Driving in Germany vs. Iceland: Key Differences Explained
Exploring the nuances of road regulations between Germany and Iceland reveals intriguing contrasts in driving practices. From lane markings to speed limits, these countries prioritize safety differently. Notably, Germany allows more flexibility on highways, while Iceland emphasizes stricter rules. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey in both nations.
Lanes
| Germany | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are standard. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Marks temporary lanes or roadworks. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed. | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored lane. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
germany:
Not commonly used; white lines are standard.
iceland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
germany:
Marks temporary lanes or roadworks.
iceland:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
germany:
Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower.
iceland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
germany:
List length: 5
iceland:
List length: 4
Bus Lanes: Usage
germany:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed.
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
Bus Lanes: Markings
germany:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs.
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
germany:
Bicycle symbols and colored lane.
iceland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
germany:
N/A
iceland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
germany:
Yes
iceland:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
germany:
Electronic signs display current limits.
iceland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Germany | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80 km/h on gravel roads |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h on paved roads |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80 km/h on paved roads |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Yes |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
germany:
100 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
germany:
80-100 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
germany:
80 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
germany:
Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
germany:
100 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
germany:
80-100 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
germany:
Yes
iceland:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
germany:
Electronic signs display current limits
iceland:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
germany:
Common
iceland:
Yes
Signals
| Germany | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates the light is about to change to green | N/A |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | N/A |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | N/A |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | Icelandic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
germany:
Indicates the light is about to change to green
iceland:
N/A
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
germany:
Signal when exiting
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
germany:
Fines may apply for misuse
iceland:
N/A
Hand Signals: Common Usage
germany:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
iceland:
N/A
Traffic Signs: Language
germany:
German; symbols are standard
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
germany:
Triangle-shaped with red border
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Germany | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited in many areas; check for signs | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
germany:
Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present
iceland:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
germany:
Prohibited in many areas; check for signs
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Germany | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory, every 2 years | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on rear license plate | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
germany:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
germany:
Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
germany:
Mandatory, every 2 years
iceland:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
germany:
Displayed on rear license plate
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
germany:
Mandatory
iceland:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Germany | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
germany:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
iceland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Germany | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial, varies by offense | Substantial penalties can apply |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: Professional Drivers
germany:
0.00%
iceland:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
germany:
0.00%
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Fines
germany:
Can be substantial, varies by offense
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
Test Refusal
germany:
Can result in license suspension
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Roundabouts
| Germany | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
germany:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Signaling: Exiting
germany:
Signal right when preparing to exit
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Germany | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | National Police number 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ADAC | Contact local towing services or insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
germany:
110
iceland:
National Police number 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
germany:
Check with your insurance provider or ADAC
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
germany:
Mandatory
iceland:
Not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Germany | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €30 to €60 | Mandatory; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €100, points on license | Fines if found using without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €90 to €200, points on license | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame |
Common Fines: Speeding
germany:
Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
Common Fines: Seat Belts
germany:
€30 to €60
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
germany:
€100, points on license
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
germany:
€90 to €200, points on license
iceland:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
germany:
Common
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
Payment: Deadline
germany:
Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame