Germany by campervan: safety and healthcare

Campervan safety in Germany: vehicle security, healthcare, emergency contacts and practical prevention. What to know before you go.

Published 18 September 2026Last checked 18 September 2026

Currency
Euro
EUR. Cards are normal, cash is still needed
Language
German
English is widely spoken in cities
Driving
Right
Autobahn has no general speed limit
Power
230V, type F
The standard round two-pin Schuko
Tap water
Safe to drink
Ask for Leitungswasser
Emergency
112
Police 110. ADAC breakdown 089 20 20 40 00

Safety and health

Germany is one of the easier countries in Europe to travel by road. The UK Foreign Office puts crime levels on a par with the UK and names the usual urban problems: mugging, bag snatching and pickpocketing, with stations, airports and crowded events the places to pay attention. Nothing about the country asks for special measures beyond the ones you would take at home.

People sitting and standing around the fountain in front of the Alte Oper in Frankfurt on a summer evening — A busy, occupied square beats an empty motorway rest area

What works

Do not sleep at an unstaffed Autobahn Rastplatz. This is the single highest-risk overnight spot in the country.
Arrive before dark so you can see the place you picked and who is already there.

Health, pharmacies and numbers

112 is the emergency number for ambulance and fire, 110 for the police. Both answer in English.
ADAC roadside assistance: 089 20 20 40 00 inside Germany, +49 89 22 22 22 from a foreign phone. Chargeable without membership.

A fine letter arriving months after a trip is usually genuine. Speed cameras and environmental zone checks are automatic, foreign plates are traced through EU cooperation, and the notice comes from a municipal or state authority. Check that the date, time, place and plate match your trip, and that the account you are asked to pay into belongs to a public body.