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DRIVING

Police ‘powerless’ to stop phones at the wheel

Police admitted on Tuesday they were powerless to stop German drivers using their smartphones at the wheel and that the number of people doing so was going up.

Published: 25 February 2014 08:55 CET
Police 'powerless' to stop phones at the wheel
Photo: DPA

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“The unreported figure of people doing it is enormously high, certainly in the tens of thousands,” said head of the traffic branch of the Berlin police, Andreas Tschisch.

He said that the police did not have the resources to control the number of people who were reaching to answer a text or Facebook message while driving.

It could be very difficult to tell when someone was reading a message, as smartphones can be held inconspicuously, he said.

A spokesman for the North-Rhine Westphalia (NRW) interior ministry said there were no concrete numbers on those using their phone at the wheel.

Mobiles have become such an integrated part of life that people were finding it harder not to use them for stretches of time – despite knowing the dangers of driving with them, the spokesman added.

Last year around 131,000 people were caught on their phones in NRW. Drivers can be fined €40 for using their phone and given points on their licence. 

SEE ALSO: Five dos and don'ts on Germany's Autobahns

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DRIVING

What are the rules around driving a friend or relative’s car in Germany?

If you want to travel around in Germany, a friend, relative or maybe a neighbour might offer you their vehicle to use. But what does the law say about driving someone else's car in Germany?

Published: 11 September 2024 15:48 CEST
Updated: 12 September 2024 10:33 CEST
What are the rules around driving a friend or relative's car in Germany?

Many people in Germany do not have a car, especially those living in larger cities where public transport works well.

However, sometimes you might need one, whether it is to transport something or maybe to go on a trip through the country.

Fortunately, even if you do not own a car yourself, you can still drive someone else’s vehicle, whether it belongs to a relative, friend, or maybe a neighbour. You can obviously also rent one from a rental agency or through carsharing.

Valid licence and approval from owner

In Germany, motor vehicle liability insurance – or Kfz-Haftpflichtversicherung – is linked to the vehicle and not to the driver. This means that the owner’s insurance normally covers anyone who drives the car – as long as they have permission and the insurance policy allows it.

Therefore, in principle, you can drive someone else’s car if you have the owner’s permission and, of course, a valid driver’s license.

However, you still need to read the fine print on the car’s insurance policy to make sure it doesn’t have any particular restrictions on additional drivers, as some policies might specify who is allowed to drive. Some policies will only allow one person to drive: the policyholder. If the policy allows additional drivers, you’re typically good to go.

This is also important if you rent a car in Germany. If you do, you’ll need to declare every driver who may potentially drive it and provide their licence information. If you plan on driving the car outside Germany, you’ll need to declare where. This typically increases the cost of the rental. If you use a carsharing service, only you can typically drive the car you’re renting.

While borrowing someone’s car, you should also have the vehicle’s registration documents and proof of insurance. If you forget the documents, you might need to pay a fine or face complications in the case of an accident or a ticket.

If an accident occurs, you need to contact the car owner. The owner’s insurance company will handle claims or damages.

READ ALSO: EU countries to extend range of offences foreign drivers can be fined for

Valid licence in Germany

To drive someone else’s – or indeed anyone’s – car in Germany, you need to have a valid licence.

If you have a valid German or another EU licence, this is straightforward.

EU driving licences on a table.

EU driving licences on a table. Having a valid licence is a legal requirement for driving in Germany. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Sina Schuldt

If you have a non-EU licence, you can typically drive on it in Germany for the first six months you’re here.

After six months of legal residence in Germany, you won’t be able to drive on your non-EU licence. You will need to convert your non-EU licence to a German one. You can check out The Local’s guide for how this is done.

READ ALSO: How do I convert my foreign driver’s licence into a German one?

Car insurance in Germany

If you own a vehicle in Germany, you’re required to have insurance on it.

The cost of your car insurance is based on a wide range of factors, such as driving experience, car engine size, and location.

Inexperienced drivers, high-powered cars, and drivers living in urban areas typically face higher insurance premiums.

Maintaining a no-claim driving record will lead to a lower fee, as it often leads to lower insurance premiums with your next insurer.

Car insurance premiums can vary quite widely in Germany.

You might be able to get some premiums for €400 a year or even lower. But again, this depends on the make and model of your car, its current estimated value, how old it is, how much experience you have driving and a host of other factors – including whether you allow additional drivers on it.

READ NEXT: Why drivers in Germany could face hike in car insurance rates next year

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