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DRIVING

German Autobahns to remain speeders’ paradise as parties rule out limits

The three parties planning to build a new German government ruled out on Friday imposing general speed limits on German motorways.

Published: 15 October 2021 17:38 CEST
The autobahn near Bremen.
The autobahn near Bremen. Photo: dpa | Sina Schuldt

It is just one short sentence but it will make car lovers breathe a sigh of relief while environmentalists will groan.

The agreement concluded by the Greens, Social Democrats and FDP as a basis for coalition talks states that “there will be no general speed limit.”

That sentence means that the Green party gave up on their manifesto pledge to impose a general 130 kilometre per hour speed limit on German highways.

“We couldn’t get the speed limit through,” Green co-leader Robert Habeck admitted on Friday. “In other places, we are very pleased with how the text has come out.”

The liberal FDP were dead set against such a limit on the Autobahns which are famed around the world as being some of the only highways where car drivers can drive as fast as they want without breaking the law.

READ ALSO: Will Germany soon introduce a speed limit?

SPD leader Olaf Scholz is known to drive a BMW, leading to speculation that he was reluctant to impose a limit, despite his party’s official stance in favour of restricting speeds.

Environmental campaigners point to a study produced by Germany’s own Federal Environment Agency, which concluded that 1.9 million tonnes of carbon emissions could be saved every year by imposing a 130 km/h limit.

Others have suggested that a general speed limit would help reduce accidents and save lives although many of the most dangerous stretches of autobahn already have limits in place.

According to a poll from earlier this year almost two thirds (64 percent) of Germans are in favour of introducing a general Autobahn speed limit.

Rumours circulating in the days after the September 26th election suggested the FDP were prepared to budge on the speed limit as long as the Greens would consider entering formal coalition talks with the conservative CDU. The FDP match up better with the CDU than the SPD on most economic issues.

The Greens may therefore have considered abandoning speed limits as an acceptable price to pay to secure more left-wing policies elsewhere.

The decision is not yet set in stone. The negotiators will now seek the approval of their own parties before entering formal talks on the basis of the published proposal.

SEE ALSO: What Germany’s coalition plans mean for immigration and citizenship

Member comments

  1. Another ‘Statistics’ company with experience in fields other than to do with German Motorways. Created/Owned by an ‘entrepreneur” of Belarus/ USSR origins, based in America.
    Statistical forecasters are coming out of the woodwork, (a somewhat lucrative business perhaps).

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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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