Renting a Car in Germany: What You Need to Know

Do You Need to Rent a Car in Germany?

Yes and no. There are many situations where I wouldn't rent a car in Germany. For example, if you plan to spend the majority of your time in major cities, you should not rent a car.

If your Germany trip consists of a few days in Berlin, Munich and other cities, it's far easier to reach each one by train. There are regular train schedules to the major cities, and you can book your tickets anytime on the Deutsche Bahn website or app.

Within the cities themselves, it's easier to use public transportation (subways, local buses, etc.) or even taxis/Uber/a ride sharing app. Parking can be difficult in major cities and there's usually quite a bit of traffic.

If your Germany trip consists of smaller towns and villages, especially if you intend to visit a bunch of them, renting a car is the ideal way. I'm going to outline a couple of our trips around Germany and why we decided to travel by car or train.

Over the holidays, I travelled to Germany for the Christmas markets. I started in Cologne and took a day trip to Aachen. Then, I spent a couple of days in Nuremberg and Regensburg before departing Germany for Vienna.

For that trip, I traveled entirely by train. There were regular, direct trains between every destination that operated multiple times a day and worked with my schedule.

On another occasion, Justin and I made a road trip of the Romantic Road. Starting in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, we stopped in several fairy tale towns like Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Landsberg am Lech, Füssen and others.

With a car, we had the freedom to stop wherever we liked. It was also much faster reaching every town. I can't imagine visiting by public transportation. We'd spend most of our time looking out the window at the journey rather than seeing the destinations themselves.

How to Book a Rental Car in Germany

No matter where I'm booking a car rental in the world, I use a car rental comparison platform to find the best options. A car rental comparison website allows you to compare multiple cars from several companies in a destination.

Then, you can book the car rental directly through the comparison website, making it a quick and seamless process. Typically, this price includes the rental costs, insurance, and a deposit.

EconomyBookings is an excellent car rental comparison platform that's a one stop shop for car rentals. EconomyBookings is a long standing car rental comparison platform since 2008. They have had over 10 million customers, 800+ suppliers and 20,000+ locations.

Their website is easy to navigate and there aren't any hidden fees. They have a huge inventory of rental cars across Germany, so you'll easily be able to find one that suits your needs.

They also make the car rental process so much easier. I'm sure you don't have time to visit every local car rental agency's website to compare prices and deals. EconomyBookings does exactly that for you on their website so you can find an appropriate car within your budget.

How to Find the Best Deals on Car Rentals

Aside from using EconomyBookings like I've outlined above, there are a few ways to save money on a rental car. It can be best to have flexible pick-up and drop-off dates. I realize that this isn't always possible.

Don't leave your booking until the last minute. Some places will run out of inventory or their remaining car rentals will be sky high. Book in advance as much as you can. With a platform like EconomyBookings, they offer free cancellations if your plans change.

Picking the car up and dropping it off at the same location can keep the costs lower. Picking the car up in the city and dropping it off at the airport, for instance, can even triple the price in some cases!

Selecting a smaller vehicle with fewer add-ons will surely keep the costs down. In some European destinations, choosing a manual car over an automatic might be cheaper. I have seen that changing over time as car rental agencies grow their inventory of automatic transmission vehicles, particularly for those from North America.

Car Insurance in Germany

When you rent a car in Germany, you will need car insurance. Thankfully, the process of obtaining car instance is very easy.

First, your travel credit card may already include car insurance. Make sure you have this feature before you travel and check to see if it includes CDW or LDW. Also, make sure you use this credit card when you make the car rental booking.

If you don't have insurance through your credit card, you will need to purchase it directly through your car rental comparison website (ie. EconomyBookings) or at the car rental agency when you pick up the car.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) are both great options. If the car is stolen, damaged or there's an accident, CDW and LDW will cover your losses. There are other supplemental forms of insurance that can completely cover you in case you damage any part of the car.

Regardless of what form of insurance you choose, it's always best to read the fine print. Justin and I have insurance coverage through my credit card, though we will on occasion purchase additional insurance in certain situations to completely cover our bases.

