Germany → United Kingdom

Driving in the United Kingdom when you know Germany

Differences first, worst-to-get-wrong first. Rules that match are folded away at the bottom.

What's different (17)

Which side of the road you drive on

Critical

Germany · homeRightChecked 3 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destinationLeftChecked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit on the motorway

Critical

Germany · homeNo general limitNo general limit for cars. 130 km/h is the official recommendation, and going faster can mean sharing liability after an accident. Signed limits apply on many stretches.Checked 3 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destination70 mphChecked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit on country roads

Critical

Germany · home100 km/h — about 62 mphChecked 3 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destination60 mph — about 97 km/hSingle carriageway roads.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit in towns and cities

CriticalVaries by region

Germany · home50 km/h — about 31 mphMany streets are signed 30.Checked 3 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destination30 mph — about 48 km/hEngland and Scotland. Wales uses 20 mph as the default in built-up areas.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Wales20 mph — about 32 km/hThe default in built-up areas. Some roads are signed back up to 30.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

How much alcohol you may have in your blood

CriticalVaries by region

Germany · home0.5 g/l — about 50 mg/100ml0.5 Promille. From 1.1 Promille driving is a criminal offence, and below 0.5 you can still be liable if driving is visibly affected.Checked 3 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destination80 mg/100ml — about 0.8 g/lEngland and Wales. Scotland uses a lower limit.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Scotland50 mg/100ml — about 0.5 g/lChecked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Whether you need an International Driving Permit

Critical

Germany · homeDepends on where your licence is fromEU and EEA licences are accepted as they are. Other licences need a German translation unless the licence conforms to the 1968 Vienna Convention or an International Driving Permit is carried.Checked 3 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destinationNot requiredA full foreign licence is accepted on its own for visits.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Which side you overtake on

Important

Germany · homeLeftPassing on the right is only for vehicles turning left, and for trams.Checked 3 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destinationRightChecked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit on a dual carriageway

Important

Germany · homeNo general limitRoads with structurally separated carriageways have no general car limit, like motorways. The 130 km/h recommendation applies. Signed limits are common.Checked 3 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destination70 mphChecked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Youngest age you may drive

Important

Germany · home18 years17 is possible only in the accompanied-driving scheme, within Germany.Checked 3 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destination17 yearsChecked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Turning at a red light

Important

Germany · homeOnly where a sign allows itOnly where a green arrow plate (Grünpfeil) is mounted beside the red light, only turning right, and only after a complete stop.Checked 3 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destinationNot allowedRed means stop for every direction. A separate green arrow is the only exception.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Height below which a child needs a child seat

Important

Germany · home150 cmA child shorter than 150 cm needs a seat until age 12.Checked 3 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destination135 cmUntil 135 cm tall or age 12, whichever comes first.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Winter tyres

Important

Germany · homeRequired whenever the road is icy or snowyCondition-based, not date-based: winter tyres (3PMSF) are required whenever there is snow, slush or ice on the road, at any time of year.Checked 3 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destinationNot requiredChecked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

How you pay for motorways

Important

Germany · home

None

Motorways are free for cars and motorcycles — the toll applies to trucks. A few tunnels and private roads charge individually.Checked 3 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destination

Toll booths
City charges

Almost all motorways are free. The M6 Toll and several bridges and tunnels charge. London and Durham charge to drive in the city centre.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Parking facing against the traffic

Good to know

Germany · homeOnly on one-way streetsPark on the right edge in the direction of travel; one-way streets allow the left.Checked 3 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destinationAllowedBy day only. At night you must not park facing against the traffic flow unless in a recognised parking space.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

How far you must park from a junction or crossing

Good to know

Germany · home

A junction — 5 m

8 m where a marked cycle path crosses.Checked 3 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destination

A junction — 10 m

Advisory rather than a fixed law, except where markings say otherwise.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Emergency number

Good to know

Germany · home112112 for fire and ambulance. 110 reaches the police.Checked 3 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destination999112 also works and reaches the same service.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Whether police can fine you on the spot

Good to know

Germany · homeYesMinor offences up to 55 euros can be settled on the spot as a warning fine. Larger fines are billed — but drivers without a German address can be required to pay a security deposit immediately.Checked 3 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destinationYes — visitors must pay at the roadsideFixed penalties are normally paid later, not at the roadside. A driver who cannot give a UK address must pay a deposit on the spot.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Known on one side only (9)

What you must carry in the car

Germany · home

Warning triangle
High-visibility vest
First aid kit

Triangle and vest under StVZO §53a. The first aid kit (DIN 13164) is required separately by StVZO §35h: www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stvzo_2012/__35h.htmlChecked 3 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destinationNot yet verified

Speed limit when towing a trailer or caravan

Germany · homeNot yet verified

United Kingdom · destination

Motorway — 60 mph
Dual carriageway — 60 mph
Country roads — 50 mph

Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Alcohol limit for drivers who passed their test recently

Germany · home0 g/lZero alcohol for the two-year probationary period and for anyone under 21.Checked 3 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destinationNot yet verified

Priority to traffic coming from the right

Germany · homeYes — traffic from the right goes first at unmarked junctionsRight before left at any unsigned junction, including small residential ones.Checked 3 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destinationNot yet verified

What the lines and painted kerbs mean

Germany · homeNot yet verified

United Kingdom · destination

Double yellow line — no parking. No waiting at any time, even without an upright sign.
Single yellow line — no parking during signed hours. The hours are on nearby time plates, not on the road.
Double red line — no stopping. Red routes. No stopping at any time.
Single red line — no stopping. Red routes. Applies during the times shown on nearby signs.
White zigzag line — no stopping. Marks the approach to a pedestrian crossing.

Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

How long you may drive on your own licence

Germany · homeNot yet verified

United Kingdom · destination12 monthsCounted from when you last entered Great Britain.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Parking on the pavement

Varies by region

Germany · homeOnly where signs or markings allow itOnly where a sign or marking explicitly allows it.Checked 3 Aug 2026

United Kingdom · destinationNo single national answer:

EnglandAllowedExcept London, where it is banned. Discouraged everywhere, and obstructing the pavement can be fined.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

ScotlandNot allowedChecked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

WalesAllowedDiscouraged, and obstructing the pavement can be fined.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Congestion charges

Germany · homeNot yet verified

United Kingdom · destinationIn some citiesLondon and Durham.Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Typical fines

Germany · homeNot yet verified

United Kingdom · destination

Holding a phone — fine from 200 GBP, 6 points (Drivers who passed their test within the last 2 years lose their licence instead.)

Checked 3 Aug 2026 · official source

Same in both (7)

Holding a phone while driving — Not allowed official source
Who must wear a seatbelt — Everyone, in every seat official source
Age below which a child needs a child seat — 12 years official source
When you must switch your headlights on — Not required official source
Hands-free phone calls — Allowed official source
Who has priority at a roundabout — Traffic already on the roundabout goes first official source
Low-emission zones — In many cities official source