Daily life
Transport, consumer rights, legal help, neighbours, parcels, letters, and everyday rules.
17 guides
The essentials, one guide at a time
The broadcasting contributionOne fee per home, whether or not you watch TV, and exemptions.Rundfunkbeitrag
The DeutschlandticketA personal subscription for local and regional transport.Deutschlandticket
Recycling and depositSort paper, empty packaging, organic waste and glass separately, using your local waste guide. Blue, yellow and black/grey bins are common examples. Return deposit-bearing drinks packs for a refund.Pfand
Sundays and shop hoursCheck actual shop hours for your visit, and use the official location and Land-law services for Sunday, holiday and shop-type exceptions.Ladenschluss
Driving licenceA licence from outside the EU and EEA normally remains usable for six months after ordinary residence begins. Qualifying Ukrainian protection cases have special recognition. Exchanging an EU/EEA licence has test exemptions, though medical and vision checks can still apply.Führerschein
Car registration and insuranceMost vehicles need registration, type approval and compulsory motor liability insurance before you can use them on public roads. Vehicle-tax rules normally require a SEPA mandate and no blocking arrears, with legal exceptions. Cover for damage to your own vehicle is optional.Zulassungsbescheinigung
Official letters and deadlinesA Bescheid is an authority's written decision. Check its instructions for challenging the decision; a different deadline can apply if they are missing or wrong.Bescheid
Police clearance certificateA Führungszeugnis is an extract from the federal central register. Apply online for a paper certificate or, since 1 October 2026, a digital PDF to the BundID mailbox, or through the registration office. The fee is 13 euros. The certificate does not list every conviction.Führungszeugnis
Discrimination helpThe General Equal Treatment Act covers certain grounds for discrimination at work and in parts of civil law. Workplace claims normally need to be made in writing within two months; a court claim for non-financial harm has a separate three-month deadline after that.Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz
Consumer withdrawalCovered distance and off-premises contracts have a 14-day withdrawal right. Goods normally must be sent back within another 14 days after declaring withdrawal. Exceptions, return costs and refund conditions matter.Widerrufsrecht
PetsPlan the animal's care, clarify rental conditions and check local dog registration, tax and insurance rules. For travel, use the official requirements for the species and route before booking.Tierhalter
Contracts and subscriptionsTrack renewals, cancellation deadlines, and confirmation of contract endings.Kündigung
Scams and payment recoveryRecognise suspicious offers and act quickly after payment or identity misuse.Fakeshop
Faulty goods and seller remediesAsk the seller about repair or replacement and distinguish statutory rights from guarantees.Gewährleistung
Legal aid and finding the right adviceFind appropriate advice and check help with legal and court costs.Beratungshilfe
Neighbours and quiet hoursCheck local noise rules and handle neighbour problems with clear evidence.Ruhezeiten
Post and parcel collectionCheck delivery notices and collection requirements, and find out what to do if a parcel goes missing.Benachrichtigungskarte