German Traffic Stop Vocabulary — Getting Pulled Over
After this lesson you can hand over your documents and follow an officer’s instructions.
Do this first: Imperativ
Übungen
Eight exercises on what you just watched. Get 80% and the lesson is marked done and added to your A1 progress.
1 / 8 · Word order
Put the words in the right order.
Please pull over.
2 / 8 · Word order
Put the words in the right order.
I only speak a little German.
3 / 8 · Choose
What is der Führerschein?
4 / 8 · Choose
What is der Fahrzeugschein?
5 / 8 · Choose
What does Halten Sie bitte an mean?
6 / 8 · Choose
What does Steigen Sie bitte aus mean?
7 / 8 · Choose
What is die Verkehrskontrolle?
8 / 8 · Choose
What is das Bußgeld?
In short
At a German traffic stop you will hear imperatives: Halten Sie bitte an, Ihren Führerschein bitte, Steigen Sie bitte aus. The three documents are der Führerschein (licence), der Fahrzeugschein (registration) and your Ausweis (ID).
How it works
A Verkehrskontrolle is the most concentrated set of imperatives you will ever hear in German, which is why it sits here. Every instruction uses the Sie form from lesson 41: Halten Sie an, Fahren Sie rechts ran, Zeigen Sie mir bitte …
Three documents are asked for and it is worth knowing them apart. Der Führerschein is your driving licence. Der Fahrzeugschein (or Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I) is the vehicle registration, which lives in the car. And your Personalausweis or passport for identification. In Germany you are legally required to carry all of them while driving.
The vocabulary of the outcome is short. Die Verkehrskontrolle is a routine check — often nothing to do with you personally. Das Bußgeld is the fine, der Punkt is a penalty point (they go to a central register in Flensburg), and der Alkoholtest is the breathalyser. If you genuinely do not follow, say so plainly: Ich spreche nur wenig Deutsch. Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Halten Sie bitte an. | Please pull over. |
| Fahren Sie bitte rechts ran. | Pull over to the right, please. |
| Ihren Führerschein, bitte. | Your licence, please. |
| Zeigen Sie mir bitte den Fahrzeugschein. | Show me the registration, please. |
| Steigen Sie bitte aus. | Please get out of the car. |
| Öffnen Sie bitte den Kofferraum. | Please open the boot. |
| Warten Sie hier. | Wait here. |
| German | English |
|---|---|
| der Führerschein | driving licence |
| der Fahrzeugschein | vehicle registration |
| der Personalausweis | ID card |
| die Versicherung | insurance |
| die Warnweste | high-vis vest — legally required in the car |
| der Verbandskasten | first-aid kit — also required |
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich spreche nur wenig Deutsch. | I only speak a little German. |
| Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? | Could you repeat that, please? |
| Ich habe das nicht verstanden. | I didn't understand that. |
| Hier, bitte. | Here you are. |
| Was habe ich falsch gemacht? | What did I do wrong? |
| Wie hoch ist das Bußgeld? | How much is the fine? |
Examples
- Halten Sie bitte an.Please pull over.
- Ihren Führerschein und Fahrzeugschein, bitte.Your licence and registration, please.
- Hier, bitte.Here you are.
- Ich spreche nur wenig Deutsch.I only speak a little German.
- Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?Could you repeat that, please?
- Was habe ich falsch gemacht?What did I do wrong?
- Sie sind zu schnell gefahren.You were driving too fast.
- Wie hoch ist das Bußgeld?How much is the fine?
- Das ist eine allgemeine Verkehrskontrolle.This is a routine traffic check.
- Steigen Sie bitte aus.Please get out of the car.
Mistakes to avoid
✗ Leaving the Fahrzeugschein at home
✓ Keeping it in the car
The vehicle registration must be carried in the vehicle, and the licence on you. Not having them is itself a finable offence.
✗ Getting out of the car unasked
✓ Waiting to be asked
Stay in the vehicle unless told otherwise — Steigen Sie bitte aus is a specific instruction. Getting out on your own initiative is read as odd.
✗ Pretending to understand
✓ Ich spreche nur wenig Deutsch.
Saying so plainly is far better than nodding. Officers deal with this constantly and will slow down or find someone.
✗ Confusing Führerschein and Fahrzeugschein
✓ Führer = driver, Fahrzeug = vehicle
Führerschein is your licence; Fahrzeugschein belongs to the car. The compound tells you which is which.
Wortschatz
The words from this lesson.
| die Verkehrskontrolle | traffic check | |
| der Führerschein | driving licence | |
| der Fahrzeugschein | vehicle registration | |
| anhalten | to stop, pull over | separable |
| aussteigen | to get out | separable |
| das Bußgeld | fine | |
| der Alkoholtest | breathalyser test | |
| die Warnweste | high-visibility vest | |
| der Verbandskasten | first-aid kit | |
| die Geschwindigkeit | speed |
Kulturnotiz
German law requires every car to carry a Warnweste, a Verbandskasten and a Warndreieck (warning triangle) — and they are checked. Penalty points go to the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt in Flensburg, which is why Germans say someone "has points in Flensburg" as shorthand for a driving record. And while the Autobahn has famously derestricted stretches, most of it is limited, and the limits are enforced by camera rather than patrol.
Common questions
+What documents must I carry when driving?
Your Führerschein (licence) on you, and the Fahrzeugschein (vehicle registration) in the car. Carry ID as well. Not having them is itself finable.
+What is the difference between Führerschein and Fahrzeugschein?
The compounds tell you: Führer is the driver, Fahrzeug is the vehicle. One is your licence, the other the car's registration document.
+What should I say if I do not understand?
Ich spreche nur wenig Deutsch. Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? Saying it plainly is expected and far better than guessing at an instruction.
+What must every German car carry?
A Warnweste (high-vis vest), a Verbandskasten (first-aid kit) and a Warndreieck (warning triangle). These are legal requirements and are checked at roadside stops.