From mouth-watering bratwurst to fairytale castles, from eye-poppingly huge glasses of beer to funny looking trousers – the Germans excel at many things. But for petrolheads who seldom get the opportunity to see how fast their car can really go, it’s the famous (or possibly infamous) autobahns of Germany that are the prime attraction. The possibility of legally driving much faster than is permitted on British roads is certainly very exciting to some motorists, but there are a number of traffic laws that you should familiarise yourself with if you are planning a driving holiday in the Bundesrepublik.
Choosing the right level of vehicle breakdown cover is advisable in order to eliminate the risk of receiving a big recovery bill should you breakdown in Germany. But in addition to this, you are required by German law to carry with you a valid license, insurance documentation (with photographic ID if your license has no photograph) and written permission from the owner of car, if it is not your own.
You also need to keep a first aid kit, visibility vest and a warning triangle on board, and you are required by law to keep your headlamps dipped during daylight hours.
In snowy conditions, which are particularly common in southern parts of Germany during the winter, the authorities advise motorists to have snow-chains onboard. While these are not compulsory, it is worth bearing in mind that if you do not carry this piece of equipment, police may prevent you from carrying on your journey – if weather conditions are very bad.
And, while the German’s are famous for having a liberal attitude to speed limits, it is very important to remember that only some stretches of autobahn have high speed limits; most other German roads have speed limits comparable to the United Kingdom.
Breakdown Cover from 
