Is it a bad idea to buy a car with delivery in Germany and drive on the Autobahn?
May 16, 2017, 7:49 am
#76
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Since the driver's license debate has been going back and forth for a while, I feel compelled to add a real life example to the discussion.
My mother received her driver's license in Paris in the late 60s. In the early 70s, my parents returned to Germany, where she missed her window of opportunity to trade her French license for a German one. Therefore she continued to use her French license without ever having to show it, until, after 30 years, she was involved in an accident (not her fault).
Police was called to the scene, informed her that the license was no longer valid, but told her that laws had changed and that she could get a European-format license in France, which could then be traded for a German one. They also gave her a verbal warning, but no fine and they did not mention the license question in the accident report.
My mother received her driver's license in Paris in the late 60s. In the early 70s, my parents returned to Germany, where she missed her window of opportunity to trade her French license for a German one. Therefore she continued to use her French license without ever having to show it, until, after 30 years, she was involved in an accident (not her fault).
Police was called to the scene, informed her that the license was no longer valid, but told her that laws had changed and that she could get a European-format license in France, which could then be traded for a German one. They also gave her a verbal warning, but no fine and they did not mention the license question in the accident report.
At this moment her French license document was no longer valid to be used in Germany. She however held a French license and under EU law she could use such French license in Germany. Given that, she held a valid license but could not make evidence of it. This is probably the reason why they did not make a big thing out of this. This, however, does not work for a US license.
May 16, 2017, 8:09 am
#77
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Lucky her, but to my belief a correct result
At this moment her French license document was no longer valid to be used in Germany. She however held a French license and under EU law she could use such French license in Germany. Given that, she held a valid license but could not make evidence of it. This is probably the reason why they did not make a big thing out of this. This, however, does not work for a US license.
At this moment her French license document was no longer valid to be used in Germany. She however held a French license and under EU law she could use such French license in Germany. Given that, she held a valid license but could not make evidence of it. This is probably the reason why they did not make a big thing out of this. This, however, does not work for a US license.
May 16, 2017, 11:11 am
#78
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You need always to distinguish between your license (Fahrerlaubnis) and the license document (Führerschein). This is quite frequently mixed up. Mum held a valid French licensense, however an invalid license document
May 19, 2017, 1:10 am
#79
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Lucky her, but to my belief a correct result
At this moment her French license document was no longer valid to be used in Germany. She however held a French license and under EU law she could use such French license in Germany. Given that, she held a valid license but could not make evidence of it. This is probably the reason why they did not make a big thing out of this. This, however, does not work for a US license.
At this moment her French license document was no longer valid to be used in Germany. She however held a French license and under EU law she could use such French license in Germany. Given that, she held a valid license but could not make evidence of it. This is probably the reason why they did not make a big thing out of this. This, however, does not work for a US license.
True for the new card style license document, however not for the old types (like our German "grauer Lappen").
You need always to distinguish between your license (Fahrerlaubnis) and the license document (Führerschein). This is quite frequently mixed up. Mum held a valid French licensense, however an invalid license document
You need always to distinguish between your license (Fahrerlaubnis) and the license document (Führerschein). This is quite frequently mixed up. Mum held a valid French licensense, however an invalid license document
Last edited by GUWonder; May 19, 2017 at 1:19 am
May 19, 2017, 3:12 am
#80
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And what "circumstances"?"Arrangements" between France and Germany are not on "other treaty level" but a direct consequence of European law (DIRECTIVE 2006/126/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 20 December 2006 on driving licenses). But I would really appreciate some more details on your view (if any such details exist).
May 19, 2017, 3:18 am
#81
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How shall a US license grant any rights in the EU other than the rights under the said international conventions? And what "circumstances"?
"Arrangements" between France and Germany are not on "other treaty level" but a direct consequence of European law (DIRECTIVE 2006/126/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 20 December 2006 on driving licenses). But I would really appreciate some more details on your view (if any such details exist).
And what "circumstances"?"Arrangements" between France and Germany are not on "other treaty level" but a direct consequence of European law (DIRECTIVE 2006/126/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 20 December 2006 on driving licenses). But I would really appreciate some more details on your view (if any such details exist).
It's not about the US license granting the right, rather it's about legal agreements applicable (in at least parts of the EU) granting rights, including rights for those licensed outside the EU.
Last edited by GUWonder; May 19, 2017 at 3:23 am
May 19, 2017, 4:45 pm
#82
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It's certainly an interesting topic. The EU has IMO simplified the system rather well allowing holders of a DL issued by a member state to stay in another member state for up to 6 months before having to exchange the DL for one issued by the member state in which said holder is staying.
Moreover, harmonisation of the DL categories and the requirements WRT the driver has made exchanging the DL much more simpler.
Anyway, we were talking about the Autobahn...
May 19, 2017, 5:11 pm
#83
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To all those thinking of driving in Germany, please remember that your new car has, on the left side of the steering wheel, a stalk that, when pushed down or up makes those orange lights at the front and back of your car blink. I know you think these lights are just there for pretty decoration, but it may surprise you to learn that they actually indicate the driver's intended change of lane or direction. Curiously, drivers in Europe are particularly fond of using these constantly, unlike in the US where weaving unannounced across four lanes of traffic while undertaking on the right is considered completely normal.
May 19, 2017, 5:22 pm
#84
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To all those thinking of driving in Germany, please remember that your new car has, on the left side of the steering wheel, a stalk that, when pushed down or up makes those orange lights at the front and back of your car blink. I know you think these lights are just there for pretty decoration, but it may surprise you to learn that they actually indicate the driver's intended change of lane or direction. Curiously, drivers in Europe are particularly fond of using these constantly, unlike in the US where weaving unannounced across four lanes of traffic while undertaking on the right is considered completely normal.
May 20, 2017, 8:08 am
#88
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To all those thinking of driving in Germany, please remember that your new car has, on the left side of the steering wheel, a stalk that, when pushed down or up makes those orange lights at the front and back of your car blink. I know you think these lights are just there for pretty decoration, but it may surprise you to learn that they actually indicate the driver's intended change of lane or direction. Curiously, drivers in Europe are particularly fond of using these constantly, unlike in the US where weaving unannounced across four lanes of traffic while undertaking on the right is considered completely normal.
Passing on the right on roads isn't that extraordinary in much of the world, including in the US. In Europe, it's a bad idea more so than in the US.
It's not all that great an idea to buy a car with which the driver is unfamiliar and to get to driving when unfamiliar with the local conditions. Does Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Porsche give buyers from other regions any educational lessons/material/pointers on different driving practices before sending their customers out onto the road? There are even lots of road signs in Europe which would make little to no sense to many American drivers. AUSFAHRT and INFAHRT aren't just jokes. And AUSGANG isn't the same thing as AUSFAHRT.
May 20, 2017, 9:39 am
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