Is there a speed limit on German autobahn?
John Castro
Published Mar 18, 2026
Is there a speed limit on German autobahn?
Germany, with its well-constructed autobahns, is the only industrialized Western country without a general speed limit. However, there are many stretches of highway where drivers do have to slow down.
Why does German autobahn have no speed limit?
Autobahn Germany: History of Speed Limits The Nazi government passed the Road Traffic Act in 1934, limiting speeds to 60 kph (37 mph) in urban areas but setting no limit for rural roads or autobahns. In December 1973, the oil crisis prompted the West German government to set an autobahn speed limit of 100 kph (62 mph).
What is the fastest speed ever recorded on the Autobahn?
432 kilometres per hour
The world record of 432 kilometres per hour (268 mph) set by Rudolf Caracciola on this stretch just prior to the accident remains one of the highest speeds ever achieved on a public motorway.
Has the Autobahn got a speed limit?
Which Autobahns have no speed limit. First it’s worth mentioning that only around an eighth of the Autobahn network is de-restricted (no speed limit). About a third is limited to 81mph (130kph) and the rest has a variable speed limit so you need to pay attention to any restrictions before planting your left foot.
Is racing on Autobahn legal?
While much of Germany’s autobahn highway network has no speed limits, around 30 percent of the network does limit drivers to 130km/h (80 mph) or lower. Holding races on any public roads — speed limited or not — is illegal.
Has any car hit 300 mph?
In 2005, Bugatti’s Veyron hypercar broke the 250-mile-per-hour barrier. In late 2019, The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport became the first production vehicle to ever reach 300 miles per hour.
Why are German roads so good?
German drivers are especially good because of a strict licensing test system. And better drivers means fewer accidents, fewer accidents means fewer deaths: Germany has far fewer motor vehicle-related fatalities (per 100,000 people) than the US.
Where is there no speed limit in Australia?
The Northern Territory has extended its open speed limit zone to include another 72km of the Stuart Highway, bringing the total to 276km.
How fast are the Go Karts at Autobahn?
50MPH
Our Karts. Our high-speed, Italian pro-karts feature electric engines for exceptional torque and speeds of up to 50MPH. They also feature a four-point safety harness and dual-disc brakes for superior braking.
Can a car go 500 mph?
The Bloodhound supersonic car has reached a speed of over 500 miles per hour (mph)! It’s managed 501 mph to be precise in high-speed trials in South Africa. The jet-powered car, driven by pilot Andy Green, is working towards breaking the land speed record.
Are there less accidents on the Autobahn?
Research by the Federal Highway Research Institute states that the Autobahn experiences fewer vehicle-related fatalities than the U.S. This means this German highway experiences fewer deaths per billion miles traveled than American highways.
Is there an unlimited speed limit on the autobahn in Germany?
This is the German interstate system and whether an unlimited speed limit is allowed depends on all of the above mentioned factors. If you do not see a speed limit sign (very unlikely) or if you simply cannot remember the speed limit for the Autobahn, then a good rule of thumb is not to exceed 120 KPH.
What are the speed limit signs like in Germany?
Speed Limit Signs in Germany. In Europe, including Germany, you will rarely see warnings like “reduced speed ahead.” One minute you may be doing 130 km/h, and suddenly you see a 110 limit sign. You are expected to pay attention to the posted limits.
What do the signs on the German Autobahn mean?
Direction signs in a city or on the Autobahn. Here, showing the direction to Autobahn, Messe (fair), and the two nearest cities with their respective highway number (if applicable). Yellow signs represent German federal highways and white signs are used to indicate a local area and small roads.
Are the Autobahn Speedhunters guaranteed the information on the map?
The information is then incorporated into the map and is available to all Autobahn Speedhunters. The information on the map is not guaranteed. It is possible that due to construction work, traffic planning or other reasons, the sections of the specified routes are temporarily not unlimited. Please pay attention to the signs.