Travel alerts & warnings
Germany driving guide.
Germany offers well-maintained roads, extensive Autobahns and scenic routes through forests, river valleys and historic towns. Expect disciplined lane use, changing speed restrictions and limited vehicle access in some old-town centers.
- Advisory
- Increased caution
- Drives on
- Right
- Best season
- May to September
- Permit honored
- Yes
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Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Exercise increased cautionin Germany due to terrorism.
- Terrorist groups and lone actors remain a constant threat in Germany and Europe, attacking people in public locations with knives, small arms, rudimentary explosive devices, and vehicles. Such attacks may occur with little or no warning and target:
- Tourist locations
- Transportation centers (airports, train, or bus stations)
- Markets and shopping malls
- Local government facilities
- Hotels, clubs, and restaurants
Driving there
Your permit in Germany
- Germany honors the International Driving Permit. The permit is a translation of your license into ten languages — it is not a license on its own.
- Carry your valid U.S. driver's license with the permit at all times. The permit is valid for one year and only while your U.S. license is valid.
- Not party to the 1949 convention; the International Driving Permit is honored.
- Rental companies and local police can be stricter than national law. Confirm the requirement with your rental company before you travel.
Advisory information is published by the U.S. Department of State and reproduced here for convenience. It can change at any time — always check the official advisory before you travel. USIDA does not issue travel advisories.
Before you drive
Top travel tips for Germany
Priority rules and emergency access
At unsigned intersections, traffic approaching from the right generally has priority. When traffic slows to walking pace or stops on Autobahns, create a Rettungsgasse emergency corridor between the leftmost lane and the lane immediately to its right.
Tolls and environmental zones
Passenger cars pay no general Autobahn toll, although certain tunnels and private roads charge separately. Many cities require a green emissions sticker to enter signed Umweltzonen; check your rental car’s sticker and any additional local diesel restrictions.
Fuel and filling stations
Petrol is labeled Super E5 or Super E10; diesel pumps are labeled Diesel. Use E10 only if your vehicle permits it, and check the fuel flap or rental agreement before filling. Autobahn service stations are convenient but usually cost more than stations in nearby towns.
Speed limits
For ordinary passenger cars, default limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas and generally 100 km/h outside them. Some Autobahn sections have no posted maximum, but 130 km/h is the advisory speed; posted and electronic limits are mandatory. Follow lower limits for roadworks, weather and vehicle type.
Rental documents and police checks
Carry your valid original driving licence alongside your International Driving Permit, plus your passport and rental documents; the permit does not replace your licence. Confirm the rental company’s age and licence-history requirements. Police may check documents and sobriety: Germany generally applies a 0.05% alcohol limit, with zero alcohol for drivers under 21 or in their probationary period.
Worth the drive
Places to see in Germany
Sanssouci Palace and Park
Potsdam, Brandenburg · About 40–60 minutes from central Berlin, depending on traffic.
Explore Frederick the Great’s palace, vineyard terraces and extensive gardens; park outside the grounds and continue on foot.
Bastei Bridge
Saxon Switzerland, Saxony · About 45–60 minutes from Dresden to the parking area.
Sandstone cliffs and a dramatic stone bridge overlook the Elbe Valley; use designated parking and walk to the viewpoints.
Neuschwanstein Castle
Hohenschwangau, Bavaria · About 1 hour 30 minutes–1 hour 45 minutes from Augsburg to Hohenschwangau.
An iconic hilltop castle framed by Alpine scenery; reserve admission ahead and park in Hohenschwangau before ascending.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Franconia, Bavaria · About 1 hour 15 minutes from Nuremberg.
Walk medieval walls and cobbled streets on a classic Romantic Road stop; use parking outside the old-town walls.
Triberg Waterfalls
Black Forest, Baden-Württemberg · About 1 hour–1 hour 15 minutes from Freiburg im Breisgau.
Woodland waterfall trails and nearby Black Forest villages make a rewarding scenic-road excursion.
Heidelberg Old Town and Castle
Neckar Valley, Baden-Württemberg · About 25–35 minutes from Mannheim.
Combine castle ruins, riverside views and a historic university town; park in a signed garage and explore on foot.
Heading to Germany?
Apply online in about ten minutes. We print and mail your permit, and you can track it the whole way.