The two German no-stopping signs
German parking rules confuse many newcomers because the signs look similar and the words differ from what you might expect. German law distinguishes between stopping (Halten) and parking (Parken). Anyone who leaves the vehicle or stops for more than three minutes is legally parking§ 12 StVO: Halten und Parken. The official term for a no-stopping restriction is Haltverbot; in everyday German you will mostly hear Halteverbot.
Feature | Sign 283: absolute no stopping | Sign 286: restricted stopping |
|---|---|---|
German name | Absolutes Halteverbot | Eingeschränktes Halteverbot |
Look | round, blue, red border, red X | round, blue, red border, one red diagonal |
Stopping allowed? | no, not even briefly | up to three minutes |
Dropping off passengers | not allowed | allowed |
Loading and unloading | not allowed | allowed, without delay |
Under sign 283 you may not stop on the carriageway at allAnlage 2 StVO: Vorschriftzeichen, so you cannot even let a passenger out. Under sign 286 you may stop for up to three minutes, and longer only to let people in or out or to load and unload, which must be done without delayAnlage 2 StVO: Vorschriftzeichen. Popping into a shop while your car stands there counts as parking and is not allowed.
There are also places where stopping is banned without any sign, for example at narrow or blind sections of road, on sharp bends, on level crossings, and in front of or inside marked fire-brigade access routes§ 12 StVO: Halten und Parken.
Arrows, supplementary signs and zones
Both signs apply only to the side of the road where they stand, and only up to the next junction on that side, unless another sign says otherwiseAnlage 2 StVO: Vorschriftzeichen. White arrows inside the sign show where the restriction starts and ends:
An arrow pointing towards the road marks the start.
An arrow pointing away from the road marks the end.
Two arrowheads, one towards and one away from the road, mean you are inside the restricted stretch.
Supplementary plates (Zusatzzeichen) below the sign can extend the ban to the hard shoulder, limit it to certain times or days, or exempt residents with a parking permit, disabled drivers with a special permit, electric vehicles or car-sharing cars in marked areasAnlage 2 StVO: Vorschriftzeichen. Sign 290.1 marks the start of a restricted-stopping zone, where the rule applies on all public roads in the area until the end-of-zone signAnlage 2 StVO: Vorschriftzeichen.
Fines and towing
Fines are set nationally in the federal fines catalogue (Bußgeldkatalog-Verordnung)Bußgeldkatalog-Verordnung: Anlage (Tatbestände und Regelsätze):
Offence | Fine |
|---|---|
Stopping where it is not allowed | €20 |
... and obstructing others | €35 |
Stopping in the second row (double parking) | €55 |
Parking where stopping is banned | €25 |
... and obstructing others | €40 |
... for more than one hour | €40 |
... for more than one hour and obstructing others | €50 |
Parking in a fire-brigade access route | €55 |
... and obstructing an emergency vehicle | €100 |
Your car may also be towed. Towing charges depend on the city and the company and can easily exceed the fine.
Temporary signs, for example for a move or roadworks, override signs that normally allow parkingAnlage 2 StVO: Vorschriftzeichen. There is an important protection, though: if your car was legally parked before the temporary sign went up, you only have to pay for towing if the sign was in place for at least three full days. In other words, towing at your expense is allowed from the fourth day at the earliest. Germany's Federal Administrative Court (Bundesverwaltungsgericht) ruled this in 2018 and found a 48-hour notice period too shortBVerwG: Abschleppen erst nach drei vollen Tagen Vorlaufzeit. So if you go away for a long weekend, check the street when you return.
Getting a no-parking zone for your move
You cannot simply put out cones or a cardboard sign on moving day. To reserve kerb space for a removal van, you apply for a temporary no-parking zone (Halteverbotszone) from the local traffic authority, the Straßenverkehrsbehörde. In some cities this sits within the Ordnungsamt, the local public order office. Each authority sets its own procedure, notice period and fees. Examples from official city pages:
City | Application and notice | Fee | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|
Berlin | informal request to the district office, about 4 weeks processing | from €21 | hire a traffic-safety company |
Hamburg | online, at least 14 days before the move | a fee applies | put up at least three days before |
Cologne | online, at least three weeks before | €36 for the first day, €18 per extra day | obtain yourself, put up 96 hours before |
Munich | online or in writing, 10 working days processing | per the city's fee list | obtain yourself, put up by the fourth day before at the latest |
Sources:Service Berlin: Haltverbot für Umzüge,hamburg.de: Umzug in Hamburg,Stadt Köln: Umzug durchführen (Haltverbotszone),Stadt München: Vorübergehendes Haltverbot für Umzüge und Baustellen.
In Berlin the authority issues only the order, not the signs, so you hire a company to supply and set them upService Berlin: Haltverbot für Umzüge. Cologne charges extras, such as €14 for an external furniture liftStadt Köln: Umzug durchführen (Haltverbotszone). Munich's online form covers moves of up to three calendar days; for longer periods you apply in writingStadt München: Vorübergehendes Haltverbot für Umzüge und Baustellen. As a guide to length, Cologne says a standard 7.5-tonne truck needs about 15 metresStadt Köln: Umzug durchführen (Haltverbotszone).
Many sign-hire companies will file the application for you as part of their service. That is convenient, but you pay for it on top of the official fee.
Worked example: a two-day move in Cologne
You are moving within Cologne and want a zone outside your old flat for two days, with a furniture lift.
Official fee: €36 for the first day plus €18 for the second, €54 in totalStadt Köln: Umzug durchführen (Haltverbotszone).
Furniture lift surcharge: €14, bringing the official fees to €68.
Two mobile signs from a specialist company: priced by the company, on top.
A zone outside your new flat needs its own application and fee.
Add these costs to your budget with our moving cost calculator.
Step by step for moving day
Three to four weeks before: apply to the traffic authority with the exact address, dates, times and length needed.
After approval: book the signs or collect them.
At least three full days before, and in Cologne 96 hours before: put up the signs exactly as approved.
When setting up: photograph the signs with date and time, and note the number plates of cars already parked there. Munich requires a list of these vehicles (Vornotierungsliste)Stadt München: Vorübergehendes Haltverbot für Umzüge und Baustellen.
On the day: if a car is still in your zone, call the Ordnungsamt or the police. Do not arrange towing yourself.
After the move: remove the signs promptly or have them collected.
Keep track of every task in our moving checklist.
Common mistakes
Homemade signs: a handwritten "moving" sign has no legal force; only officially ordered traffic signs count.
Signs put up too late: with less than three full days' notice, cars that were parked legally beforehand cannot be towed at their owners' expenseBVerwG: Abschleppen erst nach drei vollen Tagen Vorlaufzeit.
A zone that is too short: allow for the truck plus space for the ramp or tail lift.
Applying too late: processing often takes two to four weeks.
No evidence: without photos and a list of number plates, disputes are hard to settle.
After the move
Once you have moved, remember the paperwork. You must register your new address within the legal deadline, see registration deadline, and update your details for the TV and radio licence fee, see broadcasting fee. If you are clearing out old furniture before or after the move, our guide to recycling centres explains what you can drop off for free.
Information current as of 6 November 2026.
