Driving in Germany from the UK: what you need
Checked against official sources on 8 November 2026 · Sources at the bottom of this page
Driving your own car to Germany? You need:
- A UK sticker, unless your number plate shows "UK" with the Union flag GB stickers are no longer valid: remove or cover them
- Your photocard driving licence, logbook (V5C) and insurance certificate Your photocard licence is valid for up to 6 months. Still have an old paper licence? You need an international driving permit (£5.50 at a PayPoint) Not your car? Carry written permission from the owner. Hire or lease car from the UK? Take a VE103 certificate instead of the logbook
- A passport for everyone in the car See the passport rules for Germany below
- A green environmental sticker (Umweltplakette) to drive into Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Cologne and other city zones About €5 to €10 from official issuers. See below
- A warning triangle, a hi-vis vest and a first-aid kit
- Headlights set for driving on the right, so they don't dazzle oncoming drivers Many newer cars do this from a setting in the car's menu (check your handbook). Others need beam deflector stickers
- Winter tyres with the snowflake symbol whenever there's snow or ice on the road
🛂 Your border check happens before Germany
Driving through France, Belgium or the Netherlands? You enter the Schengen area when you cross the Channel, so your passport is checked, and the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) records your fingerprints, at Dover, Folkestone or your arrival port. Your passport must be less than 10 years old on the day you arrive and valid for 3 months after you leave.
Check your passport for Germany →Green environmental sticker (Umweltplakette)
Germany's environmental zones (Umweltzonen) only let in vehicles showing a green sticker on the windscreen. There are about 35 zones, mostly in city centres, including Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt and Cologne. Signs show where each zone starts. One sticker is valid in every zone, and you don't need one just to cross the border or drive on the motorways.
Speed limits in Germany
| Road | Limit |
|---|---|
| Motorways (Autobahn) with no signed limit | 130 km/h≈ 81 mph, recommended |
| Other roads outside towns | 100 km/h≈ 62 mph |
| Towns and villages | 50 km/h≈ 31 mph |
There's no general speed limit on many motorway stretches, but 130 km/h is the recommended maximum, and many sections have a signed limit that you must keep to. In fog or other visibility under 50 m, the limit is 50 km/h (≈ 31 mph).
Rules that catch UK drivers out
🚑 Make a rescue lane in traffic jams
When traffic slows to a crawl on a motorway, move over to leave a gap for emergency vehicles: between the far-left lane and the lane next to it. Not doing so is a fine of €200 to €320.
🍷 Zero alcohol for some drivers
The limit is 0.5 g/l, lower than England, Wales and Northern Ireland (0.8). Drivers under 21 or who've held a licence for less than 2 years must not drink at all.
📵 No handheld phones
Using a phone or other device in your hand while driving is a €100 fine.
📡 Speed-camera warnings are illegal
Using a device or app that warns of speed cameras is a €75 fine. Turn the warning off in your sat-nav or phone app.
👶 Child seats
Children under 12 who are shorter than 150 cm need a suitable child seat or booster.
⬅️ Keep right, overtake on the left
Overtaking on the right is banned on motorways. Move back to the right-hand lane once you've passed.
❄️ Winter tyres Whenever it's wintry
Germany has no fixed winter dates. Instead, you must have winter tyres whenever there's snow, slush, ice or frost on the road, so if you're driving between about October and April, plan for them.
Since 1 October 2024, only tyres marked with the three-peak mountain snowflake (Alpine) symbol count. Older "M+S" tyres without it no longer do. Driving without them in wintry conditions is a €60 fine, or €80 if you hold up other traffic.
Snow chains are only needed where a sign shows them, and you must not go faster than 50 km/h with chains fitted.
Tolls
German motorways are free for cars: there's no vignette or toll sticker to buy. Only lorries pay motorway tolls. A couple of tunnels in the north, such as the Warnow tunnel in Rostock, charge a toll. If you're driving through Austria or Switzerland as well, you'll need their motorway vignettes.
Breakdowns and emergencies
- Call 112 for an ambulance or fire, or 110 for the police.
- Put on your hi-vis vest before you get out, and stand behind the crash barrier if you can.
- Place the warning triangle well behind the car, about 100 m back on a motorway, if it's safe to.
- On motorways, the emergency phones tell the operator exactly where you are. Small arrows on the marker posts point to the nearest one.
Hiring a car in Germany instead
- Hire companies usually want you to be 21 or over with a year's driving experience, and may charge extra for drivers under 25.
- They may ask for a DVLA licence check code. Get one on GOV.UK shortly before you collect the car: it's only valid for 21 days.
- German hire cars normally come with the green sticker and, in winter, winter tyres. Check both when you collect it.
FAQs
Is there a speed limit on German motorways?
Not everywhere. Where no limit is signed, the recommended maximum is 130 km/h (about 81 mph). Many stretches do have a signed limit, especially near cities and junctions, and you must keep to it.
Do I need an environmental sticker (Umweltplakette) for Germany?
Only if you drive into an environmental zone (Umweltzone). Many big cities have one, including Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt and Cologne. You need the green sticker, and driving in a zone without one is a €100 fine. You don't need one just to cross the border or use the motorways.
How much is the German environmental sticker?
Official issuers, such as TÜV, DEKRA and local vehicle offices, charge about €5 to €10, plus postage if they send it to you. You can order it before you go by sending a copy of your logbook (V5C). Some websites charge much more for the same sticker.
Do I need winter tyres in Germany?
Yes, whenever there's snow, slush, ice or frost on the road. There's no fixed date. Only tyres with the three-peak mountain snowflake (Alpine) symbol count. Driving without them in wintry conditions is a €60 fine, or €80 if you hold up other traffic.
Are there tolls on German motorways?
No, not for cars. Only lorries pay motorway tolls. A couple of tunnels in the north, such as the Warnow tunnel in Rostock, charge a toll.
Do I need an international driving permit for Germany?
No, not for a visit. A UK photocard driving licence is valid for up to 6 months. You need a permit if you still have an old paper licence, or if you stay longer than 6 months.
Can I use a speed camera app in Germany?
No. Using a device or app that warns of speed cameras while driving is banned, with a €75 fine. Turn the warning off in your sat-nav or phone app.
More for your trip
Sources
Checked on 8 November 2026. Rules change, so check the official sources before you travel.
- GOV.UK: Germany travel advice, road travel · International driving permits · UK stickers · Taking your vehicle abroad (V5C, VE103) · Licence check codes
- German government: Environmental zones (Umweltbundesamt) · Map of environmental zones · Getting a sticker · Official fine catalogue (BKatV) · Road traffic regulations (StVO)
- EU: Your Europe: road rules in Germany