Traffic signs, installations, and symbols used in Germany are prescribed by the Road Traffic Regulation (StVO) (German: Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung) and the Traffic Signs Catalog (VzKat) (German: Verkehrszeichenkatalog). §§ 39 to 43 of the StVO regulate the effect of traffic signs and installations. Annexes 1 to 3 illustrate most danger, regulatory, and directional signs and annex 4 illustrates the traffic installations. Other traffic signs and installations not specified in the StVO, primarily specific supplementary signs, are published in the VzKat. The latest version of the VzKat was issued in May 2017 as the annex to the General Administrative Rules for the Road Traffic Regulation (VwV-StVO) (German: Allgemeine Verwaltungsvorschrift zur Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung). The StVO, the VwV-StVO and the VzKat are supported by technical rules (German: Technische Regelwerke), mostly published by the Forschungsgesellschaft für Straßen- und Verkehrswesen (FGSV), especially: All signs have assigned numbers. The suffix number after the hyphen refers to the variation of the sign; the suffix on signs with variable numbers is the number depicted on the sign (for speed limits, maximum heights, etc.).

[Road sign gantry

with variable-message signs on the A 3 in Frankfurt am Main | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/Autobahn-A3-Flughafen-Rhein-Main-2013-Ffm-035.jpg]

Overview

General symbols

Symbols pursuant to § 39 paragraphs 7, 10, and 11 of the StVO:

Danger signs

Danger signs pursuant to part 2 of the VzKat which includes permissible variations of signs listed in annex 1 of the StVO. When one sign has two sign numbers, the first number is the illustrated sign while the latter number is a mirrored or slightly altered version of the sign.

Regulatory signs

Regulatory signs pursuant to part 3 of the VzKat which includes permissible variations of signs listed in annex 2 of the StVO. When one sign has two sign numbers, the first number is the illustrated sign while the latter number is a mirrored or slightly altered version of the sign.

Directional signs

Directional signs pursuant to part 4 of the VzKat which includes permissible variations of signs listed in annex 4 of the StVO. When one sign has two sign numbers, the first number is the illustrated sign while the latter number is a mirrored or slightly altered version of the sign.

Road equipment

Additional road signs

Traffic rules

Priority

Reißverschlussverfahren "Zipper rule" for one-way traffic merging & two-way traffic priorities

Environmental factors

**Yield as necessary to not endanger themselves or other road users **

Traffic priority – priority roads

Priority traffic does not yield, signal all turns

Other factors

Yield or reduce speed as necessary

Vehicle classifications & specifics

Official (base) Symbols in Germany as per Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung (StVO) § 39 Verkehrszeichen

Basic

Red ring In addition to any sign/placard, the red ring forbids (in general) the item noted and anything of greater size or value; i.e., if a car is pictured, then not only are cars not permitted but trucks, as well.

Bicycles & mopeds

Motorcycles

Classified as above/below 500 cc motor size, and with or without sidecar

Cars/automobiles

Personenkraftwagen – Pkw – "Powered car for (the transport of) persons"; e.g., cars/automobiles

Recreational vehicles, farm equipment or animal powered

Trucks & lorries

Lastkraftwagen – Lkw – (literally "powered car for loads", e.g., truck, lorry, semi, tractor-trailer)

Traffic restrictions & allowances for vehicles (generally larger) than cars

Dangerous or hazardous cargos

Buses, public transit & rail

Buses (generally) and trains (always) have the priority/right-of-way

Others

Primary road classifications & related signs

Traffic regulations

Basic Traffic Controls

Speed Controls & Limits

Passing & Overtaking

Other

Autobahn

** German Limited Access Highway ** – Blue Background

Signs used on Autobahn

Signs leading to Autobahn

other signs

Signs of limited access roads

Note: Though road design of Kraftfahrstraße is comparable to Autobahn, speed limit is mandatory, signposting is similar but has yellow background.

Bundesstraße – non-limited access highways or main roads – yellow background

Urban or built-up areas

Fahrtbahn/Streifen – driving lane controls

Roadway lanes delineated by lines for/of single vehicle width

Dedicated lane use required for ...

Special zones

Stopping, waiting, parking

Parking is considered any stop exceeding three minutes.

No Stopping and parking

No waiting/standing longer than 3 minutes on traffic lanes exept for loading/unloading

Bus stop and taxi zones

Road markings/lines

Intersections & Crosswalks

Driving Lanes

Information signs

Informational signs

Additional signs

Arrows

Distances

Dangers

Special regulations

Road equipment

Obsolete signs

Obsolete signs since 2017

Obsolete signs since 2013

Old signs (prior to 1992)

Warning signs

Regulatory signs

Information signs

Signs for traffic diversion