Germany on an Australian Licence — The Side Switch & the Autobahn
Australia
Germany
Australians can drive in Germany on their licence with an International Driving Permit recommended. Two things actually catch Australian drivers — switching from left- to right-hand traffic, and the Autobahn, where many stretches have no speed limit and faster cars close on you very quickly.
Germany is a brilliant self-drive country for Australians — fast, orderly roads and a car that gets you from the Rhine to the Alps without a single bad surface. The paperwork is light. What needs real attention is the change of side and the way the Autobahn rewards lane discipline.
The side you’ll have to relearn
Australia drives on the left; Germany drives on the right. That single swap is the most likely thing to catch you out, and the danger window is your first hour — pulling out of a fuel station, joining a roundabout that now flows the other way, or glancing the wrong direction at a junction. Take that first hour on quiet roads rather than central Munich, and be deliberate at every turn until right-hand traffic stops feeling backwards.
The Autobahn rewards discipline, not bravado
On many Autobahn stretches the 130 km/h figure is only a recommendation, so a car can legally appear behind you at 200 km/h. The rule that keeps you safe is simple: stay right unless overtaking, and check your mirror twice before pulling out, because the gap you judged as safe at Australian speeds closes far faster here. Plenty of sections are signed and camera-enforced at 100 to 130 km/h, often near roadworks — a typical 10 km/h overspeed costs about EUR 30 in town, EUR 20 outside. You can estimate any penalty with the speeding fine calculator.
Paperwork and the small print
Carry your Australian licence, passport and an International Driving Permit together; rental desks and police prefer to see one, and it’s valid for stays up to six months. The car must carry a warning triangle, reflective vest and first-aid kit. Germany’s alcohol limit is 0.05, the same as home, so no recalibration there. Fuel runs around $1.95 a litre and the emergency number is 112. Confirm the full rules on our Germany driving guide and check your documents with the driving permit checker before you collect the car.
Speed limits, fines, equipment & license requirements
Your home country driving rules for reference
Side-by-side driving rules comparison
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Winter tyres in Germany — 2026–27 season
Winter tyres are required in Germany whenever conditions are wintry — Situational (when conditions require: ice, snow, slush, black ice).
- Tread minimum: 1.6 mm — Germany sets no separate winter figure.
- Accepted marking: 3PMSF only — the M+S transitional rule no longer applies to cars (StVZO §36(4))
- Studded tyres: banned
- Penalty: EUR 60 + 1 point; EUR 80 if you obstruct traffic; EUR 75 for the vehicle owner
In German the rule is Winterreifenpflicht, and snow chains are Schneeketten — that is the wording on signs, in hire-car paperwork and on any penalty notice.
Verified against national legislation, August 2026 · Full Germany tyre law · Compare all countries
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Australian licence holders can drive in Germany, and an International Driving Permit is recommended alongside your licence and passport. It is valid for stays of up to six months.
On many Autobahn sections the limit is only advisory at 130 km/h, so faster cars are legal at any speed. Other stretches are signed at 100 to 130 km/h and camera-enforced, so watch the gantries.
Germany sets a 0.05 BAC limit, the same as most of Australia. Penalties climb steeply above it, so treat it as a hard line and don't drink before driving.