Speed limitGermany

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of Germany. Learn about driving, road safety and much more in our illustrated book, with answers to frequently asked questions.

For informational purposes only. Always follow official regulations. Some content and images were created with AI assistance.


6. Speed limit

A speed limit is the maximum legal speed permitted on a road, lane or within a designated area. It may be established by general traffic law or indicated by fixed, variable or temporary traffic signs.

A speed limit is a maximum, not a target speed. Drivers must travel more slowly whenever traffic, visibility, weather, road conditions, vulnerable road users or the condition of the vehicle make the maximum permitted speed unsafe.

60 km/h speed-limit sign beside the Breithülen locality sign. (Heroldstatt, Baden-Württemberg, Germany)
Wikimedia.org • Heini Woldschläger • CC BY
Which general speed limits should car drivers know in Germany?

For an ordinary passenger car without a trailer, the general maxima are 50 km/h in built-up areas and 100 km/h on ordinary roads outside them. Qualifying unrestricted Autobahn sections have no general car maximum, but an advisory 130 km/h speed applies. Obey signed restrictions and drive more slowly whenever conditions require it.

🔗 gesetze-im-internet.de • Germany StVO: §§3(1),(3),18; Annex 2, sign 274 and wet-road panel

🔗 gesetze-im-internet.de • Autobahn-Richtgeschwindigkeits-V §§1–2: 130 km/h recommendation

Is Germany’s 130 km/h motorway advisory speed a mandatory maximum?

The official term Richtgeschwindigkeit means advisory speed. The 130 km/h recommendation is not itself a blanket legal maximum on an unrestricted qualifying section. A regulatory speed sign is binding, and the duty to choose a safe speed always applies.

🔗 gesetze-im-internet.de • Germany StVO: §§3(1),(3),18; Annex 2, sign 274 and wet-road panel

🔗 gesetze-im-internet.de • Autobahn-Richtgeschwindigkeits-V §§1–2: 130 km/h recommendation

Start of a speed limit. Start of a speed limit.

English • Traffic sign 274-60 • Maximum permitted speed of 60 km/h.

Deutsch • Verkehrszeichen 274-60 • Zulässige Höchstgeschwindigkeit 60 km/h.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Verwaltungsvorschriften-im-internet.de • VzKat, Anhang (Gesamtübersicht)

Image via Commons.wikimedia.org
Nach den amtlichen Vorgaben digital umgesetzt durch: Mediatus • Public domain • Source revision 2017-10-19. Wikimedia original unmodified.

End of the speed limit. End of the speed limit.

English • Traffic sign 278-60 • End of the maximum permitted speed of 60 km/h.

Deutsch • Verkehrszeichen 278-60 • Ende der zulässigen Höchstgeschwindigkeit 60 km/h.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Verwaltungsvorschriften-im-internet.de • VzKat, Anhang (Gesamtübersicht)

Image via Commons.wikimedia.org
Nach den amtlichen Vorgaben digital umgesetzt durch: Mediatus • Public domain • Source revision 2017-08-20. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Can a German motorway restriction apply only in wet conditions?

Yes. A supplementary panel reading bei Nässe makes the displayed restriction applicable in wet conditions. Read time, weather or vehicle conditions together with the speed sign; a conditional restriction must not be treated as an unconditional number.

🔗 gesetze-im-internet.de • Germany StVO: §§3(1),(3),18; Annex 2, sign 274 and wet-road panel

🔗 gesetze-im-internet.de • Autobahn-Richtgeschwindigkeits-V §§1–2: 130 km/h recommendation

1 Germany 2 Motorway 3 Expressway 4 Residential area 5 Zone 6 Speed limit 7 Footpath 8 Bike path 9 Shared-use path 10 Pedestrian warning 11 Tunnel 12 Bridge 13 Cycling street 14 Pedestrian zone 15 Toll road 16 Customs 17 One-way traffic 18 Quay 19 Slope 20 Bus lane 21 Bus stop 22 Dead end 23 Stop sign 24 Give way 25 Roundabout 26 Priority road 27 Road narrowing 28 Priority over oncoming traffic 29 Give way to oncoming traffic 30 Pedestrian crossing 31 Railway crossing 32 Mandatory direction 33 School area 34 Overtaking 35 Crossing animals 36 Slippery road 37 Rockfall 38 Aircraft 39 Curve 40 Chevron 41 Wrong-way driving 42 Roadworks 43 Crosswind 44 Height limit 45 Width limit 46 Length limit 47 Weight limit 48 Radar speed sign 49 Selective barriers 50 Low-emission zone 51 Intersection direction sign 52 Priority at the next junction 53 Traffic lights 54 Traffic lights warning 55 Pedestrian lights 56 Road markings 57 Junction layout 58 Bike box 59 Speed feedback 60 Driving licence 61 Location marker 62 Countdown markers 63 Traffic mirror 64 Emergency telephone 65 International border 66 Pedestrian underpass 67 Cycling route 68 End of restriction 69 Parking 70 No parking 71 No stopping 72 Parallel parking 73 Park and ride 74 Kiss and ride 75 Parking meter 76 Parking disc 77 Disabled parking 78 Traffic management 79 Reversing 80 Traffic jam 81 Detour 82 Uncontrolled crossroad 83 Road surface 84 Exit 85 Horse riding 86 Provisional licence 87 Hazardous cargo 88 Emergency exit 89 Runaway truck ramp 90 Oversize load 91 Cycle highway 92 Carsharing 93 City limit 94 Gantry 95 Distance board 96 Breakdown bay 97 Hiking 98 Pavement parking 99 Road church 100 Tourist attraction ...