Germany Emergency Numbers 2026: 112, 110, ADAC Breakdown

The three core emergency numbers

All three work from any phone including foreign mobiles (international roaming), public phones, and even from locked SIM-less devices. They cover the entire federal territory.

112 in detail

112 reaches the local Rettungsleitstelle (rescue control centre) of the county or city. Operators dispatch:

• Notarzt (emergency physician) in an emergency car or ambulance for life-threatening cases
• Rettungsdienst (ambulance crew with paramedic) for less critical injuries
• Feuerwehr (fire brigade) for fires, vehicle extraction, hazmat

Most operators speak English. Many also speak Turkish, Russian, Polish, Arabic and other languages spoken in their region. Be ready to give:

• Where (street, autobahn km marker, junction name)
• What (medical emergency, road accident, fire)
• Who is involved (number of injured, vehicles involved)
• Your name and callback number

If you are on an autobahn, look for the blue km marker post (Kilometertafel) on the side of the road; the operator can pinpoint you instantly.

110 in detail

The Landespolizei dispatch centre. Used for:

• Crimes in progress (theft, assault)
• Traffic accidents requiring police involvement (injuries, damage over €1,500, suspected drink/drug driving)
• Roadside breakdowns blocking a lane (Sperrung der Fahrbahn)
• Suspicious activity

110 also accepts non-emergency call-out for minor accidents where police are needed. For pure car-on-car damage with no injuries and both drivers cooperative, exchange details and you may not need to call 110 at all.

116 117 in detail

The Kassenarztliche Vereinigung (Statutory Health Insurance Physicians’ Association) runs this non-emergency line. Call:

• After hours (16:00-08:00 weekdays)
• Weekends and federal holidays
• When your normal Hausarzt is closed

They will:

• Direct you to the on-call rotation doctor in your area
• Tell you which Notdienst-Apotheke is open
• Send a Hausarzt to your home if needed (Hausbesuch)

Without a 116 117 referral, walk-in to a hospital A&E (Notaufnahme) is also possible but typically slower.

Roadside breakdown helplines

ADAC

The largest German automobile club, with ~20 million members. Hotline: 089 20 20 40 00 (mobile Kurzwahl 22 22 22). Membership tiers:

• ADAC Basis (5-6 €/month): roadside assistance in Germany only
• ADAC Plus (10-12 €/month): assistance in Europe + return-to-Germany cover
• ADAC Premium (€15+/month): full Europe + accommodation + rental car

Non-members can call too; the callout costs €150-300 plus parts. Many UK and US auto-clubs (AA, AAA) have reciprocal arrangements: you call ADAC, they bill your home club.

ACE Auto Club Europa

Second largest. Hotline: +49 711 530 34 35 36. Smaller network than ADAC but similar service quality. Membership 88 €/year.

AvD Automobilclub von Deutschland

0800 99 09 909. Specialised in classic cars and motorsport.

Manufacturer assistance

Most carmakers run their own assistance via their dealer network:

• BMW Roadside Assistance: 0180 2 22 8484
• Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance: 00 800 1 777 7777
• VW, Audi, Porsche, Skoda, Seat: own hotlines via vehicle handbook

If you are driving a rental, call the rental company’s emergency number on the contract first.

Federal information lines

A few non-emergency lines worth knowing:

• Auswartiges Amt Burgerservice (citizen services for travel emergencies abroad): 030 5000 1000
• Aufenthaltsbehorde (foreign residents): local, varies by city
• Bundesnetzagentur (mobile phone disruption): 030 22480-500
• Bundespolizei (federal border police): 0800 6 888 000

What to say when calling 112

The operator needs five pieces of information, in this order:

1. Where: street name, autobahn + km marker, junction name, or “I am on the A3 between exit 45 and 46”. The km markers on autobahn shoulders are blue posts every kilometre.
2. What happened: medical emergency, road accident, fire, breakdown blocking a lane.
3. How many people are injured, and what kind of injuries (conscious, breathing, bleeding).
4. Who is calling: your name, callback number.
5. Wait for the operator to finish asking questions before hanging up. They may have follow-up.

