Countries › Germany
Germany
At a glance
- Traffic
- on the right
- Currency
- EUR
- Plugs
- types C, F · 230 V
- Emergency
- 112
Entering the country
- Schengen Area: 90 days in any 180-day period, all Schengen countries counted together.
- Passport valid at least 3 months after you leave Schengen and issued less than 10 years ago.
- EES: fingerprints and photo taken on your first entry into Schengen, then checked at each crossing (system in place since 2025-2026).
- ETIAS: online travel authorisation, planned for late 2026; check whether it's in force before you go.
Driver and insurance
- International Driving Permit recommended (CAA, AAA): cheap, and it saves trouble.
- Insurance: your North American policy isn't valid here. You need European insurance for a vehicle registered outside Europe, with its green card.
Speed limits
| Town | Road | Motorway | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car, light RV | 50 | 100 | 130 (advised) |
| With a trailer or caravan | 50 | 80 | 80 (100 with approval) |
In km/h. Signs always take precedence.
Tolls and vignettes No tolls
No tolls for cars and RVs. The truck toll targets freight transport, not motorhomes. A few tunnels and ferries are tolled.
Low-emission zones
Environmental zones ("Umweltzone") in several cities (Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart…): green sticker (Umweltplakette) required, foreign plates included. Order it online (TÜV, DEKRA) a few weeks ahead.
Boondocking Tolerated depending on the spot
Wild camping banned; one night to "restore fitness to drive" while parked is tolerated, with nothing set out. Lots of "Stellplatz" stopovers.
Mandatory equipment
- Reflective vest, within reach
- Warning triangle
- First-aid kit
- Country-of-registration sticker (CDN or USA) on the back
Winter : Winter equipment depending on conditions, usually from October 1 to April 30.
Good to know
- Winter tires required by conditions (snow, ice), not by date.
- With a trailer, 100 km/h on the autobahn only with "Tempo 100" approval (sticker).
- Emergency corridor required in traffic jams.
Famous routes
Frequently asked questions
- Germany: what do you need to enter the country with your vehicle?
- Schengen Area: 90 days in any 180-day period, all Schengen countries counted together. Passport valid at least 3 months after you leave Schengen and issued less than 10 years ago. EES: fingerprints and photo taken on your first entry into Schengen, then checked at each crossing (system in place since 2025-2026). ETIAS: online travel authorisation, planned for late 2026; check whether it's in force before you go. International Driving Permit recommended (CAA, AAA): cheap, and it saves trouble. Insurance: your North American policy isn't valid here. You need European insurance for a vehicle registered outside Europe, with its green card.
- Germany: what are the speed limits?
- Car and light RV: 50 in town, 100 on rural roads, 130 (advised) on motorways (km/h). With a trailer or caravan: 80 on rural roads, 80 (100 with approval) on motorways.
- Germany: do you need a vignette or pay tolls?
- No tolls for cars and RVs. The truck toll targets freight transport, not motorhomes. A few tunnels and ferries are tolled.
- Germany: are there low emission zones?
- Environmental zones ("Umweltzone") in several cities (Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart…): green sticker (Umweltplakette) required, foreign plates included. Order it online (TÜV, DEKRA) a few weeks ahead.
- Germany: is wild camping allowed?
- Tolerated depending on the spot. Wild camping banned; one night to "restore fitness to drive" while parked is tolerated, with nothing set out. Lots of "Stellplatz" stopovers.
- Germany: what equipment is required in the vehicle?
- Reflective vest, within reach, Warning triangle, First-aid kit, Country-of-registration sticker (CDN or USA) on the back. Winter equipment depending on conditions, usually from October 1 to April 30.