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Parent Category: Private Legalities

Created on Tuesday, 25 November 2008 04:02

Last Updated on Friday, 28 December 2012 18:36

Traffic Regulations in Germany

Whenever you want to understand a German’s attitude with respect to his car then, consider this saying: “A German’s favorite child is his car.”

There is a lot of truth to this statement. Maybe now you can understand why Germans typically get so angry if someone dares to even only barely graze their bumper. Many landlords consider parking lots more important than play grounds. In Saxony, as shown in the film on practical German reunification “Go Trabbi Go ”, many people “adopt” their car as a part of their family and even give them nicknames. BTW: Though the film “Go Trabbi Go ” is the main blockbuster of German reunification, it also shows, as a metaphor, the German’s relationship to their car.

Will my driver’s license from home be accepted in Germany or do I have do it all over again?

Yes and no. When you are just traveling as a tourist in Germany, then your license will give you as many rights as you have at home (§2 XI StVG i.c.w. §§28, 29 FeV). When you start residing in Germany, you have six months time to apply for a German one (§29 I 3 FeV) – when you do not hold a European driving permission. Depending on where your license is from, the requirements vary for picking up a German one.
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Will my foreign learner’s permit be accepted as a driver’s license in Germany?

No. Because it is only temporary, it is not sufficient to qualify as a driver’s license (§29 III no. 1 FeV).
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What kind of vehicle can I drive here with my international driver’s license?

Actually nothing. Your “international driver’s permit” is actually only a more or less official translation of your home license. Okay, yes, you know that already. Your range of permission will be just as limited in Germany as it is in your home country (§§28 - 30 FeV). If you are only allowed to drive cars with automatic transmission, for instance, then it will be the same in Germany. 
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Boy, from what I heard, it sure is a lot of work to transfer my license to Germany. My friend told me that he got his European permit in Poland. He said it was quick and easy to get it there. There were even agencies that would especially serve expats and even more the costs with such agency were significantly less. That sounds too good to be true. Is this license tourism really possible? I just can’t believe it.

Since 2009, the Third Directive on Drivers Licenses obligates Member States of the Union not to issue driving permissions to persons not living in their country. Practically this means that when you have a German driver’s license and live in Germany, you just can’t slip over to Poland and formally take out an address and so get a license anymore (art. 7 no. 1 lit. (e), no. 5 lit. b, 11 IV 1 Third Directive 2006/126/EC on Driving Licenses ). ECJ held on May 19, 2011 (re C- 184-/10) held that other Countries of the Union are to deny the issuance of permission when it notices that a driving license has been issued in contradiction to European Law.
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What is all this commotion about driving without a license? I just don’t get it. Isn’t it enough that I can drive? Is it really that important to have the license?

Sorry, but his is not just a petty matter! Of course, most important is to have the permission to drive motor vehicles. The driver’s license is just a written document to prove and show this permission. If you only forget the license at home: that will only be an administrative offense, which might be fined. You are expected to be able show your permission at all times whenever you drive. Practically seen, if the police wants to see your license and you do not have it with you, do not think they will let you let you drive one millimeter more. If you are in your hometown they might give you a ride back home. If you are not in your home town this will not only be time consuming, but also very costly. Even now, the police will not let you drive. Supposing you were caught without permission then you may be bound to spend up to a year in prison or receive a pecuniary punishment; (§21 StVG).
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I belong to the EU Club. Will my national driver’s license be accepted in Germany?

Your national license will be accepted. You are entitled to the same rights and duties as you were at home. Your permission to drive a car is proven by having a national or international driver’s license. For simplicity sake, get an international driver’s license before leaving. You have no legal need to transfer your license.
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