Germany recommends 130 km/h for cars on unrestricted Autobahn sections.
This figure is the German Autobahn’s advisory speed, known as the Richtgeschwindigkeit. It is not a universal mandatory maximum on every Autobahn segment. Many sections have posted limits because of traffic density, construction, weather, road design, or safety concerns, and those posted limits are legally binding.
The distinction between an advisory speed and a mandatory limit is a frequent source of confusion. An unrestricted section may permit higher speeds, but drivers still have a general duty to drive safely and adjust speed to conditions. Liability issues can also arise after a crash when a driver travels above the advisory speed.
Germany’s Autobahn network is famous for sections without a general posted limit, but the system is not uniformly unrestricted. Urban areas, interchanges, tunnels, construction zones, and busy corridors commonly have signed limits or variable electronic controls.