Driving Differences: Australia vs. Germany Explained
When comparing the road regulations of Australia and Germany, distinct variations come to light. From driving sides—left in Australia versus right in Germany—to speed limits and lane usage, understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring safe travels. This comparison will equip you with essential knowledge for navigating each country's unique traffic landscape.
Lanes
| Australia | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels. | Not commonly used; white lines are standard. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes. | Marks temporary lanes or roadworks. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored lane. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
germany:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
germany:
Not commonly used; white lines are standard.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
germany:
Marks temporary lanes or roadworks.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
germany:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
germany:
Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
germany:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
germany:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
germany:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
australia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
germany:
Bicycle symbols and colored lane.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
germany:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
germany:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; may vary by area. | Common |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
germany:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
germany:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
germany:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
germany:
Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
germany:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
germany:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
germany:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
germany:
Common
Signals
| Australia | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Indicates the light is about to change to green |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | German; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
germany:
Indicates the light is about to change to green
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
germany:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
germany:
German; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
germany:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Australia | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Prohibited in many areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
germany:
Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
germany:
Prohibited in many areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Australia | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Mandatory, every 2 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Displayed on rear license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
germany:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
germany:
Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
germany:
Mandatory, every 2 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
germany:
Displayed on rear license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
germany:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
germany:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Move to the side and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
germany:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Can be substantial, varies by offense |
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
germany:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
germany:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
germany:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
germany:
Can be substantial, varies by offense
Roundabouts
| Australia | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal right if intending to turn immediately | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Entering
australia:
Signal right if intending to turn immediately
germany:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
germany:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
germany:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | Check with your insurance provider or ADAC |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
germany:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
germany:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
germany:
Check with your insurance provider or ADAC
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
germany:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
germany:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | €30 to €60 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | €90 to €200, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
germany:
Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
germany:
€30 to €60
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
germany:
€100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
germany:
€90 to €200, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
germany:
Common
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
germany:
Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay