Driving to Germany: The Checklist Most Drivers Forget

Driving to Germany looks easy: open borders, no motorway toll for cars. But a few rules catch foreign drivers every single season, and a fine ruins a weekend faster than a traffic jam near Munich.

1. The green sticker for low-emission zones

Most big German cities (Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart, Cologne, Frankfurt…) have an Umweltzone. Drive in without a green Umweltplakette on your windscreen and it's a €100 fine, even if you're just heading to your hotel. Order it before the trip, not at a border petrol station.

2. Winter tyres with the alpine symbol

Germany has a situational rule: snow, ice or slush means winter tyres, full stop. Since October 2024 only tyres with the mountain-and-snowflake symbol (3PMSF) count. Plain M+S tyres no longer do.

3. Mandatory kit

Warning triangle, an in-date first aid kit and a high-visibility vest. Keep the vest within reach of the driver, not buried under the luggage.

4. Vignette? Not in Germany, yes in Austria

German autobahns are free for cars. If your route crosses Austria, though, you need the Austrian digital vignette.

5. Documents

Driving licence, registration certificate and proof of insurance. Check that your insurer covers Germany.

Sort it from your sofa

You can order the green sticker online at nemeckaplaketa.cz: upload a photo of your registration document and it arrives by post in a few days. Then just fill up and go.