Motorhome travel
in Germany.

Driving rules, and the ones that bite.

Germany drives on the right. The motorway speed limit is No general limit (advisory 130 km/h). The emergency number is 112 (general), 110 (police).

0.5 g/l (0.0 for drivers under 21 or holding a licence less than 2 years)

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.

The toll system, and the city emissions rules.

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.

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.

Read our complete guide to motorhome tolls and vignettes in Europe, and our guide to low emission zones.

What to carry, and what to bring.

Germany requires a set of kit to be carried in the vehicle. Most of it is cheap and worth having anyway, so pack it before you leave rather than buy it at a roadside price.

• UK Sticker.
• Warning Triangle.
• First Aid Kit.
• Reflective Jacket. Carry 1 per occupant.
• Headlight Converters. Carry 1 set.
• Umweltplakette (Green Sticker).
• Spare Bulbs. Carry 1 set.

Documents to bring

For your own vehicle, carry your Passport, UK Photocard Driving Licence, Vehicle Log Book (V5C), Insurance Certificate and Travel Insurance Proof.

For a rental or hire vehicle, you also need your VE103 Certificate, Driving Licence Check Code and International Driving Permit (if you still hold a paper licence).

Gas, electric, and the weekly shop.

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.

Electric hook-ups

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.

Where to shop

Supermarkets here: budget chains are Aldi, Lidl, Netto, Penny; mid-range chains are REWE, Edeka, Kaufland; premium chains are Alnatura, Feneberg.

Typical opening hours: weekday 07:00/08:00 - 20:00/22:00; saturday 07:00/08:00 - 20:00; sunday Closed (bakeries and petrol stations open); where to buy Supermarkets.

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.

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.

• 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.

More detail in our guides to gas and LPG and electric hook-ups across Europe.

Taking a dog, and crossing the border.

To take a dog to Germany, the standard pet travel rules apply. The detail below covers what your dog needs.

• AHC required. Yes, issued by your vet within 10 days before entry
• Rabies vaccination. Yes, must be at least 21 days old at the time of travel
• Tapeworm treatment for UK return. Required between 24 hours and 120 hours before you arrive back in the UK, administered by a vet
• Breed restrictions. Yes. Germany restricts certain breeds (including American Pit Bull, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and other types) and individual Lander have their own lists. Check with the German embassy before you travel.

Pack the dog's Dog lead, Muzzle (required on public transport and in some cities), Water bowl, Vaccination records and AHC.

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.

Useful links

• ADAC (Traffic and breakdown)
• Umwelt-plakette (LEZ sticker, official)
• Bundesamt fur Guterverkehr (HGV Maut)

See also our complete guides to the Schengen 90-day rule and taking a dog to Europe.

The questions people ask most.