Prohibition & Regulatory Signs (Verbotszeichen)
Circular signs with red borders that prohibit or regulate traffic behavior. Must be obeyed at all times.
62 signs
Entry & Traffic Restrictions10
No vehicles over 3.5 tonnes
Verbot für Kraftfahrzeuge über 3,5 t
Sign 253
Entry prohibited for motor vehicles with a permissible gross weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes.
Rules
Trucks and heavy vehicles must find an alternative route. Buses may be excepted if shown on a supplementary sign.
No motor vehicles
Verbot für Kraftfahrzeuge
Sign 260
Entry prohibited for all motor vehicles (cars, trucks, motorcycles). Bicycles and pedestrians may pass.
Rules
Do not enter with any motorized vehicle. Electric bicycles (Pedelecs up to 25 km/h) are treated as bicycles and may pass.
No horse-drawn vehicles
Verbot für Gespannfuhrwerke
Sign 257
Entry prohibited for horse-drawn carriages and carts.
Rules
Horse-drawn vehicles must use an alternative route.
No horse riders
Verbot für Reiter
Sign 258
Entry prohibited for horse riders.
Rules
Horse riders must dismount or use an alternative route.
Hazardous Goods & Vehicle Types9
Environmental Zones3
Start of restricted traffic zone
Beginn eines Verkehrsverbotszone
Sign 270
Marks the beginning of a zone with specific traffic restrictions, often an environmental zone.
Rules
Only vehicles meeting the specified emission standards may enter. Check your vehicle's emission sticker before entering.
Speed & Overtaking27
Speed limit
Zulässige Höchstgeschwindigkeit
Sign 274
Maximum speed is limited to the value shown (in km/h).
Rules
Do not exceed the indicated speed. The limit applies until cancelled by sign 278, a new speed limit sign, or an intersection in built-up areas. In adverse conditions (rain, fog, ice), you must drive slower even if the limit is higher.
Minimum speed
Vorgeschriebene Mindestgeschwindigkeit
Sign 275
Vehicles must maintain at least the indicated speed (in km/h).
Rules
If you cannot maintain this speed (e.g., slow vehicle, breakdown), you must leave the road at the next opportunity. Do not use the right lane on Autobahn if your vehicle cannot maintain 60 km/h.
No overtaking
Überholverbot
Sign 276
Overtaking other motor vehicles is prohibited.
Rules
Do not overtake any motor vehicle. You MAY still pass bicycles, mopeds, horse-drawn carts, and extremely slow vehicles (under 25 km/h). Cancelled by sign 280 or the next intersection outside built-up areas.
End of speed limit
Ende der zulässigen Höchstgeschwindigkeit
Sign 278
The previously indicated speed limit has ended.
Rules
The default speed limit now applies: 50 km/h in built-up areas, 100 km/h on rural roads. On Autobahn, the recommended speed is 130 km/h unless another sign follows.
No overtaking single-track vehicles by multi-track vehicles
Verbot des Überholens von einspurigen Fahrzeugen für mehrspurige Kraftfahrzeuge
Sign 277.1
Multi-track motor vehicles may not overtake single-track vehicles (motorcycles, bicycles).
Rules
Maintain safe distance behind single-track vehicles. Wait until the restriction is lifted.
Speed limit 60 km/h
Zulässige Höchstgeschwindigkeit 60 km/h
Sign 274-60
The maximum permitted speed is 60 km/h from this sign onward.
Rules
Do not exceed 60 km/h. The limit applies until cancelled by another speed sign, an end-of-restriction sign, or an intersection within a built-up area.
Parking & Stopping9
No stopping
Absolutes Haltverbot
Sign 283
Stopping is prohibited on this section of road. You may not stop even briefly.
Rules
No stopping at all — not even to pick up or drop off passengers. Applies on the side of the road where the sign is posted. Use arrows on the sign to determine the zone. Only exception: forced stop due to traffic conditions (red light, traffic jam).
No parking (stopping up to 3 min allowed)
Eingeschränktes Haltverbot
Sign 286
Parking is prohibited, but stopping briefly (up to 3 minutes) is allowed.
Rules
You may stop to pick up or drop off passengers or load/unload. The driver must remain with or near the vehicle. Stopping over 3 minutes counts as parking and is prohibited. Check arrows for zone boundaries.
Advance separation line
Vorgezogene Trennungslinie
Sign 291
Indicates an area where lane separation begins ahead of a junction.
Rules
Follow lane markings. Do not cross the separation line. Choose your lane early.
Customs checkpoint
Zollstelle
Sign 292
Indicates a customs checkpoint ahead where vehicles may be stopped for inspection.
Rules
Reduce speed. Be prepared to stop. Have your documents ready for customs officials.
Stop line
Haltlinie
Sign 294
A road marking indicating where vehicles must stop when required by a traffic signal or sign.
Rules
Stop with the front of your vehicle at this line when the traffic light is red or a stop sign requires you to halt.
Restricted area marking
Sperrfläche
Sign 298
Road surface marking indicating an area that must not be driven on or crossed.
Rules
Do not drive on, stop on, or park on the hatched area. It serves to separate traffic or create safety zones.
Boundary marking for stopping/parking restrictions
Grenzmarkierung für Halt- oder Parkverbote
Sign 299
Zigzag road marking indicating the boundaries of a no-stopping or no-parking zone.
Rules
Do not stop or park within the marked zone. These markings often appear near bus stops and pedestrian crossings.
Other4
Stop! Give way
Halt! Vorfahrt gewähren!
Sign 206
You must come to a complete stop and give way to traffic on the intersecting road.
Rules
Come to a COMPLETE stop at the stop line (or at the edge of the intersection if no stop line). Look both ways. Only proceed when completely safe. This is stricter than sign 205 — a full stop is mandatory even if the road appears clear.
