Rent A Car To Explore Germany

I told you about the Porsche test track for a special driving treat in Germany, but you should also look into regular driving in Germany. Germany has many famous routes to drive over and above our notorious Autobahn. Why not rent a car and experience them for yourself?

Renting a car in Germany has a reputation for being challenging. I don’t know if this is the language barrier at work or if something else is contributing to this reputation, but I want to correct it now. To rent a car in Germany is actually easy as pie, and driving in Germany is definitely an adventure!

First, you will need to make a reservation. There are many different companies that offer rental services in Germany, including international firms like Hertz, Avis, Sixt, and Enterprise. Just as in other countries, you can reserve a car by phone or online and the best cars go to those with the earliest reservations.

Generally, if you do not have a German license, you will need an international driver’s license to rent your car. There are very few exceptions to this rule, and some companies also require that you be more than 25 years of age. Do your research and you will be able to navigate these humps easily.

Once you have checked the policies, simply make your reservation directly with the company. You can also go through your favorite travel service, but direct bookings often get your the best deal and eliminate the possibility of mis-communication between the booking agent and the rental company.

Check out the sizes of the cars available, and be sure to decide for automatic or manual transmissions. Many German cars are manual cars with diesel engines. If you haven’t driven a manual transmission before, please don’t use my beloved streets as a training ground! Traffic is tough enough without stalled tourists ;-)

All joking aside, do a bit of extra reading when you book to be sure you are getting a car that will be comfortable for you to drive. Then you will be free to sit back and enjoy the view as you tour Germany in high-speed, and you will be able to have happy memories of car rentals in Germany.

—Marcus