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A car hire with DriveAway offers convenience and freedom on your holiday in Germany. Our reputable suppliers offer competitive rates amongst a wide range of vehicles and destinations.
A full valid driver’s licence is required for a minimum of 1 year. An international drivers licence is required.
Generally the minimum age is 21 years, but can vary between the car rental company and location. Maximum age limits apply in some locations, a young/senior driver surcharge may apply. Please check Terms and Conditions when making an enquiry or booking.
General driving rules, laws and driving regulations in Germany;
Snow Chains are recommended during the winter months and to be used when driving through mountainous regions. Snow chains are required when signs showing a tyre with snow chains are posted. Drivers are restricted to 50km/h when snow chains are attached and police will restrict drivers who do not meet the requirements.
It is mandatory to carry the following equipment in your vehicle, which is to be used in the event of an accident, incident or breakdown.
Children under the age of 12 or less than 1.5m tall must be seated in the back seats of the vehicle fasted in a seat belt or appropriate child restraint.
A tip for first timers driving on the Autobahn is to drive on the right hand side (slow lane) of the road. The right lane is considered for slower traffic and the left lanes are for overtaking. You may find that some drivers will drive up to or even over 200km/h, these drivers are highly experienced and trained. It is highly recommended that you drive at a speed comfortable to you. Below are the speed limits in Germany, unless posted otherwise.
The legal blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0.05mg/100ml. Police have the power to stop drivers and carry out random alcohol testing. Drivers found over the limit face heavy fines and possible imprisonment, and if an accident is caused while over the limit your insurance is void. This also applies to cyclists.
At the moment there are no highways tolls present for passenger vehicles.
Road Signs in Germany adopts the standardization of the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals which many European countries now utilize, but with slight variance. Signs in Germany are commonly found in the countries local language however English is also used on city roads and state highways. The signs are very easy to understand as the vast majority of them are posted with symbols. Warning Signs are generally triangular in shape with a red border, white background or yellow and a symbol in the middle. Prohibitory Signs are signs which motorists must obey. These signs vary in shapes from a circle, octagon and a box. You will find these signs in either blue with a white symbol in the middle and white with a red border. Information Signs are displayed with a blue or green background and white text providing motorists with information.
Strict parking regulations apply in Germany:
Parking will commonly be 'pay and display' where either a parking disc or parking tickets will need to be displayed on the front windscreen of the vehicle. Parking tickets can be purchased from nearby machines and a parking disc can be obtained from petrol stations. Vehicles who have exceeded their limit or illegaly parked will result in their vehicle either clamped or towed and impounded..
Visa, Passport and entry requirements for New Zealanders visiting Germany;
*Please note distances and time should only be used as a guide, and may vary according to the route taken.
Last Updated 13 October 2010