RoadVisa Beta

Can I drive in Germany with a UK licence?

Pick where your licence is from and where you're going.

United Kingdom→GermanyVisiting
Allowed
Yes, your licence is valid here
How longYour whole stay as a visitor
What to carry
  • Your valid licence
International Driving Permit (IDP)

Not needed.

Good to know
  • In 30 km/h residential zones, most junctions have no priority signs on purpose. Expect to give way to traffic from the right much more often than at home.
  • In a traffic jam on a multi-lane road, leave an emergency corridor: the far-left lane moves left, all others move right.
  • Many city centres are low-emission zones. You need a green emissions sticker (Umweltplakette) on the windscreen.
Official sourcesFederal Ministry of Transport: Foreign licences in Germany (German) ↗German federal services portal: Transferring a non-EU licence ↗Last checked 20 Oct 2026

Coming with your own car

How long your car can stayUp to 1 year, as long as you don't live in Germany. Cars from outside the EU need a registration certificate that meets the 1968 Convention, or a German translation of it.
Documents in the carYour V5C registration document, showing your current address. Proof of insurance. If the car isn't yours, written permission from the owner (for hired or leased cars, a VE103 certificate).
InsuranceYour policy's legal minimum cover applies across the EU, the EEA and the UK, so you don't need a Green Card. Check what extra cover your policy includes abroad.
Country signYour number plate must show the UK identifier, or carry a UK sticker. GB stickers are no longer valid.
Headlights (recommended)Your car is built for driving on the left, so the dipped beam points towards oncoming traffic. Beam deflector stickers, or the headlight setting some newer cars have, help avoid dazzling other drivers.
Driving through other countriesTheir rules apply while you're in them. Check tolls and vignettes, required kit, lights and speed limits for each country on your route.
Vehicle Registration Ordinance § 46: Temporary use of foreign cars (German) ↗Assumes your car is registered in the same country as your licence. Last checked 20 Oct 2026

Driving in Germany: the basics

This is general information. Always follow the road signs.

Driving sideRight
Default speed limit: towns50 km/h
Default speed limit: outside towns100 km/h
Default speed limit: motorwaysNo general limit, 130 km/h recommended. Many sections have signed limits.
HeadlightsNot required in daytime, only at night, in tunnels and in poor visibility.
Winter tyresRequired whenever there's snow, ice or slush on the road. There are no fixed dates.
Required in the carWarning triangle, first aid kit and reflective vest.
Road tollsFree for cars. Goods vehicles over 3.5 t pay on all motorways and federal roads.
Toll Collect: German truck toll (official) ↗Last checked 20 Oct 2026

Rules in Germany for every licence →

RoadVisa covers 42 countries. Rules change, so every answer links to the official source. Check it before you drive or book anything.

Wrong information? Help us fix itTell us what's incorrect and we'll check it against the official sources.

About: This page

Frequently asked questionsCoverage, sources and how RoadVisa works.

Why isn't my country listed?

RoadVisa is still growing. It covers 42 countries and all 50 US states plus Washington, D.C. so far, and more are added step by step. Each country is checked against its own official sources, in its own language, before it goes live.

Why isn't Africa covered?

Many African licensing authorities publish little detail about their driving rules online, so we can't yet check the answers against official sources. We'll add African countries as official information becomes available.

Where does the information come from?

From official sources only: licensing authorities, ministries, police and government websites, read in each country's own language. Every answer links to its sources and shows when it was last checked.

What's the difference between Visiting and Moving?

Visiting covers short stays such as holidays and business trips, when you keep your home licence. Moving covers becoming a resident, when most countries want you to exchange your licence or take tests by a deadline.

What is an International Driving Permit?

A translation of your licence in a standard format. It's only valid together with your own licence, and you get it in the country that issued your licence, usually from a motoring club or the licensing authority. RoadVisa tells you when a country expects one.

Does RoadVisa cover motorcycles or trucks?

Not yet. The answers are about car licences: category B in Europe, and the local equivalent elsewhere, such as Class C or D in most US states. Other licences may follow later.

Is RoadVisa official?

No. RoadVisa is an independent guide and isn't linked to any government or licensing authority. The authority that handles your application always has the final word.

Is RoadVisa free?

Yes, RoadVisa is free to use.

I found a mistake. What should I do?

Use "Wrong information? Help us fix it" above. We check every report against the official sources and correct the answer.

About RoadVisa and disclaimerWho we are, and how to use this information.

An independent guide. RoadVisa is a private project. It is not run by, linked to or approved by any government, licensing authority (such as a national road traffic agency or a US DMV), embassy or driving school.

Information only, not legal advice. RoadVisa sums up official rules in plain English. It does not replace the official rules, and it is not a decision about your case. Only the authority that handles your application can decide that.

Rules change. Every answer shows when it was last checked and links to the official source. Check that source before you drive, book a test, move or apply. If RoadVisa and the official source differ, follow the official source.

Your situation matters. The answer can depend on your residence status, licence category, age and when your licence was issued. If you're unsure, ask the licensing authority or your embassy.

Car hire and insurance. Car hire companies and insurers can set their own rules, for example asking for an International Driving Permit even where it isn't required. Check with them too.

Our responsibility. We work hard to keep RoadVisa correct, but we can't promise it is complete or up to date. As far as the law allows, we are not responsible for fines, refused applications, costs or other losses that come from relying on it.

Links to other sites. We link to official and other websites for your convenience. We don't control them and aren't responsible for their content.

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