Driving

Front and rear seat belts are obligatory in Germany. It is illegal to talk on a hand-held mobile phone while operating a motor vehicle in Germany.

Speed limits:
In towns: 50 km/h (30 mph)
On motorways: None unless indicated
On highways: 100 km/h (62 mph)

There is generally no speed limit on German Autobahns, although the recommended maximum speed is 130 km/h (80 mph). You should be careful when pulling into the left lane, as cars may be coming from the rear at high speed. Impatient drivers will flash their headlights, which means get out of the way. Most German motorways are toll-free.

Be careful about drinking and driving: A driver whose blood alcohol level exceeds 0.5 will be considered legally intoxicated.

Very little free parking is available in downtown areas. Parking along the street often requires feeding a parking meter, which may be located some distance from the car. After you’ve deposted the required fee, the meter will produce a ticket that must be placed in the front windshield.

Be careful about observing no-parking signs, as violations may result in your car being towed away.