UK to Germany, Sat nav help? Tips for autobahn?

Suicida1 Zombie

Active Member
Mar 19, 2013
446
2
So I am driving to Berlin in a week, any tips for how to enter addresses into the sat nav that are outside the UK?

Also, anyone got any tips for driving on the autobahn? I am trying to get an idea what all the road signs mean, I dont want to put my foot down in one of the areas with a limit imposed and get a ticket....

(I have a 13 plate FR with the tech pack)

Any help would be massively appreciated.

Thanks in advance.....
 

DEAN0

Old Git
Feb 1, 2006
5,419
1
406
Preston - UK
So I am driving to Berlin in a week, any tips for how to enter addresses into the sat nav that are outside the UK?

Also, anyone got any tips for driving on the autobahn? I am trying to get an idea what all the road signs mean, I dont want to put my foot down in one of the areas with a limit imposed and get a ticket....

(I have a 13 plate FR with the tech pack)

Any help would be massively appreciated.

Thanks in advance.....

http://www.gettingaroundgermany.info/regeln.shtml
 

Suicida1 Zombie

Active Member
Mar 19, 2013
446
2
Massive help, thank you.

Now if anyone has used their sat nav abroad or any of our members from the other side if the channel could give a hand I'll be all set.....
 

kazand

Is powered by Medtronics
Jun 6, 2010
4,138
73
Brum
If you have the same sat nav as us (64 Cupra) when you press 'new destination' it comes up with choices, first one is 'Country' , select that and you can enter Germany. Then, I assume, it's basically the same as a UK address. I don't know if it'll default to Germany once it's there though. Never used it abroad ( only Wales :D ) but previous RNS315 was ok and would stay in whichever country you set.
Good Luck!
 

AndrewJB

Friend to SEAT UK & Cupra Racing
Aug 16, 2007
11,175
485
Maranello
Just use the sat nav like you would in the UK but change the country to Deutschland!

Auto bahn they have a sign that looks like a national speed limit sign.. that means go wild haha.
 

dephead2004

Active Member
Aug 3, 2013
918
12
Mind the roundabouts. Tricky until you get used to them.

Some parts of Germany have an environmental tax. I only know this because a guy posted a disc he had to buy and I'd never seen it before.

If you are on a derestricted autobahn watch your rear view mirror. You see that tiny dot as you begin your overtaking manoeuvre? In seconds it will be a very large Porsche/Mercedes/BMW with lights ablaze.

Don't bother to find your passport after Calais the border posts are unmanned.

Migrant activity caused a homebound delay on Friday. 2 were in the shuttle we were supposed to be using. All power including info boards was turned off
 
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AndrewJB

Friend to SEAT UK & Cupra Racing
Aug 16, 2007
11,175
485
Maranello
Some parts of Germany have an environmental tax. I only know this because a guy posted a disc he had to buy and I'd never seen it before.

That would be me, its called umweltplakette and it is needed for cities, think the fine is 80 euro for not having it.
 

daniel575

Active Member
Apr 2, 2014
123
1
I live 30 km from Germany and drive there quite frequently.... I'll give you a little summary. Hope it's useful for others as well.

1. Umweltplakete
Environmental sticker, costs 5 Euro to obtain. You can get it from basically any random car dealership for 5 Euro. Doesn't have to be SEAT (or VW/Audi/Skoda). I got mine from a Mitsubishi dealer. You'll need your V5C though. Any Leon Mk3 is entitled to a green certificate as all cars newer than (no idea - 2012 or so) get a green one. As mentioned, the fine for not having one is 80. *If* you take your chances without one - I recommend NOT to park in the street (where traffic wardens may check) - park it in a private garage where city traffic wardens are unlikely to check. They can and will issue fines for parked cars not having the sticker!

