Driving in Germany vs. Indonesia: Key Differences Explained
Discover the essential contrasts in road regulations between Germany and Indonesia to enhance your travel experience. From driving sides and speed limits to traffic signals and documentation, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring safety on foreign roads. Navigate the unique driving landscapes of each country with confidence!
Lanes
| Germany | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| 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 Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed. | Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs. | Labeled with specific signage. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles. |
| 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 |
Driving Side
germany:
Right
indonesia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
germany:
Not commonly used; white lines are standard.
indonesia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
germany:
Marks temporary lanes or roadworks.
indonesia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
germany:
Yes
indonesia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
germany:
Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower.
indonesia:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
germany:
Use rightmost lane.
indonesia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
germany:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed.
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
germany:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs.
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
germany:
Yes
indonesia:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
germany:
Exclusive for bicycles.
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
germany:
Bicycle symbols and colored lane.
indonesia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
germany:
N/A
indonesia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
germany:
Yes
indonesia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
germany:
Electronic signs display current limits.
indonesia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Germany | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 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 |
Urban Areas: Standard
germany:
50 km/h
indonesia:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
germany:
100 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
germany:
80-100 km/h
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
germany:
80 km/h
indonesia:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
germany:
Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum
indonesia:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
germany:
100 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
germany:
80-100 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
germany:
Yes
indonesia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
germany:
Electronic signs display current limits
indonesia:
N/A
Signals
| Germany | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates the light is about to change to green | Not used in Indonesia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | Indonesian; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
germany:
Indicates the light is about to change to green
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
Traffic Signs: Language
germany:
German; symbols are standard
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
Turns
| Germany | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present | Forbidden unless a sign permits it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited in many areas; check for signs | Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
germany:
Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
U- Turns Allowed
germany:
Prohibited in many areas; check for signs
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Germany | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory, every 2 years | Yes, periodic checks required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on rear license plate | Evidence of inspection may be displayed |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
germany:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
indonesia:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
germany:
Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended
indonesia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
germany:
Mandatory, every 2 years
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
germany:
Displayed on rear license plate
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
germany:
Mandatory
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Germany | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in traffic |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Give way and make room |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
germany:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
indonesia:
Frequent use in traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
germany:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
indonesia:
Give way and make room
Alcohol
| Germany | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial, varies by offense | Varies by region; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
germany:
0.00%
indonesia:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
germany:
0.00%
indonesia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Fines
germany:
Can be substantial, varies by offense
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Germany | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 110 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | Check local emergency numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ADAC | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory in case of breakdown |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended for safety |
Contact: General Emergency
germany:
112
indonesia:
112 or 110
Contact: Traffic Police
germany:
110
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
germany:
Check with your insurance provider or ADAC
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
germany:
Mandatory
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
germany:
Mandatory
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
Penalties And Fines
| Germany | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license | Varies; subject to local laws |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €30 to €60 | Subject to local laws, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €100, points on license | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €90 to €200, points on license | Fines apply, enforced rigorously |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
germany:
Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
Common Fines: Seat Belts
germany:
€30 to €60
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
germany:
€100, points on license
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
germany:
€90 to €200, points on license
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
Payment: On The Spot
germany:
Common
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
Payment: Deadline
germany:
Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days