You can take the German driving theory test in English, but the traffic rules you must apply are the same German StVO rules as in any other language. Priority questions become easier when you stop guessing from the picture and check the junction in a fixed order: directions from police, working lights, priority signs, the default rule, then turning conflicts.
The order matters. “Right before left” is a useful phrase, but it is not the first answer to every question. A stop sign, a priority road or a cyclist crossing your turning path can change who moves first.
Know the five German words behind the question
Even if the exam text is in English, you will see these words on driving school materials, road signs or explanations. Connect each term to a visible action rather than memorising a translation alone.
- Vorfahrt: priority at a junction or intersection.
- Vorrang: precedence in other movement conflicts, such as passing an obstruction.
- Rechts vor links: the default rule that traffic from the right goes first where no higher rule applies.
- Vorfahrt gewähren: yield to traffic on the priority road.
- Abbiegen: turning; the manoeuvre brings its own duties toward oncoming and crossing traffic.
Apply a five-step decision method
Do not stop at step three just because you found a priority road. Two vehicles on the same road can still conflict when one turns left. Likewise, a vehicle from a side road that travels straight does not gain priority over a signed main road.
- 1Look for an officer directing traffic. Their instructions control the movement.
- 2Look for traffic lights that are actually regulating your direction.
- 3Read each relevant priority sign and any small supplementary sign underneath it.
- 4If no higher rule controls the junction, apply the default rule from § 8 StVO.
- 5Check turning paths, oncoming traffic, cyclists and pedestrians under § 9 StVO.
Worked example: green light and a left turn
Your signal is ordinary green and you want to turn left. A vehicle opposite you is travelling straight. Both vehicles are allowed to enter the junction, but you let the oncoming vehicle pass before crossing its path. If a pedestrian then crosses the road you are entering, you may need to wait again. Green is permission to proceed under the rules, not a promise that every turning path is clear.
Change one detail: a separate green arrow for your direction can indicate a protected movement. Do not assume such protection from a round green light; read the signal shown in the actual question.
A study routine that improves reasoning
After each wrong answer, write the missed cue in one line: “I ignored the supplementary sign” or “I forgot the cyclist on the right.” Sort mistakes by cue, not just by question number. Revisit the same type a few days later with a different scene. If you can explain the order without reading the multiple-choice options, you understand the rule.
Use drawings, real junctions and driver-view exercises together. A 3D junction is valuable because a small sign or bicycle may be visible in a different place than in a top-down theory picture.
What an app can and cannot do
Fahrschule 3D: Vorfahrt üben concentrates on priority decisions through interactive junction scenes and rule explanations. It can help you transfer a rule to a new view. It does not replace the official question materials, the required instruction or the practical driving lessons. For the official exam, follow the current material and guidance supplied through your driving school.
Practise priority from the driver’s view
- 1
Spot the controlling rule
Find lights, signs and the road layout before choosing a vehicle.
- 2
Say why
Explain the order aloud before you reveal the answer.
- 3
Review the error
Read the rule after the animated solution and record the cue you missed.
Free to download on iPhone & iPad
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
Is the theory test available in English in Germany?
Yes. English is among the languages permitted by Annex 7 of the Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung for the theory test.
Does right-before-left apply at every unsigned-looking junction?
No. Check for working lights, signs and special situations first. A sign on your approach may be easy to miss in a picture.
Does a green light mean a left turn has priority over oncoming traffic?
Ordinary green does not remove the duty to let oncoming traffic pass when turning left. A separate arrow signal must be assessed separately.