Renting a Car in Germany: Our Experiences

Justin and I rented a car in Germany, picking up and dropping off the car in Garmisch. Having secured the rental car ahead of time on a car rental comparison site, it was prepaid.

We had to provide a deposit on our credit card that was released once we returned the car. The salesperson also attempted to upsell us on additional insurance, a GPS device and other upgrades. We declined everything because we didn't need it. Google Maps and a connection via an e-SIM works perfectly well.

It's always a good idea to inspect the vehicle at the car hire agency before you drive it. Take a full walkaround video of the car. Take photos of any little scratches or scrapes that exist on the vehicle.

Also, don't be late in picking up your rental car. Sometimes if you're late, the company will rent your car out to someone else. Then, you might be stuck with a larger vehicle that you didn't want. And worst case scenario, you might lose your whole reservation.

Local Driving Rules and Tips

Germans drive on the right side of the road, similar to those in Canada, the USA and many other parts of Europe. You cannot text and drive and must use a hands-free device if you're talking on the phone.

While the famous Autobahn has sections without any speed limits, most roads (and some sections of the Autobahn) have speed limits. Pay close attention.

Many highways and roads in Germany have speed cameras. They will catch you if you're speeding. It will take a photo of you, too.

Months after our trip to Germany, we received a notice in the mail that ended up being a speeding ticket from Germany! It was accompanied by a slightly terrifying black and white photo of Justin. Oops. Be sure to pay any speeding tickets online so as to not have a collections agency sent after you.

It's not likely that you'll drive on any toll routes. We didn't encounter any. There may be tolls on a couple of specific tunnels for passenger vehicles, but that's about it.

Getting Gas in Germany

Stopping for gas is similar to stopping for gas in other countries. You might find gas to be more expensive in Germany than it is at home, though that won't always be the case.

Your rental car will usually be marked with the type of gas that belongs in it. They usually make this pretty clear so tourists avoid putting the wrong type inside.

E5 (Super 95) is the regular, unleaded gasoline (up to 5% ethanol) that you'll likely put into your car. There's also E10 (95 octane with 10% ethanol) and Super Plus for luxury vehicles. Diesel is clearly labeled as such, and the pumps are usually a different color.

The gas stations off the highway will have the most expensive gas due to their convenient locations. Going into town or finding a gas station near a super market will help you save some cash.

Usually you will need to return the car with a full tank of gas. So, make sure you fill up in advance in town and not right at the airport for a budget-friendly option.

Do I Need an International Driving Permit (IDP)?

If your driver's license is not in a Romance language, you will definitely need an International Driving Permit (IDP). Usually, if your driver's license isn't in the local language (ie. German), you will need an IDP.

If you are from Canada (like us) or the USA, it's recommended that you get an IDP for Germany. It might not be totally necessary. As it is "recommended" but not essential, we decided not to get an IDP before driving in Germany.

There's a bit of a gray area. You can drive on your Canadian driver's license for up to six months in Germany. And you don't need an IDP to rent a car in Germany. Simply show your regular driver's license to the car rental company when you pick up your vehicle.

If you get pulled over by the police for a traffic violation, they may stick closely to the rules and demand to see your IDP. They might not. At the end of the day, it doesn't hurt to get one.

If you are Canadian and need one, visit your local CAA. If you're American, visit AAA to get one.

Final Conclusions About Car Rentals in Germany

All in all, it's a pretty easy process to rent a car in Germany. Seamlessly book your car online using a car rental comparison platform, like EconomyBookings.

It's easy to select a car from a list of local car rental companies. Compare features, prices and ratings by fellow travelers to secure the best car for you.

Be on time to pick up your rental car. Book the proper insurance, if needed, in advance or upon picking up the vehicle.

Familiarize yourself with road rules and traffic laws of Germany before embarking on your road trip. Don't speed as there are automatic speed cameras everywhere.

Make sure you fill your car up with the correct gas before you return it.

Renting a car in Germany will help you access cute little villages and natural spots slightly off the beaten track. It will help you save time and you might even save money as high speed train tickets aren't cheap. Have a fantastic time exploring Germany by car!