a driver’s license for up to 3 months.
If the level of alcohol in the blood exceeds 1.1‰, then in addition to a fine, imprisonment of up to 6 months and deprivation of a driver’s license for a period of up to 5 years are possible.
For drivers whose experience is less than 2 years or whose age does not exceed 21 years, the permissible level of alcohol in the blood is 0.00 ‰.
Fine – €250.
Low light
It is recommended to use dipped beam in Germany all the time. only with dimensions included is prohibited. The dipped beam should be switched on in conditions of poor visibility caused by bad weather (fog, snow or rain). Lack of dipped headlights during the day, despite poor visibility due to fog, snowfall, rain – a fine of €25 in the settlement and €60 outside of it.
Rules for transporting children in Germany
Children under the age of 12 may travel only when using appropriate child restraints appropriate to their weight.
It is forbidden to transport children under the age of 3 in vehicles not equipped with seat belts. Children older than 3 years and less than 150 cm tall can be transported in such vehicles only in the back seat.
Failure to comply with this rule will result in a fine of €60 if one child is transported. In case of transportation of several children – €70.
Safety belts
Use of seat belts in Germany is mandatory for front and rear passengers.
Fine – €30.
Phoning
It is prohibited to use a telephone device in Germany that is not equipped with a technical device that allows for hands-free conversations while driving.
It is forbidden to hold a cell phone while the engine is running.
Fine – €100.
Toning in Germany
The degree of light transmission of the windshield should be at least 75%, and the front side windows at least 70%.
Non-compliance with light transmission norms threatens road safety. At the same time, the operation of the vehicle is prohibited until the cause is eliminated.
Fines in Germany
Police officers have the right to collect fines on the spot for minor traffic violations. If you don’t have enough cash, you can pay by credit card. If you are unable or unwilling to pay (you have the legal right to do so), your vehicle may be impounded.
Table of fines for traffic violations in Germany:
| Violation | Penalty | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Parking on pedestrian or bicycle paths | €40 | |
| Parking in places designated for special | €100 | |
| Failure to maintain the distance to the previous car | € 25-400 | depending on the speed of movement |
| Violation of overtaking rules | € 80 | |
| Overtaking on the right | €100 | outside the settlements |
| Overtaking in the area of the sign “Overtaking is prohibited” | € 150 | |
| Turn right at the green arrow without stopping at the traffic light | €70 | |
| Driving through a red traffic light | € 90 | The red signal lights up for no more than 1 second |
| Driving through a red traffic light | € 200 | The red signal is on for more than 1 second |
| Using fog lights instead of low beam lights | €10 | in the absence of fog |
| Driving without dipped headlights in a tunnel | €10 | |
| Traffic in the opposite direction when driving on the highway: – when entering/exiting – on the side – dear | € 75 € 130 € 200 |
Keep in mind that if you refuse to pay the fine on the spot, the amount of the fine will be higher if you go to court. Some penalties depend on your income.
Table of speeding fines for passenger cars in Germany:
| Speeding | ||
|---|---|---|
| up to 10 km/year | €30 | €20 |
| 11-15 km/year | €50 | €40 |
| 16-20 km/year | €70 | €60 |
| 21-25 km/year | € 115 | €100 |
| 26-30 km/year | € 180 | € 150 |
| 31-40 km/year | € 260 | € 200 |
| 41-50 km/year | €400 | €320 |
| 51-60 km/year | €560 | €480 |
| 61-70 km/year | €700 | €600 |
| over 70 km/h | € 800 | €700 |
The error in speed measurement is 3 km/h at speeds below 100 km/h, and 3% at speeds above 100 km/h.
Useful Information
Fuel prices in Germany
In Germany, unleaded gasoline (95 and 98) and diesel are available. There is no leaded gasoline. There are gas stations (over 5,000).
Average prices for all types of fuel as of 15.12.2023:
- E10 — € 1.716
- Super (95) — € 1.774
- Super Plus (98) — €1,814
- Diesel — € 1.697
- LPG — € 1.042
In Germany, it is allowed to carry gasoline in canisters in a car.
Currently, E10 gasoline (containing 10% ethanol) is widely used in Germany, but it is not suitable for all vehicles. Use it only if you are sure that it is suitable for your vehicle.
Emergency numbers in Germany
- The European emergency number is 112
- Fire service – 112
- Police – 110
- Ambulance – 112
Mandatory equipment in Germany
Equipment that necessary to have in the car:
- Reflective vest – from 1 July 2014, a reflective vest (compliant with European EN471) is required to be worn in the event of an emergency stop and when an emergency stop sign is placed on the road. The driver must show the vest during the roadside inspection. This rule does not apply to mopeds/motorcycles. The fine is €15.
Winter equipment
Winter tires in Germany
When appropriate weather conditions occur (snow, slush, ice on the road), vehicles with a total weight of up to 3.5 tons must be equipped with winter tires.
Winter or all-season tires intended for use in winter conditions must have the “M + S” marking, a symbol in the form of a mountain peak with three peaks and a snowflake inside.
If the vehicle is not equipped with winter tires during this period, the violator will be fined €60. And if obstacles are created for other road users, the fine will increase to €80.
Studded tires
The use of studded tires in Germany is prohibited, with the exception of a small area Bad Reichenhall — Lofer near the Austrian border.
Anti-slip chains
The use of anti-skid chains is allowed in Germany if the appropriate road sign is in place.
Recommended equipment and other rules
It is recommended to have a set of spare lamps, a first aid kit, an emergency stop sign. A first aid kit and an emergency stop sign are mandatory for residents.
The function indicating the location of stationary speed cameras in GPS-based navigation software must be deactivated.
The use of radar detectors in Germany is prohibited. The fine is €75.
