Driving in Germany vs. Romania: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Germany and Romania, understanding their distinct regulations and practices is vital for ensuring a secure journey. Key differences arise in lane markings, speed limits, and documentation requirements. This comparison sheds light on various driving norms, empowering travelers to drive confidently and safely in both countries.
Lanes
| Germany | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mainly in urban areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored lane. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Not commonly used |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
germany:
Not commonly used; white lines are standard.
romania:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
germany:
Marks temporary lanes or roadworks.
romania:
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.
romania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
germany:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed.
romania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
germany:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs.
romania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
germany:
Yes
romania:
Limited, mainly in urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Markings
germany:
Bicycle symbols and colored lane.
romania:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
germany:
N/A
romania:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
germany:
Yes
romania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
germany:
Electronic signs display current limits.
romania:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Germany | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Yes, common practice |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
germany:
100 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
germany:
80-100 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
germany:
Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum
romania:
130 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
germany:
80-100 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
germany:
Yes
romania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
germany:
Electronic signs display current limits
romania:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
germany:
Common
romania:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Germany | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates the light is about to change to green | Not used in Romania |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | Romanian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
germany:
Indicates the light is about to change to green
romania:
Not used in Romania
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
germany:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
romania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas
Traffic Signs: Language
germany:
German; symbols are standard
romania:
Romanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
germany:
Triangle-shaped with red border
romania:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Germany | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 signed otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
germany:
Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present
romania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
germany:
Prohibited in many areas; check for signs
romania:
Generally allowed unless signed otherwise
Documentation
| Germany | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory, every 2 years | Yes, periodic inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on rear license plate | Displayed on the windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
germany:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
romania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
germany:
Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended
romania:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
germany:
Mandatory, every 2 years
romania:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
germany:
Displayed on rear license plate
romania:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| Germany | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use expected |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
germany:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
romania:
Moderate use expected
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
germany:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
romania:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Germany | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial, varies by offense | Considerable fines for offenses |
Limits: General Drivers
germany:
0.05%
romania:
0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
Enforcement: Random Checks
germany:
Common
romania:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
germany:
Can be substantial, varies by offense
romania:
Considerable fines for offenses
Emergency Services
| Germany | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ADAC | Call your insurance provider or a local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road |
Contact: Traffic Police
germany:
110
romania:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
germany:
Check with your insurance provider or ADAC
romania:
Call your insurance provider or a local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
germany:
Mandatory
romania:
Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
germany:
Mandatory
romania:
Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road
Penalties And Fines
| Germany | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license | Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Hefty fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €30 to €60 | Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €100, points on license | Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €90 to €200, points on license | Fines applicable; license points may be added |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay | Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid | Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist |
Common Fines: Speeding
germany:
Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license
romania:
Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
germany:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
romania:
Hefty fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
germany:
€30 to €60
romania:
Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
germany:
€100, points on license
romania:
Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
germany:
€90 to €200, points on license
romania:
Fines applicable; license points may be added
Payment: On The Spot
germany:
Common
romania:
Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
Payment: Deadline
germany:
Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay
romania:
Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
germany:
Possible if fines are not paid
romania:
Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist