What to do if: You're caught speeding or you breakdown
1. You break down
If you break down at the roadside, make sure you prioritise your own safety before anything else. Once you’re out of harm’s way, it’s a good idea to try to find out where you are and contact your European breakdown cover provider if you’ve taken this out. If you need the emergency services, call the Europe-wide emergency number, 112, for assistance.
If you don’t have cover you could contact a local garage for assistance, or get in contact with a provider to try to take out a policy there and then. However, to save a potential headache at the side of the road, you may be better off planning ahead:
- Make sure you’re covered: When you’re taking your car to Germany, it’s worth finding out how to respond in the event of breaking down. Such problems are never fun to deal with, but having the right European breakdown cover in place should give you peace of mind that if something does go wrong, help is at hand. Recovery costs can really add up without it, so make sure you have a policy in place that covers your needs.
- Prepare your car: Before setting off, make sure your car is as ready as it can be for the journey - a full service is certainly worth doing. After all, it’s better to make the effort now, rather than regretting not doing so when you’re stuck at the roadside in Germany.
- Take the necessary precautions: Take a look at our checklist of things to pack, and remember - if you do break down, always put your safety first and apply the same level of common sense you would at home.
- Have the right documents with you: Ensure you have these documents with you whenever you’re driving in Germany - your passport, proof of insurance, V5C certificate for proof of ownership and a full, valid driving licence (including paper counterpart if appropriate).
2. You get caught speeding
Speeding fines can vary a great deal depending on where an offence was committed and how much the limit was exceeded by.
Did you know?
At the moment, proposals from the European Commission allowing the exchange of data between EU nations in relation to driving offences are being considered. This could mean British drivers will no longer be able to ‘get away’ with speeding offences committed abroad that they aren’t stopped for, such as getting caught by a static speed camera.
Take a look at the table below for a guide on how fines can creep up, depending on how much you’re over the limit:
Speed limit exceeded by | Fine (in built-up areas / away from built-up areas) |
|---|---|
| 1-10 km/h | €15 / €10 |
| 11-15 km/h | €25 / €20 |
| 16-20 km/h | €35 / €30 |
| 21-25 km/h | €80 / €70 |
| 26-30 km/h | €100 / €80 |
Read our guide for more information on speed limits.
Germany Driving - Pocket Guide
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Driving abroad
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