Where must the warning vest be stored in the car?

The warning vest in your car must be stored in a way that allows you to reach it quickly without getting out of the vehicle in the event of a breakdown. German law requires one warning vest per vehicle, and it should ideally be kept within easy reach inside the passenger compartment — not in the trunk. The following sections address the most important questions about the legal requirement, storage, and the applicable standard.

Is storing the warning vest in the trunk considered compliant?

Technically speaking, German law does not specify a particular storage location for the warning vest. Keeping it in the trunk is therefore not prohibited. However, traffic authorities and roadside assistance services strongly recommend against storing the vest there, since in an emergency you would have to get out of the vehicle before you could reach it.

That is precisely the problem: when your vehicle breaks down on a highway or a busy road, you should put on the warning vest before getting out of the car. If it is in the trunk, you are reversing the very sequence of steps the vest is meant to protect you through. From a practical standpoint, the trunk is therefore not a sensible option — even if it is not explicitly prohibited by law.

What does the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations say about warning vests?

The German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO) require that every registered motor vehicle carry a warning vest. This requirement has been in force since 2014 and applies to all passenger cars, trucks, and buses. However, the StVZO does not specify where the vest must be stored.

What the regulation requires is simply that the vest be carried in the vehicle. The responsibility for storing it in a practical location rests with the driver. Anyone who cannot produce a warning vest during a traffic stop risks a fine. Anyone who has one but cannot reach it in time puts themselves in danger.

Where in the car is the warning vest most accessible?

The best locations for a warning vest in your car are the glove compartment, the driver’s door pocket, or a storage compartment in the center console. All three allow you to grab the vest from the driver’s seat without having to open the door — which is the key advantage over the trunk.

Many drivers choose the glove compartment because it is large enough for a rolled or folded vest and remains accessible from both the driver’s and passenger’s seat. Compact warning vests designed specifically for use in vehicles can also be stored under the driver’s seat or beneath the floor mat without taking up unnecessary space.

How many warning vests are required in a car?

German law requires one warning vest per vehicle. There is no legal obligation to carry a separate vest for each passenger. One vest is sufficient to meet the legal requirement.

In practice, however, many drivers think one step further: those who regularly travel with family members or passengers may want to keep a vest for each person. This is not a legal requirement, but it is a sensible precaution — especially when traveling with children or driving on highways. Some other European countries, such as Austria and France, have different rules that should be taken into account when driving abroad.

What standard must a warning vest in a car meet?

A warning vest used in a car must comply with the European standard EN ISO 20471, formerly known as EN 471. This standard sets minimum requirements for visibility, including reflective strips, fluorescent color, and the minimum surface area of reflective material. In Germany, protection class 1 is also mandatory.

When purchasing a vest, make sure the label clearly states this standard. Warning vests without a standard marking — such as basic construction vests or sports jackets with reflective strips — do not meet the legal requirement and may be flagged during a traffic stop. Even visually appealing or very inexpensive models without certification do not provide reliable visibility when it matters most.

What happens if the warning vest is missing or improperly stored?

Anyone who cannot produce a warning vest during a police check in Germany is required to pay a fine. The current fine is €15. There is no legal requirement to store the vest in a specific location, which means an improperly stored vest alone will not result in a fine.

The real risk, however, lies not in the fine but in the situation itself. A vest buried in the trunk or hidden under heavy luggage is of no use in an emergency. Anyone who gets out of their vehicle after a breakdown on a highway without wearing a warning vest is barely visible to other road users — especially in the dark or in poor weather conditions. The risk of an accident increases significantly.

How Lifehammer® supports you with warning vests in the car

Since 1983, we have been developing TÜV-certified safety products for vehicles that work reliably exactly when you need them. Our range includes four safety hammers as well as a compact warning vest designed specifically for use in the car.

• Safety Vest Ultra: The Lifehammer® Safety Vest Ultra is exceptionally compact and can be stored discreetly under the floor mat or in the glove compartment. In an emergency, it is ready to use immediately — no searching required.
• Standard-compliant and certified: Our warning vest meets the European standard EN ISO 20471, satisfying the legal requirements in Germany and other European countries.
• Four safety hammers for every need: All models are equipped with a seatbelt cutter and reliably shatter side windows made of tempered glass (ESG) — whether with a manual steel hammer head or an automatic ceramic hammer head.

For more information and answers to frequently asked questions about our products, visit our Questions and Answers section.