Autobahn-Tempolimit
Where is there no speed limit on the Autobahn?
Germany is the only country in Europe without a general speed limit on its Autobahns – but "no limit" does not mean "everywhere". Here is what share of the network you may actually drive unrestricted on.
Contents
The short answer
On almost two thirds of German Autobahns there is no general speed limit. Counted in directional-carriageway kilometres – so each direction separately – that is 17,287 of a total 26,705 kilometres. Where you may drive unrestricted, the advisory speed of 130 kph still applies: a recommendation, not a ban.
Important: not a single German Autobahn is fully derestricted. Even the most open routes have sections with a limit – at interchanges, junctions, in curves, in noise-protection zones and in roadworks.
How the network breaks down
The German Autobahn network can be split into four categories by speed limit. The following figures come from our own analysis of the OpenStreetMap data (as of 27 July 2026):
- No speed limit (64.7% · 17,287 km): open road, the advisory speed applies. This is the largest part of the network.
- Fixed limit (23.2% · 6,196 km): a permanent sign, usually 120, 100 or 80 kph – for instance in conurbations, at interchanges or for noise protection.
- Dynamically controlled (10.6% · 2,826 km): here overhead gantries hang that show a limit depending on traffic, weather and time of day, or leave the road open.
- Unknown (1.5% · 396 km): short sections for which the data holds no clear information.
If you add the dynamically controlled sections to the open network, 75.3% of the network is not permanently restricted – because there, at least at times, unrestricted driving is possible.
Which Autobahns are unrestricted
The share without a limit is very unevenly spread. The most open routes are in the thinly populated north and east, the most heavily restricted in the conurbations along the Rhine and Ruhr. The leader is the A20 in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Schleswig-Holstein with 91.8% of open road over 690 kilometres.
- A20 – 91.8% without a limit (690 km)
- A38 – 91.2% (427 km)
- A19 – 90.6% (248 km)
- A31 – 89.0% (480 km)
- A24 – 87.9% (473 km)
The full ranking of the ten most derestricted Autobahns with all the kilometres is in the article Germany's most derestricted Autobahns.
The interactive map colours the whole network by speed limit – blue means unrestricted.
Finding open road on the map
Instead of looking up Autobahn after Autobahn, the interactive map shows the whole network at a glance: blue is open, red fixed limit, red-blue dashed dynamically controlled, yellow roadworks. Enter start and destination and you can pick "most open Autobahn" as the goal – then the planner suggests the route with the largest share of unrestricted road, even if it is a few kilometres longer.
Because the planner also reckons with your desired speed instead of a flat 130 kph, you see straight away what the open road saves given your own driving style.
Why there is no general limit
Historically, Germany has never had a general speed limit on Autobahns. Instead of a ban, the advisory speed of 130 kph was introduced in 1978 – a recommendation. Driving faster is not an offence, but it can result in shared liability in an accident.
Whether and where limits are set is decided by the federal government and the states section by section – for reasons of safety, noise protection or air quality. Whether a general limit will come is a political debate that flares up regularly. We collect the facts and arguments separately.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of the German Autobahn has no speed limit?
64.7% is permanently without a speed limit, a further 10.6% is dynamically controlled. Together, 75.3% of the network is not permanently restricted. The basis is directional-carriageway kilometres, each direction counted separately.
Are there Autobahns with no speed limit at all?
No. Even the most open routes have sections with a limit – at interchanges, junctions, in roadworks and where noise protection or curves demand it. The A20 comes closest at 91.8%.
How do I find a route without a speed limit?
On autobahn-tempolimit.de/karte enter start and destination and pick "most open Autobahn" as the goal. The planner suggests the route with the largest share of unrestricted road and gives the driving time for your speed.
Is Germany the only country without a speed limit?
Among European countries, Germany is the only one with Autobahn sections entirely without a general speed limit. All neighbouring countries have a fixed limit, usually between 120 and 130 kph.
Data basis: our own analysis of the OpenStreetMap data, as of 27 July 2026. Counted in directional-carriageway kilometres (around 13,200 km of network length, each direction separately). Not an official survey.