Drivers should also be aware that German law requires that all vehicles are equipped with a triangle caution sign and a first aid kit (DIN number 13164) as well as a yellow security vest. First aid kits are available at service stations or in any major department store.

Traffic signs in a foreign country can be a whole new language

Speed Limits

Speed limits are 50 km per hour in cities and towns and 100 km outside cities/towns on the so called Landstrasse unless otherwise marked. In certain areas, such as where schools are located, the speed limit is 30 km/h. Some urban areas are also marked as so-called Schrittempo zones, where you are expected to crawl along in first gear.

There is no speed limit on the Autobahn, except in areas marked with signs for particular speeds. The German road authorities, however, recommend a top speed of 130 km on the Autobahn.

Speeding fines

Fines for speeding start at EUR 10 for exceeding the speed limit by 10 km. More than 70 km, you are hit with a EUR 680 fine, loose four points and have your licence taken away for three months.

Parking

The cost of metered parking can vary considerably depending on the location, but you should expect to pay EUR 1 an hour. It can, however, be as high as EUR 1 for every half an hour.
  
For parking fines you should expect to pay between EUR 5 and EUR 40. Please note that in many cities (such as Berlin) fines for timed-out parking tickets can be higher than fines for not buying a parking ticket at all (EUR 10 vs. EUR 5).

Others areas where there is limited but not metered parking are sometimes designated for parking with a Parkscheibe. This is a double cardboard disc which indicates at what time you parked and which you display under your windshield.

New roads rules can take some time to get used to

Drink driving

In line with most EU states, those driving in Germany with over 0.5 of a milligram of alcohol per millilitre of blood will find themselves hit with a EUR 250 fine, lose four points and have their driving licence taken away for at least one month. Higher fines may apply depending on the amount of alcohol measured in the bloodstream and depending on if you have been involved in a car accident.

Biking

One of the pleasures of living in Germany's cities and towns is that the bicycle is considered to be a real alternative to other forms of transport.

It is not necessary to buy a bicycle if you plan only on the occasional scenic ride or are visiting a town. For example, in Berlin you can rent a bike from Fahrradstation, which has several branches around town, for about EUR15 a day. Radius Bike Rental in Munich rents bikes for a similar price.

Deutsche Bahn also provides the "Call a Bike" system, where you can rent a bike for as long as you want. The bikes are red and silver and have a red DB sign on them, and you'll find them parked on various streets in Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne or Munich.

To rent one, call the number on the bike and follow the instructions (most receptionists speak English) to register and pay by credit card. Alternatively, you register at www.callabike-interaktiv.de. They also offer apps for iPhones or Android phones to rent a bike more easily. In addition to a one-time registration fee of EUR 12 (if you do it online, EUR 7.50 will be reimbursed to your account to use for renting rates), you will be charged on a per-minute basis (EUR 0.08, maximum EUR 15 per day) so don't forget to call back when you've finished! See the Deutsche Bahn website for more information.

Useful websites

http://www.bussgeldkataloge.de
which sets out fines

ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club)
Germany's main automobile club
http://www.adac.de/

Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad Club: http://www.adfc.de/ (in German)
Deutsche Bahn: http://www.db.de (some pages in English)
Fahrradstation: http://www.fahrradstation.de (in German but easy to follow. Click on Miete for rental prices)

 Updated in April 2011 by Marco Dilenge, Regional Marketing Manager Continental Europe, Crown Worldwide Group, the parent company of Crown Relocations.