Your Guide To Driving On The German Autobahn
Driving on the German freeway, better known as the autobahn, is an experience onto itself. While it is a practical way to get around Germany (even though the country has an excellent public rail system) it’s just fun to drive on. Contrary to what most people may think, the autobahn is an organized road that isn’t a lawless, dangerous, completely unlimited speed limit zone.
Some Ground Rules
For starters, the German autobahn has speed limits. Sections of the road have speed limits based on their proximity to exits and towns – when you get further away from these areas the speed limit restrictions are lifted. The sign that indicates this is gray, with 5 diagonal lines you can see in the picture right, and lets you know you can go as fast as traffic (or your car) allows.
That means you can really go as fast as you want and better be careful to get out of the way if someone wants to pass. On the German autobahn passing on the right is forbidden and people take these rules seriously. Cars from behind don’t slow down as the approach someone ahead if that person can move to the right. In many cases, if you don’t move over to the left you’re libel to get into a car accident.- Stopping is also not allowed on the autobahn and you should use your emergency blinkers to let others know traffic ahead is slowing down.
Despite the fact that there are no speed limits in sections of the autobahn, most people don’t drive as fast as they can. Most cars manufactured in Europe have smaller engines than you’ll find in the US, the official recommended autobahn speed is 130 kph (~80mph) and driving close to top speed burns fuel very quickly in a place where a liter is around $2.
Who’s Can Drive On The Autobahn Legally?
European Union citizens, and American citizens from [36 of the 50] states can drive with their license from home in Germany for up to one year. Technically you’re supposed to have a translation of the license with you but for basic traffic violations most police won’t scrutinize a license too thoroughly.
Go With The Flow
In many parts of the US, if you use your high beams to flash someone ahead of you they might simply slow down just to be a pain. On the German autobahn, this is a perfectly acceptable way to let someone going slower in front of you know you’re coming up and to get over. Cars don’t stick around in the left lane if there are others driving faster, like I mentioned above, it’s a good way to cause a major accident.
- That also means if someone flashes you, don’t take it personally, just move over and let the faster car go.
You should also use your signal blinkers whenever you change lanes, especially in speed limit free zones.
Scanned and Straight
Sections of the autobahn without speed restrictions are generally very straight with few slight curves and bends. To maintain their resilience, the roads are scanned up and down using a series of devices that look for any breaks, cracks, and debris in the roadway. Crews also drive up and down the road continuously and quickly close down lanes to remove any hazards.
- The Germans also don’t simply patch up cracks and potholes; they just replace the entire section of roadway when needed.
Don’t fear laying on the gas, the road won’t suddenly shift left or right and changes in the speed limit will indicate places where it’s safer to drive slower.
Give It A Shot
The German autobahn was created in the early 1910s and greatly expanded during the 30s to give unimpeded, fast access between different parts of the country.
- Between some cities it can actually be cheaper (and often easier) to rent a car and pay for a tank of gas rather than take the train.
- There are no tolls along the autobahn for cars.
It’s fun to legally go 240 kph (~150 mph) particularly if you’ve got the need, the need for speed. Motorcycle enthusiasts can also rent a bike, enjoy some of the smooth open roads, and take that one motorcycle road trip. If you do decide to take a car or bike out for a spin on the autobahn, aim to go on a Sunday, that’s when most trucks are restricted from using the autobahn, leaving more of the pavement for your enjoyment.
[photos by: Jingles The Pirate, Kiluka, mwboeckmann]
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I had no idea the Autobahn was so meticulously maintained, but I guess it makes perfect sense. A really well-rounded article, by the way. You say American citizens from 36 of the 50 states can drive with their USA license. Do you have a list of which states?
Yes, 26 states have full exemption, 10 others have partial exemptions (including DC). The full list (for fully exempt) is here and link below:
* ALABAMA
* ARIZONA
* ARKANSAS
* COLORADO
* DELAWARE
* IDAHO
* ILLINOIS
* IOWA
* KANSAS
* KENTUCKY
* LOUISIANA
* MASSACHUSETTS
* MICHIGAN
* NEW MEXICO
* OHIO
* OKLAHOMA
* PENNSYLVANIA
* SOUTH CAROLINA
* SOUTH DAKOTA
* TEXAS
* UTAH, VIRGINIA
* WEST VIRGINIA
* WASHINGTON STATE
* WISCONSIN
* WYOMING
* PUERTO RICO
http://germany.usembassy.gov/acs/drivers_license.html
Thanks for that, Anil. Good to have the info right here.
I’m so glad you posted this list – as I was wondering what it was. The good news is that my silly South Dakota license will work! ahhhh – now I just need to get to Germany!
I have driven in Germany and found the driving easier than I imagined. In my experience, while they drive fast, they drive extremely consistently and well. As Anil says, they never block up the fast lane and traffic seems to flow really well. In my experience the driving is much better than that I have found in Australia, Asia, USA or most of Europe.
Without that consistency I don’t think the autobahn concept would work or be nearly as safe as it is. Precision and following rules seems to be part of the German cultural makeup. The orderly nature of the roads reflect that nature a bit.
you make me smile when you said they might flash you to move over the slower lane as that is a constant scenario in the italian highways; even if you are speeding above the limit you will find someone stressing you behind
haha, sounds very familiar when I was driving in Italy. There is always a set of flashing lights behind!
