Car rental Germany

General information and regulations

You must be at least 21 years old (age may vary by car category) and have held your license for 1-3 years depending on the car category reserved. Drivers under the age of 25 may incur a young driver surcharge. Seatbelts are mandatory, as well as child's seats for children up to 6 years.

Traffic travels on the right and the speed limits are: 31mph/50kph in urban areas, 62mph/100kph on open roads and a recommended speed limit of 81mph/130kph on highways. However, the rumors about absence of these limits are true: there are no real speed limits on (most of) the 'Autobahn' highways. Pay attention to this, as traffic may overtake you with substantial speed.

Driving in Germany with a rental car

Despite the size of Germany, distance is a relative term and one can travel far in a short amount of time. The country is known for its extensive road network and has about 10,000 km of 'Autobahn'(and over 41,000 km ‘Bundesstrassen’). Of course, possible daytrips depend on the city of arrival.

In practice, most of the larger cities can be reached easily, due to the absence of speed limits (on the Autobahn-highways). The distance between Munich and Berlin is 500 km and these roads are specifically constructed to be the fastest highways in the world. Whether your trip is aimed at cultural delight (the many churches or the impressive castle of Neuschwannstein in Bavaria) or relaxation at Lake Chiemsee, the main areas of interest are always within reach.

A castle route through Bavaria, where Ludwig II of Bavaria resided in his luxurious palaces, is certainly worth the trip with a rental car.

Renting a car in Germany

The most important airports in Germany have several car rental companies available, such as Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, National and Sixt.

Another option is to rent your car through EasyTerra, an organization that compares the rates of well-established car rental companies for your convenience.