At least from the language agl120854 posted there is not exception. You require a translation if your license was not issued by a member state (true for every US license), OR you require a translation if your license is an a language other then German OR you require a translation of your license does not comply with the Convention.

I certainly did not review the original language, however, the language he posted contains logical ORs and NOTs and describes the instances you require a translation, not the execption

The actual law is clearer, I think. You, though, are the German lawyer, so I'll let you look for yourself:
http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/fe...221410998.html

Though it does not hurt to be safe, I would guess that, pragmatically, most people don't worry too much about the translation. I have a US drivers license and have never had to show anyone my international driving permit.

I've rented cars in a few EU countries including Germany, had to have a police report filed in Amsterdam for damage to a car, and been pulled over by German police (who were randomly looking for marijuana as I was driving from the Netherlands in the wee hours of the morning). All rental companies and police officers accepted my license as it was.

Be safe - go to AAA and get one on the spot, 10 minutes max and I believe $10 also. All it takes is one uber German Polizei to ruin your trip

I agree, the actual law is clear. A foreign driving license which is in line with the 1968 treaty does not require a translation. However, I would not argue with any cop but have the international driving permit available

Maybe simply by getting a visa? US citizens cans stay in Germany 90 days visa free. Hoewever, staying more than 90 days does not automatically result in taking residence.

It's always nice when we can agree!
And I agree also about getting the IDP--it's worth saving the potential hassle, plus it's nice not having to keep track of which countries require it and which don't. The only downside to the IDP is I believe they are usually only issued for one year (at least by AAA in the US).

Interesting topic, thanks.

I do think though that it would be even more useful for the OP to acquaint himself a little bit with actual German driving regulations and traffic laws, as well as with some road signs e.g. the difference between no parking and no stopping. I have never seen these signs (in the same form) in the USA. So here is a clear source for tickets already (probably parking tickets are not followed up to the US). Also, one very important thing is that you must absolutely not pass on the right. In many US states that is allowed or at least tolerated. If you do that on the Autobahn going 100+ mph you will be in trouble.

Intersections and right of way with the general right before left rule come to my mind, too. So does the general 20mph (30km/h) limit in residential areas.

I am also not quite sure about pedestrian crossings. In some states of the US one must stop when a pedestrian is there, in others not. In Germany you must stop if anyhow possible.

Here is one of my own stories when driving in the USA for the first time. Wish somebody would have told me.
The first time I drove in the US I saw a red traffic light at an intersection and stopped right in front of it, as I would do in Germany. I found the traffic light was mounted impossibly high to see easily. I hadn't finished the thought when my American GF screamed "Go, go, go!". I said "I can't it's red." She goes "We are standing in the middle of a frickin' four lane intersection, now drive!"

So one would want to avoid this sort of thing when driving in another country. Does anyone else have tips?

Till

Another classic one is 'turn on red'. I've had a few near heart attacks on the passenger seat when visiting US colleagues were driving and after a rollingstop on a red traffic light just turned right. A perfectly legal practice in the US, but not in Bavaria (yes, yes I know about the 'green arrow', but I can count on one hand where I have seen that sign in all of Bavaria)

Good point.
The US Army has a good guide:
http://rmv.hqusareur.army.mil/drivrman/190-34.htm#AppB

OMG! I almost forgot about that! How could I? Every time I go back to Germany now, I am SO tempted to turn right on red. I think that is actually one of the good rules they have in the USA. But they should seriously scrap the passing on right deal.


Very good resource. Thanks for posting! I guess the very different ONE WAY sign is kinda good to know, too. Perhaps along with the yield and right-of-way signs.

Till

I read this thread (in partial horror) on my mobile phone while I was sitting on a delayed IAD-MUC flight a week ago. It was then, on the plane, that I happened to be thumbing through a guidebook that says "International Driver's Permits are required in Austria." My rental was from MUC, but we were immediately going to cross Austria. Then I thought...what if Germany requires one too?

Anyway, long story short: nobody in Europe, either Hertz or overland border agents, asked for an IDL. I even asked Hertz: "Should I go to ADAC and get one?" (ADAC is the German version of AAA.) The agent just laughed and said don't worry about it. We actually did stop at an ADAC that happened to be at an autobahn rest area and the guy there also said not to worry about it.

At border crossings - both exiting and entering the EU at the Croatian border - they just wanted to see passports, not licenses. (Other threads had indicated that we might need to show insurance paperwork, but they did not ask for that either.)

Of course, getting stopped by a non-English-speaking cop might have been problematic, but that didn't happen. Next time I rent abroad, I'll probably get an IDL since it's easy to do, but one definitely is not needed to rent a car in Germany or to cross into or out of the EU zone.

A friend of ours also there at the same time rented in Austria - the country that the guide book said required the license. He had no problems renting there without an IDL either. In fact, they gave him a Mercedes to drive to Croatia - something I specifically asked Hertz not to do because of a warning I'd seen on the German Hertz site about specific makes/models prohibited from leaving Germany and Austria. He had no troubles.

The other sign to watch out for is the red circle (with nothing in it) which means cars are forbidden. Not always intuitive when you see cars in the zone.

I think the only sticklers for IDPs are in Spanish-speaking countries. I've rented many times in France and was never asked for one (rented 2x in Italy but don't remember if they asked). Better to have to avoid being hassled by cops though.

A lot of people don't know it but it's also (or was) prohibited in Manhattan and was prohibited in Quebec until recently (apparently still prohibited on the island of Montreal).

I have an upcoming trip to Europe visiting both Germany and Spain, and am renting cars from Hertz in both countries. I found it interesting that the conf. email from Hertz for the Spanish rental specifically mentions that an IDP is required in the fine print, whereas the conf. email for the German rental says nothing about an IDP.

I have never gotten an IDP for driving in Germany. However this time, since I'm going to Spain too, I got one. Takes 15 min. at NorCal AAA; cost is $15 (AAA member). They'll take the required passport photos too if you don't already have them for an additional $10.

FYI -- with a little advanced planning, you can print your own sheet of 7 for about 19c.