Right-hand passing is prohibited, except on multi-lane roads (including the highway) when traffic is stopped in the left lane or travelling at less than 60 km/h. In these cases, traffic in the right-hand lane must not exceed 80 km/h. Right-hand overtaking is also allowed on roads controlled by traffic lights, although in practice traffic generally travels at less than 60 km/h anyway. As a rule, foreign driving licences are valid in Germany. Depending on the length of stay, different laws apply. More information is available here. If you are not affiliated with the U.S. military and will be living in Germany for more than a year, you will need a German driver`s license. To do this, you must have a valid driving license in your home country and not have lived in Germany for more than three years. The process begins with a visit to the local traffic office. What happens next depends on where you come from. Germany has reciprocal agreements with many American countries and states that allow the conversion of driver`s licenses.
If you`re lucky, all you have to do is fill out paperwork (although you might be wondering how lucky you are after finally filling out all the required forms!) Otherwise, you can always go out if you just need to take the written test. Otherwise, you will have to go through the whole test procedure, just like the Germans. Note, however, that if conversion is possible, only non-commercial driving licence holders can convert their existing driving licence to a German driving licence. If you can convert your license without testing, simply complete and submit the required documentation. If you have to take the written exams, they will be handed over to the tourist office. The test consists of sections covering laws, signs, vocabulary, theory and energy saving. To prepare for the exam, you can study this page and/or take a course at a German driving school. Be careful, however, you only want laws and short signs, not the full driving course. The latter course currently costs around 1,500 hours and includes 25 to 45 hours of instruction, including 12 hours of theory, and tons of hands-on experience, including night and highway driving. Be sure to ask about the special class for new residents. If a school tells you they don`t offer it, find one that does.
The German Code of Fines is a uniform compilation of all German traffic offences and fines in accordance with the German Driving Act. It also indicates what additional penalties are imposed on offenders. The Code of Fines determines whether the offence results in a driving ban and how long the ban lasts. It also determines whether and how many points are recorded. Someone who stays in Germany for a long time and drives a car here may want to get a German driver`s license. According to the German driving law, this is not necessary if the stay is short! The foreign driving license is valid in Germany for the first few months, especially if you come from an EU country. You should check the age limits or time limits for different types of licenses in Germany. For example, a category C1 and C1E driving licence must be renewed every five years.
On roads where overtaking is difficult or prohibited, traffic should stop as slowly as possible to allow for faster traffic (for this purpose, roadsides or exits are sometimes provided). Most of the offences mentioned in the Code of Fines concern drivers of motor vehicles. According to the German driving law, however, pedestrians and drivers of non-motorized vehicles can also be fined. Cyclists whose bicycle is not equipped with the correct lighting will have to pay a fine of up to €25. Pedestrians will have to pay a fine of €5 if they drive against the red light. Cyclists receive one point and a fine of €60 for this offence. Wearing a helmet is not mandatory for cyclists in Germany. By the way, a bike ride with more than 1.6 mg/ml or a suspicious driving style with at least 0.3 mg/ml can already give rise to a criminal complaint! In addition, the offender receives 3 points. A robust computer-controlled points system is used to remove dangerous drivers from the road. Especially in the case of drugs or alcohol and especially in the event of an accident, ever more severe penalties are announced.