Oh my goodness- when Marta said that about the Italian highways, I so remember that!! And I don’t think I would care to go at warp speed down the German autobahn…I’d probably be in the slower lane allowing all the other cars to zip past me
Loved the article!!
Even the slower lanes are pretty quick…and you’d definitely save quite a bit of money on gas!
Driving on the autobahn may seem monotonous for some, but in my experience it’s far from it. This post reminds me of the road trips we made from Sweden via Germany to France many years ago. Good times!
It’s fun and I think the high speeds keep you on your toes
Sure does make places seem closer too.
Great article Anil, I always wanted to drive on the autobahn! I can’t wait to hear about your new journeys in Morocco as well! That’s one of my top destinations to visit.
Thanks Bethany. I’m right now hanging out overnight in the Dusseldorf airport waiting for my flight tomorrow to Morocco and am looking forward to writing about it
Have fun in Morocco, Anil
And be (relatively) safe!
That’s awesome – have fun! Right now I’m sitting in a dated Vegas hotel room – exhausted but wish I was in Morocco instead!
We loved driving on the Autobahn, it is very well organized. While we didn’t drive much over 130 km, my brother in Law (who lives in Germany with my sister) speeds like crazy in his BMW. And yet, we didn’t feel in danger. The only time we got stressed was when we were close to running out of gas and hit a construction zone. We were sure we were going to stall and God only knows what the penalty would be for being such an incompetent foreigner:-)
Running out of gas is one of the big no-nos on the autobahn. Being foreign might actually help in that situation. The “i didn’t know” confused face goes a long way
What about Canadians? We’re left out of the fun? I’m a bit of a speed demon, so this article got my adrenaline pumping. Can’t imagine those speeds on a motorcycle.
I found this:
“A Canadian driving license from Alberta, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and the Yukon can be exchanged into a German driving license without taking either a theoretical or a practical exam. Driving licenses from Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia require taking both a theoretical and a practical exam.”
http://bit.ly/9b6Ip7
I’m not sure what accounts for the US state/Canadian distinctions and how those deals are arranged.
Thanks, Anil. I gotta take an exam? No fair! That’s the way it goes for the privilege I guess.
What a great post, Anil. Never knew any of this. Be great to drive where the “slow Joes” don’t putter in the fast lane.
Things work out so much better when everyone follows the basic rules like no passing on the right and moving out of the left lane to let faster cars go by. Driving on the autobahn is very stress free mostly due to the courteous and well trained drivers you share the road with.
Autobahn driving is an experience not to be missed! Love it so much that 8 of us canadian car nuts go back every year for a few days just to drive and visit car museums. A few tips: rent a diesel. It gets 30 percent better economy than a comparable gasoline-powered vehicle, and diesel fuel is roughly 20% cheaper there. Performance is equal and they arent loud or dirty anymore. Also, watch out for speed limits! High traffic and urban areas have speed limits enforced with photo radar. Also look farther ahead than you’re used to, which may seem obvious, but for me at least, changing ingrained habits requires a lot of conscious effort.
That’s an awesome annual pilgrimage
Any special cars you rent for the drive?
More of a querry really; I read in a bike magazine a few years ago that the autobahns DO have a speed limit of 80 mph; however, it is not illegal to exceed this limit but if involved in an accident your insurance was void so all claims are your responsibility! Anyone know if this is right?
Let me check for you about the insurance, but as far as the speed limits go, in the unrestricted zones there is no speed limit.
That is not the case for car insurance – there might be a policy out there that lets you deduct some aspects of autobahn driving; but as an option, not requirement.
Hi everybody,
i am from germany and i really liked the guide. But there are some more things, that I would like to add.
- Please do always use the mostright lane so the left lane can be used by faster cars. Also if your speed is 100 mph there can be cars behind you with 200 mph. It´s surely not very commmon but still something you can see every day. When somebody crashes into your car from behind with 200 mph it may be your last experience
- Please do never ever pass on the right side. The car you are about to pass may try to change to your lane as the driver does not have to expect somebody aproaching from behind on the lane to his right. I know that it is the most normal thing on US highways, but trust me… this is extremely dangerous on german autobahns.
- Whenever you want to change to a lane on the left, please check your mirrow, have a look over your shoulder and check the mirrow again. On US highways, where everybody has the same speed 50 Meters distance may be enough to go into the gap. But on the german autobahn there may be a car behind you aproaching with 50 meters per second! So please do not only try to check the distance to the car behind you. Please do also try to estimate the speed of this car.
Thanks for the additional tips and sound advice Michael!
Hey Gus,
I am from germany and please if you ever ride on the Autobahn remember this points:
- Look carefully in your mirros if you wish to change the lane. When clear:
- Use your flashers everytime when you switch the lanes.
- Remember the “Rechtsfahrgebot” which means: You have to drive on the right lane, if possible.
Don’t forget, some cars going 250 km/h and they need for a full stop 450 meters (perfect wether conditions). Its nice that so many people love our Autobahn, but many tourists does very dangerous things on the Autobahn. If you drive on the Autobahn, you have to do nothing else! No eating, no drinking, no smoking – be concentrated.
Than you!
Very good advice, you don’t want to make a mistake at those speeds!