Vacation by car: You should know these traffic rules abroad

Created: 05/25/2022, 11:34 am

Before you go on holiday, find out which rules apply locally.

© Patrick Daxenbichler/Imago (symbol image)

If you drive abroad by car, you should find out about the traffic rules in advance.

Because these are often different in detail than in Germany.

Ignorance can be expensive.

When it comes to

violations, law enforcement officers abroad usually don't take a joke.

If you think you can exceed the specified limit, you will quickly experience an expensive surprise.

Depending on the country, there are different speed limits for country roads, expressways and motorways, which you should inquire about in advance; these are usually general limits.

In some countries, however, the maximum speed is always individually limited by signs.

The fines for exceeding the maximum limit also differ - but they are almost always higher than those in Germany.

Norway is particularly expensive in this respect at 480 euros for 20 km/h, but also in Italy and Switzerland 170 euros are due from this limit.

A special feature for e-drivers in Austria

There is one special feature for e-car drivers in Austria

: Since the beginning of 2021, there has also been an exception to the environmental speed limit for foreign cars.

This limits the maximum speed of combustion cars to 100 km/h on certain sections of the motorway.

are also

allowed to drive up to 130.

In many countries, there are special, stricter speed limits for novice drivers.

According to ADAC, new drivers in

are only allowed to drive 90 km/h on country roads and a maximum of 100 km/h on motorways.

The regulation applies in the first three years after obtaining the driver's license.

The situation is similar in

where novice drivers are only allowed to drive 80 km/h outside built-up areas, only 100 km/h on expressways and only 110 km/h on motorways in the first three years.

Croatia draws the borders at 80, 100 and 120 km/h.

Spain: Two warning triangles are also mandatory in rental cars

In some countries you also have to observe special regulations:

All cars registered in

- such as rental cars - must

carry two

In

must be switched on at any time of the day or night outside of built-up areas

. This also applies to mopeds and motorbikes in built-up areas.

every car for several years

. Although its absence is no longer punishable by a fine, having it with you saves you having to talk to the police in a foreign language.

In many countries there is also an obligation for every occupant to carry a high-visibility vest.

Fines abroad are often significantly more expensive than in Germany

If you visit a country with toll motorways

, you should always have enough cash with you in case no EC or credit cards are accepted at the toll station.

Driving on toll roads without a valid

is not a good idea.

The monitoring is usually close-meshed and the penalties exceed the cost of the vignette many times over.

In general, fines in other European countries are often significantly higher than in Germany.

Unlike a few years ago, foreign fines cannot simply be ignored.

For example, there is an enforcement agreement within the EU.

This only applies from a height of 70 euros;

this limit is quickly reached, however, since the processing fees are added to the actual costs of the offence.

: The limit here is 25 euros.

If someone refuses to pay the fine, this can even lead to imprisonment as part of enforcement proceedings.

In the event of an inspection in the country concerned, old fines can also be collected retrospectively.

So if you intend to visit the country in question again, you should pay a valid fine immediately.