If you only speak English, say “I speak English” at the start; the operator will switch language or transfer to an English-speaking colleague within seconds.

Notrufsaeulen: orange roadside phones

Every German autobahn has orange emergency phones (Notrufsaeulen) every 2 km on both sides. They connect directly to the regional rescue control centre, GPS-tagged so the dispatcher knows exactly where you are.

To find the nearest one: small black arrows on the white roadside delineator posts (Leitpfosten) point to the closest Notrufsaeule. Walk in that direction along the hard shoulder, behind the crash barrier where possible.

Press the button on the phone, wait for the operator. You can request police, fire, ambulance or breakdown service. The conversation is recorded. The Notrufsaeule works even when mobile signal fails (helpful in tunnels and remote sections).

Emergency procedure on the autobahn

If you have an accident or breakdown on the autobahn:

1. Hazard lights on immediately
2. Pull onto the hard shoulder if possible. If not, stop as close to the right barrier as you can.
3. Reflective vest on before opening the door: legal requirement since 2014. The vest must be worn outside the car.
4. Get everyone out and behind the crash barrier: never wait inside the car or on the carriageway side. Crashes into stopped vehicles are a leading cause of motorway fatalities.
5. Triangle 150 m behind the vehicle on motorway, 100 m on Bundesstrasse, 50 m in town
6. Call 112 or use the nearest Notrufsaeule
7. Stay behind the barrier until help arrives

Failing to set up a warning triangle correctly: €30 fine. Failing to wear a reflective vest while standing on the carriageway: €30 + counts as Mitverschulden in accident liability.

DRF Luftrettung and rescue helicopter network

For serious accidents and remote-area medical emergencies, Germany operates a dense rescue helicopter network:

• DRF Luftrettung: 35 stations covering most of the country, primarily yellow Christoph-numbered helicopters
• ADAC Luftrettung: 38 stations, the orange Christoph helicopters operated by ADAC
• Bundeswehr SAR: military Search-and-Rescue, primarily coastal and mountain
• Bundespolizei-Flugdienst: federal police air units in border areas

The dispatch is automatic via the 112 control centre when the responder estimates ground ambulance cannot reach the patient within the 12-minute “Hilfsfrist” (response-time obligation under federal law). Average arrival: 8-12 minutes from dispatch in well-covered areas.

Cross-border emergency considerations

Within the EU Schengen area, the 112 number works from any phone in any country, automatically routing to the local control centre. Some specific cross-border notes:

• From Austria via the Brenner: 112 reaches the Austrian dispatcher first; they will transfer if you are actually in Germany
• Czech / Polish border zones: 112 also works, but mobile networks sometimes route to the wrong country. Specify your exact location.
• UK visitors after Brexit: EHIC has been replaced by GHIC for UK residents and remains valid for emergency healthcare across the EU including Germany
• Insurance papers: police often ask for the international Green Card (Internationale Versicherungskarte) at the scene. Keep it accessible.

For non-emergency cross-border issues (consular help, lost passport, criminal complaint as foreign citizen) the Auswartiges Amt Burgerservice runs a 24/7 hotline at 030 5000 1000 from anywhere in the world.

Mobile network emergency notification (Cell Broadcast)

Since February 2023, Germany operates the BBK Cell Broadcast Warnsystem. The Bundesamt fur Bevolkerungsschutz can push severe-weather, flood, fire, terrorism or pandemic warnings directly to every phone in a region. No app needed.

Test alerts run on national Warntag (every September). Most phones (iOS 16+, Android 11+) display these as a top-priority notification.

Free apps for foreign drivers

• NINA: federal national warning app (free, BBK)
• autobahn.app: federal motorway operator (free)
• ADAC Drive: traffic + fuel + emergency (free)
• What3words: emergency location sharing (English friendly)
• Saferace Notruf: one-tap 112/110 with location (free)

For a complete picture of safe driving in Germany including these emergency procedures, see Germany driving rules. For live road status that may help you avoid emergency situations, see live traffic.