Driving in Denmark vs Germany: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Denmark and Germany, motorists encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their driving experiences. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane usage, and protocols at roundabouts. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey in each country.
Lanes
| Denmark | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the central reservation on dual carriageways. | Not commonly used; white lines are standard. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used temporarily in construction zones. | Marks temporary lanes or roadworks. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally prohibited, except in congested multilane traffic. | Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes bicycles and taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' with road signs indicating restrictions. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often green or red colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored lane. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
denmark:
Marks the central reservation on dual carriageways.
germany:
Not commonly used; white lines are standard.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
denmark:
Used temporarily in construction zones.
germany:
Marks temporary lanes or roadworks.
Overtaking: On Right
denmark:
Generally prohibited, except in congested multilane traffic.
germany:
Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower.
Bus Lanes: Usage
denmark:
Reserved for buses and sometimes bicycles and taxis.
germany:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed.
Bus Lanes: Markings
denmark:
Labeled 'BUS' with road signs indicating restrictions.
germany:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
denmark:
Bicycle symbols and often green or red colored pavement.
germany:
Bicycle symbols and colored lane.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
denmark:
Not applicable
germany:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Denmark | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-130 km/h | Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, for minor offenses. | Common |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
denmark:
80 km/h
germany:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
denmark:
80 km/h
germany:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
denmark:
110-130 km/h
germany:
Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum
Highways: Buses And Vans
denmark:
90-100 km/h
germany:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
denmark:
80 km/h
germany:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
denmark:
Yes, for minor offenses.
germany:
Common
Signals
| Denmark | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used before green. | Indicates the light is about to change to green |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Danish; symbols are standard | German; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
denmark:
Used before green.
germany:
Indicates the light is about to change to green
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
denmark:
Signal when entering and exiting
germany:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
denmark:
Danish; symbols are standard
germany:
German; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
denmark:
Triangular with red border
germany:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Denmark | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs, give way to crossing traffic and pedestrians. | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign. | Prohibited in many areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
denmark:
Not allowed
germany:
Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present
Left Turn: General
denmark:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs, give way to crossing traffic and pedestrians.
germany:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
denmark:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign.
germany:
Prohibited in many areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Denmark | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no additional permits needed for short stays | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory periodic inspections for vehicles | Mandatory, every 2 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on rear license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
denmark:
Accepted; no additional permits needed for short stays
germany:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
denmark:
International Driving Permit recommended
germany:
Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
denmark:
Mandatory periodic inspections for vehicles
germany:
Mandatory, every 2 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
denmark:
Displayed on the windshield
germany:
Displayed on rear license plate
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
denmark:
Recommended
germany:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Denmark | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Move to the side and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
denmark:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
germany:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Denmark | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; carried out by the police | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Can be substantial, varies by offense |
Limits: Professional Drivers
denmark:
0.02%
germany:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
denmark:
0.00%; zero tolerance
germany:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
denmark:
Common; carried out by the police
germany:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
denmark:
Can be substantial
germany:
Can be substantial, varies by offense
Roundabouts
| Denmark | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal left if taking any exit other than first | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
denmark:
Signal left if taking any exit other than first
germany:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| Denmark | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact general emergency to report traffic issues | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurer or patrol services | Check with your insurance provider or ADAC |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
denmark:
Contact general emergency to report traffic issues
germany:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
denmark:
Contact your insurer or patrol services
germany:
Check with your insurance provider or ADAC
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
denmark:
Recommended but not mandatory
germany:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Denmark | Germany | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines proportional to salary, can be significant | Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible license forfeiture, or jail | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, mandatory for front and rear seats | €30 to €60 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, use of hands-free required | €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines and possible license points | €90 to €200, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually handled through post or bank transfer | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 14 days | Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
denmark:
Varies; fines proportional to salary, can be significant
germany:
Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
denmark:
Substantial fines, possible license forfeiture, or jail
germany:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
denmark:
Fines apply, mandatory for front and rear seats
germany:
€30 to €60
Common Fines: Phone Use
denmark:
Fines apply, use of hands-free required
germany:
€100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
denmark:
Significant fines and possible license points
germany:
€90 to €200, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
denmark:
Possible; fines usually handled through post or bank transfer
germany:
Common
Payment: Deadline
denmark:
Varies; typically within 14 days
germany:
Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay