Explore Germany
Germany earns its reputation for good roads, excellent engineering, and motorhomers who know what they are doing. The autobahn gets the headlines, but the real joy of touring Germany is the Stellplatze network: thousands of small, cheap municipal motorhome stops in pretty towns and villages. The country is efficient in all the ways you hope, though it does expect you to follow the rules. This guide covers the essentials before you drive off the ramp: Umweltplakette stickers, speed limits for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, and the Sunday trading ban that catches out most first-timers.
Last verified: 21 April 2026
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Got a question about driving, Umweltzone stickers, or Stellplatze in Germany? Ask here without going through the full trip planner.
Driving rules
The famous no-limit sections of autobahn are shorter than many visitors expect. Roadworks, urban sections, and weather-related limits are all common, and fixed cameras enforce posted limits strictly.
Driving tips
- If your motorhome is over 3.5 tonnes, you are limited to 100 km/h on the autobahn regardless of what the signs say. This is enforced.
- Keep well to the right on the autobahn. The left lane is for overtaking only, and undertaking is illegal. Cars approaching from behind at high speed expect you to move over well in advance.
- Forming a rescue lane (Rettungsgasse) is mandatory in stopped or slow-moving motorway traffic. Vehicles in the left lane move left, everyone else moves right, leaving a gap in the middle for emergency services. Failing to do so is a fineable offence.
- Tram tracks are common in city centres. You must give way to trams, especially when they are stopped to let passengers on and off.
- Ignoring a red light is one of the most heavily fined offences in Germany. Fines start at around EUR 90 and can include a driving ban.
- Use of a mobile phone while driving, even at a red light, carries a fine of around EUR 100 and one penalty point.
- On the autobahn, emergency phones are located along the hard shoulder. Small black triangles on the white marker posts point towards the nearest one.
- Winter tyres are required in wintry road conditions (ice, snow, slush) regardless of date. Driving without them in such conditions is a fineable offence.
Required kit
Vehicles over 3,500 kg
Motorhomes over 3.5 tonnes are treated as goods vehicles in Germany, which affects speed limits on the autobahn. There is no toll liability for motorhomes under 7.5 tonnes, but the speed limit applies regardless.
Towing a caravan
Tolls and vignettes
Tolls
Germany does not charge tolls for cars or motorhomes under 7.5 tonnes. The autobahn is free to use. Vehicles over 7.5 tonnes pay a distance-based Maut charge managed by Toll Collect, but almost no UK motorhome falls into this bracket.
Vignette
Germany has no vignette system. Unlike Austria or Switzerland, you do not need to buy a sticker to use motorways.
Low emission zones
Most Umweltzonen require the green sticker (Grune Plakette) which covers Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel or better. Older vehicles may not qualify for any sticker and are banned outright from city centres.
You can order online from German TUV in advance, or simply buy one on arrival at any fuel station, workshop, or TUV/DEKRA station. There is no lead-time panic: you only need it when you enter a zone.
Supermarkets and shopping
Budget
Mid-range
Premium
Opening hours
The Sunday trading ban (Ladenschlussgesetz) is strict: almost every supermarket, shop, and department store is closed all day Sunday and on public holidays. Bakeries often open for a few hours on Sunday morning, and petrol station shops (Tankstellen) sell basics around the clock but at premium prices.
Alcohol
German supermarkets stock excellent beer at very low prices, often from EUR 0.60 per bottle, plus a small deposit (Pfand) returned when you bring the empties back. Wine is also good value and the selection of local varieties is strong.
Local tips
- Carry cash. Germany remains surprisingly cash-heavy, and smaller bakeries, bars, and municipal campsites often do not take cards.
- Pfand deposits apply to almost all bottles and cans. Return them at supermarket automats for a voucher off your shopping.
- Tankstellen are your lifeline on Sundays and public holidays. Expect to pay more than in a supermarket, but milk, bread, and basics are available.
- Schlachtabfertigung (Saturday afternoon) gets busy from about 14:00 onwards as everyone stocks up before the Sunday closure.
Motorhome LPG and gas in Germany
Germany uses the ACME fitting for Autogas (LPG) refills. LPG is widely available at around 6,000 dedicated stations, as well as at many motorway services and supermarket fuel stops. For keeping a refillable tank topped up, Germany is one of the easier countries in Europe to tour.
The main local bottle brands are Flaschengas by Tyczka, Primagas, and Progas. Bottles can be exchanged within Germany at fuel stations and hardware stores, but UK Calor bottles cannot be swapped anywhere in Europe.
Carry an ACME adapter if you have a UK-fitted refillable tank. Many UK installations come with Dish (used in France) rather than ACME, so check before you leave. Read our complete guide to motorhome gas and LPG in Europe.
Motorhome electric hook-ups in Germany
Most German campsites and Stellplatze offer 16A hook-ups (around 3,680 watts), substantially higher than the typical French 6A. Voltage is a standard 230V and plugs are the blue CEE industrial type. You can usually run a kettle, heater, and fridge together without tripping the breaker.
Reverse polarity is less common on German sites than in France or Belgium, but it still happens on older installations. A basic socket tester weighs almost nothing and settles the question in seconds.
Metered pitches are common on Stellplatze. You feed coins or a contactless card into a pillar and get a set number of hours of power. Rates are usually EUR 0.50 to EUR 1.00 per kWh.
Read our complete guide to motorhome electric hook-ups in Europe.
Documents you need
Your own vehicle
- Passport
- UK Photocard Driving Licence
- Vehicle Log Book (V5C)
- Insurance Certificate
- Travel Insurance Proof
Rental or hire vehicle
- VE103 Certificate
- Driving Licence Check Code
- International Driving Permit (if you still hold a paper licence)
Travelling with dogs
What to pack
- Dog lead
- Muzzle (required on public transport and in some cities)
- Water bowl
- Vaccination records
- AHC
Food import rules
Meat, milk, and products containing either cannot be brought into Germany from the UK. The main exceptions are powdered baby milk and medically prescribed pet food.
Border and entry
Useful links
Common questions
Is there a speed limit on the German autobahn?
There is no general speed limit on much of the German autobahn, only an advisory Richtgeschwindigkeit of 130 km/h. However, motorhomes and campervans over 3.5 tonnes are limited to 100 km/h on motorways, and many sections of autobahn have posted limits due to roadworks, urban areas, or weather. Stick to the right lane and move out only to overtake.
Do I need an Umweltplakette for my motorhome in Germany?
Yes, if you plan to drive into any German city centre. Over 50 cities including Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Cologne, and Hamburg have Umweltzone low-emission zones that require a green Umweltplakette sticker on your windscreen. They cost roughly 5 to 15 EUR and can be ordered online from TUV or bought at DEKRA or TUV stations on arrival.
Can I park overnight in a German Stellplatz?
Yes. Germany has an excellent network of Stellplatze, which are dedicated motorhome parking areas in towns and villages. They typically cost 8 to 15 EUR per night and usually include fresh water, waste disposal, and often electric hook-up. Many are located near town centres within walking distance of shops and restaurants.
Can I take my dog to Germany in a motorhome?
Yes. Your dog needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination at least 21 days old, and an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by your vet within 10 days of travel. For the return to the UK, your dog must have a tapeworm treatment administered by a vet between 24 hours and 120 hours before arrival back in the UK.