Driving through a roundabout correctly

In short: At a signposted roundabout, whoever is already on the roundabout has priority. You do not indicate when entering, but you do when leaving.

In more detail: In Germany, roundabouts are mainly governed by Section 9a of the Road Traffic Regulations (StVO). The points below are general guidance; rules can change, and the version of the StVO in force and the local signs are what count.

In detail

• Recognising one: A proper roundabout is marked by the round blue sign with three arrows, usually together with the “Give way” sign. Vehicles already on the roundabout then have priority.
• Without that sign: If the roundabout sign is missing, it is legally not a roundabout within the meaning of the StVO. The normal priority rules then apply, which in case of doubt means priority to the right.
• Entering: Approach slowly, watch out for vehicles on the roundabout as well as for cyclists and pedestrians, and only enter when there is a sufficient gap. Indicating when entering is not allowed.
• Direction of travel: In Germany you always drive anticlockwise, keeping the central island on your left.
• Leaving: Indicate right before the exit you want, so others know you are leaving the roundabout. Watch out for pedestrians and cyclists crossing the exit.
• Stopping and parking: Stopping on the roundabout carriageway is prohibited, and so is parking. If you miss your exit, simply go round once more.
• Central island: As a rule the central island must not be driven over. An exception applies to large vehicles such as lorries or buses if their size leaves no other way through and nobody is endangered.
• Multi-lane roundabouts: Where there are several lanes on the roundabout, pay particular attention to road markings, direction signs and other vehicles, and change lanes carefully.
• Context: Roundabouts are a special case of the general priority rules and are established by traffic signs (vorfahrtsregeln-und-rechts-vor-links, verkehrszeichen-und-ihre-bedeutung).