road legal in Germany?
Discussion
I was just curious about the legality of modified cars going on road trips to/via Germany. I remember that last year a number of lads got (rightly!) pulled over for having un-roadworthy cars but IIRC the Germans are rather strict on virtually any modification: no TUV = illegal for their cars. The question is if a car is legal in the UK but would be illegal for a German car (for example after-market r,ims exhaust or body-kit) where does that leave a (non-gobby) driver?
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As I understand it (currently, though with brexit who knows hat'll happen) due to harmonisation/conformity across the EU a car that is legal in the UK is legal to drive (though not be resident) in Germany.
Does anyone actually know what the real situation is?
w
As I understand it (currently, though with brexit who knows hat'll happen) due to harmonisation/conformity across the EU a car that is legal in the UK is legal to drive (though not be resident) in Germany.
Does anyone actually know what the real situation is?
If they're road legal in the UK, then they tend to be road legal in Germany.
Exceptions will usually be when one has been pulled over for being a knob, or playing tunes on their overly-loud exhaust, or has been involved in an accident - or where there are local restrictions on tyres (i.e. winter tyres from October to Easter in the hillier regions).
Of course this doesn't mean that just because a car has a valid MOT it is road legal, as we all know people who'll modify their car to pass the MOT and then modify it back afterwards - or people who have 'bagged' their car and "never drive it like that officer".
This is also only valid if the car is UK registered. If you're going to register it in Germany then you'll have to provide TÜV compliance documents for every modification.
Exceptions will usually be when one has been pulled over for being a knob, or playing tunes on their overly-loud exhaust, or has been involved in an accident - or where there are local restrictions on tyres (i.e. winter tyres from October to Easter in the hillier regions).
Of course this doesn't mean that just because a car has a valid MOT it is road legal, as we all know people who'll modify their car to pass the MOT and then modify it back afterwards - or people who have 'bagged' their car and "never drive it like that officer".
This is also only valid if the car is UK registered. If you're going to register it in Germany then you'll have to provide TÜV compliance documents for every modification.
irocfan said:
I was just curious about the legality of modified cars going on road trips to/via Germany.
Modified cars are generally no problem at all, perfectly legal on a British MOT certificate and insurance.German police may do an emissions test and they will have 'pass values' they can call up on to see if it passes the British MOT, if not then depending on their mood they'll either give you a slap on the wrist or they'll tell you to go to a garage to get it 'fixed' immediately (if I remember correctly they don't issue a 14 day rectification notice like the UK police do - it more like 48hrs or your car goes to impound).
Also to bare in mind, as with many countries, groups of cars driving in a way that can gain negative attraction from either the police or the public, may also get stopped. For no other reason that they'll likely say that the roads should not be used for "unauthorised events".
The cars they pulled were a right state, all of them vying for the most “stanced” pile of b
ks of the year award. At least two of them if I recall were downright dangerous and it was amazing that they could’ve passed an MOT here (not that a valid MOT is a guarantee of anything)
A regular car with aftermarket alloys or exhaust, so long as it’s not egregious, will I’m sure be fine. As the old maxim goes - if you’re looking for attention don’t be surprised if you attract it.
ks of the year award. At least two of them if I recall were downright dangerous and it was amazing that they could’ve passed an MOT here (not that a valid MOT is a guarantee of anything)A regular car with aftermarket alloys or exhaust, so long as it’s not egregious, will I’m sure be fine. As the old maxim goes - if you’re looking for attention don’t be surprised if you attract it.
generationx said:
Don't drive like a tt.
Carry all your documentation with you.
Make sure you have the legal driver requirements for driving on the continent (the AA website has a good guide).
You'll be fine.
tbh that's been my PoV for all my previous European trips and it's been fine - it's just paranoia creeping in I guesst.Carry all your documentation with you.
Make sure you have the legal driver requirements for driving on the continent (the AA website has a good guide).
You'll be fine.
We've always been fine, all 6 cars of us got stopped when they wee doing random road checks and they couldnt have been nicer after checking all the documents etc. They seemed bemused by a couple of the cars and told us which roads to take as there would be no police on them and they were good roads to drive 
I've been pulled over by the Polizei in Germany.
Didn't have the front plate on, which attracted their interest.
They had a sniff round the truck, pointed out what wouldn't be legal in Germany, checked my documents and let me on my way.
It really didn't hurt that I was a wedding car for friends and had the Bride in the back.
The Cops posed for a few pictures then gave us an escort to the Church with the lights & sirens on. Cool
As long as you're not being a massive tt, you'll be ok.
Didn't have the front plate on, which attracted their interest.
They had a sniff round the truck, pointed out what wouldn't be legal in Germany, checked my documents and let me on my way.
It really didn't hurt that I was a wedding car for friends and had the Bride in the back.
The Cops posed for a few pictures then gave us an escort to the Church with the lights & sirens on. Cool
As long as you're not being a massive t
t, you'll be ok.
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