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
German Traffic Stop Vocabulary — Getting Pulled Over
At a traffic check every single thing the officer says is an imperative — and the documents have names worth knowing before you need them.
Watch · 0%
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.