2. Speed
2.1 Speed signs
Speed signs look the same as in the UK, but they're SMALL. Incredibly small, which is very annoying, as it's very easy to miss them (both the start of a limited section, and the end of it). Luckily the sat-nav has the speeds in it, but keep in mind it's not always accurate (sometimes a section gets changed). Note electronic signs are binding and overrule regular signs, as in the UK (M25, M1 etc).
2.1 Autobahn speed
Where there is no limit, people do indeed drive 200-250 kph (like, up to 150 mph or so). Personally I usually do between 170 and 200 kph (my max is 212 kph). So indeed: watch your mirrors. And keep in mind the danger. If you want to hit it on its tail, go ahead, but...
a) don't do it on a BUSY road
b) maintain proper distance at all times
c) you have to THINK AHEAD very far! especially on dual-lane motorway (ie, 2 lanes per direction, not 3) - look ahead for cars doing 120 kph approaching lorries doing 90 kph - you KNOW they are going to come left at any moment! you need to look *much* further ahead than you might be used to from the UK, as the differences in speed can be massive!
d) in the dark, when driving (very) fast, there is the risk of deer and other animals on the Autobahn sometimes - be warned, it's at your own risk
e) in the dark, you may want to consider turning on your front fogs for increased visibility - do at your own risk as you can get fined for using them when it's not severely foggy or extremely bad weather - I often find the safer feeling worth the risk of getting a fine (which is not that high);
f) anyone involved in an accident at above 130 kph may get a fine regardless of the cause; also, your insurer may give you trouble!
g) in work zones, be careful to maintain the (usually) 80 kph speed limit, and 60 kph when indicated; you can use cruise control - there are regular speed checks in work areas
h) when driving very fast, be very careful with sharp bends in the Autobahn - some are extremely treacherous! (example, Autobahn 66 between Wiesbaden and Frankfurt) - always slow down before sharp curves!

3. Sat-nav
As previously described, works very well. Recommend to have the speedometer in the small display though, not navigation. Have navigation in the main display.

Some VERY useful tips, I think:
* use the digital speedometer in your small display - I always have mine set to it; you can change it from mph to kph in the settings!
* for fuel, to keep the cost down, DON'T use Autobahn service stations - rather, look for the signs announcing "Autohof" which is a service station right off an Autobahn junction (like, literally, 100m off the Autobahn usually) - these are much cheaper (like 15ct per liter) than the ones directly on the Autobahn. (Autohof is like many (most) UK motorway services where you actually exit the motorway a bit)
 
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Suicida1 Zombie

Active Member
Mar 19, 2013
446
2
Thank you so much for all the help from you all.

Everything is starting to make sence now, just one quick question about 'Umweltplakete', can I only buy this once I am in Germany? I have a copy of my VC5 from the lease company that own the car and all my other insurance documents etc.

I have checked I can plot to Berlin on the satnav, just need to get used to putting in exact addresses.
 

philhoward

Active Member
Aug 17, 2015
133
0
A copy of the V5C isn't enough - you need a VE103 instead. The lease company will provide one - usually an admin charge (mine charged £10 or £20 I think) for the pleasure.

Postcodes in Germany aren't as accurate as UK ones - it just covers a town/district, so you will need the full address. Comes in handy when there are several towns with the same name though.

Autobahn driving has been covered - observation is the key, from horizon to horizon, and watch for the speed changes (especially when it comes to junctions). You'll be surprised the speed difference between 150km/h and the 80km/h wagons will be doing...and then someone may be flying up the outside lane at 200km/h (usually something you don't expect - it's not always a big Merc/Audi/BMW but usually a 20 year old Golf or Corsa!).

Assuming you'll be going through Belgium, they are very hot on speeding and you don't just get a ticket - they WILL escort you to a cashpoint to pay the fine there and then.
 
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daniel575

Active Member
Apr 2, 2014
123
1
Same for speeding in the Netherlands (where I live these days), like Belgium.

There's very little enforcement on the roads, but there are a lot of speeding cameras. If you do get caught, either way, and get fined (they can send it to the UK) - the fines here are *very* high. No points system (except for new drivers, and points are only for serious offences, not for regular speeding), but to give you an idea, speeding by 10 mph will cost you about 170 GBP here (converted). In Germany the fines are much lower. My sister once got a 15 euro speeding fine from Germany - in the Netherlands, the same fine would have cost 90 euros.

Oh yes, another thing: German Autobahn ramps (and turns in junctions) can be VERY tight, you *must* slow down before entering the turn! Some, you can only do at 25 mph or you'd lose it. So be careful, especially in the dark, when leaving (or entering) the Autobahn. Be prepared for very sharp turns on the ramp (and total darkness - they don't waste money on lighting up the Autobahn, even at junctions!).
 

philhoward

Active Member
Aug 17, 2015
133
0
I've only been caught once, in France, where you get sudden 90/70/50 km/h changes in limit on the slip roads. I didn't brake hard enough and got stopped by a man in the middle of the road 100 yards further round the corner with a gun (a real one, not a speed camera) and relieved of most of the Euros in my pocket..
 

daniel575

Active Member
Apr 2, 2014
123
1
Really? I thought those 90/70/50 signs on exit slip roads are never enforced anywhere. I usually stick to them anyway as I try to always rely on engine braking as much as possible.
 

philhoward

Active Member
Aug 17, 2015
133
0
Yep :(

That's part of the reason I used to head straight into Belgium (I was working in Saarland) as soon as I landed - get out of France as soon as I could!
 
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