Car rental in Germany

Germany reveals itself in contrasts: from Rhine vineyards and Bavarian castles to Baltic coastlines and the Black Forest. Many fascinating destinations lie beyond major cities. Renting a car in Germany is the best way to travel according to your own plan, without dependence on public transport schedules and routes.

By car, you can drive along the Romantic Road or reach remote Franconian breweries. No need to worry about expensive transfers or study bus and train timetables.

Why Rent a Car in Germany Through Localrent

Searching for a car on-site in an unfamiliar city consumes time and energy, office selections are typically limited, and prices may be excessive. On Localrent, you can rent from a local rental company, selecting your vehicle and comparing prices in a comfortable, unhurried environment before departure. Why booking through Localrent is advantageous:

1. Insurance without surprises. Most vehicles include comprehensive insurance in the rate.
2. Unlimited mileage. 95% of offers feature unlimited kilometers. Want to traverse all of Germany from Hamburg to the Alps? Absolutely possible.
3. Filters by transmission type, engine size, and vehicle class help you quickly identify the ideal option. For autobahn travel—engines from 1.4L; for city driving—economical compacts.
4. Free cancellation within 24 hours for most vehicles—your safeguard against sudden plan changes.
5. Wide selection—from city hatchbacks to crossovers.

Booking online through Localrent provides a vehicle adapted to your routes—without overpayment or on-site surprises.

Requirements for Car Rental in Germany

To complete the rental process, you'll need three documents: valid driver's license, passport, and printed voucher with booking confirmation. These documents must be presented on the vehicle collection day.

Age requirements in Germany are fairly strict—most companies rent to persons over 23-25 years. Minimum driving experience is 1 year. When searching on rental websites, always specify your actual age—the system automatically displays available options considering all requirements.

Driving in Germany and Traffic Regulations

Driving in Germany is convenient, combining German discipline with impeccable road infrastructure. Germans approach traffic rules with great respect, and this predictability creates a safe environment for all road users.

Speed limits:

• Urban areas: 50 km/h restriction
• Outside cities: 100 km/h
• Autobahns: no general speed limit, but recommended speed is 130 km/h

Remember that unlimited autobahn speeds aren't an absolute rule. Many sections, especially near cities and construction zones, have restrictions.

Germany follows the classic "right-hand rule." At intersections without signs or traffic lights, vehicles approaching from the right have priority. At roundabouts, priority always belongs to those already on the circle.

The left lane on autobahns is exclusively for overtaking. After completing the maneuver, always return to the right lane. Continuous driving in the left lane without overtaking is a violation.

In cities, be particularly attentive to pedestrians and cyclists. Failure to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks results in substantial fines. Bicycle lanes are often separated from the roadway, and when turning right, you must yield to cyclists proceeding straight.

Parking in Germany

In Germany, parking is permitted on the right shoulder or right edge of the roadway in the direction of travel. On one-way streets, you may also park on the left if no prohibiting signs are present.

Cities offer both free and paid options:

• Free parking is allowed on shoulders without prohibiting signs, at designated areas on city outskirts, and in time-limited zones, for example, up to 2 hours.
• Paid parking includes metered spaces, underground garages, and multi-level parking facilities. Payment typically accepts coins, and the receipt must be displayed behind the windshield.

Applications like Parkopedia, Easy Park, or ParKing help locate available spaces and pay for parking online.

German traffic regulations strictly define where stopping and parking are prohibited. Parking is considered any stop exceeding 3 minutes or if you exit the vehicle. Parking is absolutely prohibited in the following locations:

• Pedestrian crossings, intersections, within 5 meters of railway crossings
• Bicycle lanes, within 15 meters before and after public transport stops, and pedestrian zones
• Narrow passages, in front of building entrances and exits, and in "No Stopping" sign zones

In time-limited zones, you'll see signs reading "2 Std." or "2 Std. mit Parkscheibe." This means free parking up to 2 hours is allowed, but a blue parking disc is required. After parking, manually set the disc to your arrival time, rounded up to the nearest half-hour—for example, if you arrived at 13:07, set it to 13:30. The disc must be the standard blue color. Pink, green, or souvenir discs are invalid and may result in fines.

