Car hire in Germany - take your car down the Autobahn

Over the course of 60 years, Auto Europe has developed from a small business in North America to an international car hire company offering quality, affordable car rental services at over 20,000 locations in 150 countries. Through our partnerships with leading international and local suppliers, we can provide our clients with a vast and modern fleet at numerous airports, railway stations and downtown locations, so you can always choose the pick up location better suited to your needs. Auto Europe provides Germany car hire services at over 327 cities and towns (including main cities, such as Munich, Frankfurt or Berlin). You can use the form on the left side of the page to check out our great offers if you need a car hire in Germany!

Visit our road trips in Germany page for travel inspiration and learn about the fascinating places in the country.

Road Rules and Petrol Stations

• Cars in Germany drive on the right-hand side of the road and overtake on the left, as is common throughout Europe.
• Both the driver and any passengers must wear seat belts.
• Children younger than 12 and measuring less than 1.5m must use a child seat appropriate for their age and weight.
• If using a child seat in the front passenger seat, the airbag must be deactivated.
• Most petrol stations accept payment by credit card (though this may not be the case in smaller towns).
• Generally speaking, there are no speed limits on German Autobahns. However, there is a "recommended" limit of 80 mph (130 km/h).
• If the car is fitted with snow chains, the speed limit is 31 mph (50 km/h).
• The alcohol in blood legal limit is 0,050%, which is lower than in the UK. The limit is 0 for drivers younger than 21 or drivers who have held their licence for less than two years.
• Car rental suppliers equip their vehicles with winter tyres from October/November to March, to comply with German law. In some cases this is already included in the basic price of the vehicle, but some suppliers do charge an extra "Winterization Fee", paid locally. You can check whether this is the case for any given vehicle on the Product Information before booking, as well as on the Terms and Conditions of your voucher afterwards.
• Due to environmental concerns, Germany has established "Green Zones" in many towns and cities, where vehicles can only circulate when in possession of a green badge. Cars hired in Germany normally already have this badge, so drivers don't need to worry about driving in unauthorised areas. If you hired your car in a neighbouring country, however, you should be aware that without this badge, it is forbidden to drive in those "Green Zones", which are indicated by a white sign with a red circle and the words "Umwelt Zone".

Age Requirements

To hire a car in Germany, drivers must be at least 18 years old and have held their licence for at least two years (age and driver's licence requirements may, however, vary depending on car category and supplier). When picking up the car, it will be necessary to present both parts of the driver's licence. Drivers younger than 25 years may be subject to a young driver's fee. You can always find the information regarding age and driver's licence requirements on the Terms, Conditions & Local Fees.

Should you have any further questions about picking up your car hire in Germany, you can also contact our toll-free number at any time and one of our agents will be happy to provide any necessary additional information.

Tolls

There are no tolls on German Autobahns.

Currency

Germany is part of the eurozone and its currency is the euro, which replaced the Deutschmark on January 1st 1999. You can use your debit card to withdraw money in Germany, but you will be charged a conversion fee by your bank and, in some cases, a transaction fee. These fees also apply when paying for goods with your debit card, as opposed to withdrawing money.

Please note that while some shops and restaurants accept foreign debit cards to pay for goods and services, some do not. Likewise, many places in Germany will not accept credit cards as a form of payment. It is generally best to carry euros with you. While having too much cash on you always carries a risk, withdrawing larger amounts less often will result in fewer bank fees in the long run.

Time difference

Berlin is on GMT+1, making it one hour ahead of London. Germany changes to Daylight Saving time on the last Sunday of March and back to Standard Time on the last Sunday of October.

Dictionary

Here are some words and sentences that may come in handy!

I want to hire a car - Ich möchte ein Auto mieten
Stop (in a sign) - Halt! / Stop!
One way street - Einbahnstrasse
No parking - Parkverbot
Speed limit - Geschwindigkeitslimite / Höchstgeschwindigkeit
Petrol station - Tankstelle
Petrol - Benzin
Motorway - Autobahn
Driver's Licence - Führerschein
Under construction - Baustellen
Warning triangle - Warndreieck
Where can I exchange money? - Wo kann ich Geld wechseln, bitte?
Exit - Ausfahrt

Electricity

The voltage in Germany, as is the case in most of Europe, is between 220-240 Volts. The types of plug and sockets used in Germany are the Type C Europlug or the Types E and F Schuko. If you want to use your British appliances in Germany, you will need a power adapter.

Visa & Embassy Information

British citizens do not need a visa to travel to Germany, only a passport valid for the duration of their stay. Please note that German police officers can ask for identification at any time, so you should always carry your passport with you.

Should you require consular assistance during your stay in Germany, the UK Embassy is located in Berlin, and there are consulates in Munich, Hamburg and Düsseldorf.

British Embassy Berlin
Wilhelmstraße 70/71
10117 Berlin
Email: ukingermany@fco.gov.uk
Telephone: +49 (0) 30 204 570

British Consulate-General Munich
Möhlstraße 5
81675 München
Email: ukingermany@fco.gov.uk
Telephone: +49 (0) 89 211090

British Consulate-General Düsseldorf
Yorckstraße 19
40476 Düsseldorf
Email: ukingermany@fco.gov.uk
Telephone: +49 (0) 211 94480

British Honorary Consul Hamburg
Neuer Jungfernstieg 20/Fehlandstraße 3
Hamburg
Telephone: +49 (0) 40 44803236

Campervan hire in Germany

Get even more out of your visit to Germany by hiring a campervan through Auto Europe! The expansive motorway network allows you to traverse this diverse country with ease, from the island of Sylt in the north, through the vast forests and fields, down to the majestic Alps in the south. Pick-up is available in all major cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and Frankfurt.

Useful links

Infographic Luxury on the Motorway

Infographic Winter Tyres Regulation