Fuel Stations in Germany

The standard process at most German fuel stations:

• Refueling and payment. You pull up to an available pump, refuel with the required amount, then proceed to the station building and inform the operator of your pump number, after which you pay by cash or card. This is the most common procedure.
• Card payment at the pump. At many modern stations, you can pay for fuel directly through the terminal on the pump using a bank card. This eliminates the need to visit the cashier.

Fuel prices at stations located directly on highways are significantly higher than those a few minutes' drive away in towns or villages. A minor detour helps achieve substantial savings.

Fuel costs at the same station may fluctuate throughout the day. Generally, the most economical refueling time is evening hours, particularly 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Mornings, especially before 7:00 am, typically feature higher prices.

How to Book a Car for Travel in Germany

Begin by selecting rental dates on Localrent's main page. Specify the German city where you plan to collect the vehicle. For more precise searches, use the "Specify location" option—here you can choose the specific location type: airport, railway station, rental company office, or vehicle delivery to an address.

Next steps:

1. Filter results by transmission type, vehicle class, and engine size
2. Review the model details—included insurance and technical specifications
3. Add necessary options—child seat or additional driver
4. Check available payment methods and cancellation conditions
5. After selecting your vehicle, specify exact collection and return times, enter personal details and contact information. Pay the deposit online—a voucher with confirmation will arrive via email.

When meeting the rental company representative, pay careful attention to vehicle inspection. Jointly document all damage in the inspection report—from minor scratches to windshield chips. After signing, pay the remaining amount and security deposit.

Where to Travel in Germany

Germany is a large country, and route selection often depends on which city begins your journey. From Munich, it's convenient to start trips through the Alps and Bavaria. Exploring the Romantic Road, the route through southern Germany's historic towns, is best from Frankfurt, while from Berlin—discover northern landscapes. However, there are iconic, time-tested destinations worth visiting at any opportunity:

1. Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria. This fairytale castle rises in the Alpine foothills near the town of Füssen. Its construction was commissioned by King Ludwig II, inspired by Wagner's music and Germanic legends. The castle resembles no other in the world—its slender white towers against mountains and forests create an iconic image. Interiors are decorated with frescoes depicting scenes from Wagner's operas and ancient sagas. From here, views extend over Alpine Lake Schwansee and waterfalls.
2. Romantic Road. This route leads through Bavaria's most picturesque towns and landscapes. The journey begins in Würzburg with its baroque bishops' residence and vineyards. Along the way, you'll encounter Rothenburg ob der Tauber—a perfectly preserved medieval town with fortress walls and cobbled streets. Be sure to visit Rothenburg's Christmas Museum, where festive atmosphere reigns year-round. For comfortable navigation on winding sections near the Alps, we recommend vehicles with engines from 1.4 liters.
3. German Alpine Road. This 450-kilometer route follows the Austrian border through all of Bavaria. The road begins on Lake Constance's shore in Lindau and leads to Berchtesgaden, known for its national park. Along the way, you'll pass Mount Zugspitze, numerous lakes, and traditional villages. Serpentines and significant elevation changes require good engine power—choose a crossover or vehicle with an engine from 1.4 liters.
4. Black Forest (Schwarzwald). The region is famous for dense forests, scenic lakes, and traditional architecture. One of the best ways to experience it—drive the Black Forest Highway. This panoramic road leads to the Baden-Baden resort, high-altitude Lake Mummelsee, and viewpoints overlooking valleys.
5. Moselle River Valley. This route is renowned for vineyards, medieval castles, and charming towns. Begin your journey in Trier, Germany's oldest city, where Roman monuments remain preserved. The road then leads through Bernkastel-Kues with its half-timbered houses and Reichsburg Castle in Cochem, standing on a high hill. Along the way, stop at family wineries to purchase local Rieslings and view the famous Eltz Castle.

If you value nature, head to northern Germany, to the Wadden Sea, to walk across the mudflats during low tide—a UNESCO World Heritage site. History and architecture enthusiasts should include the Castle Road in their route, stretching from Mannheim.

Where to Rent a Car in Germany

On Localrent, you can rent a vehicle in most major German cities, including Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Bonn, Krefeld, and others.

Many of these cities offer various collection points: downtown offices, airport counters, railway stations, and vehicle delivery service to your hotel or other convenient address.

Tips for First-Time Car Renters in Germany

We've compiled several recommendations to enhance your rental and driving experience in Germany.

Adapt to autobahn rhythm

Germany's famous autobahns are known for unlimited speed sections, but this doesn't mean driving at any speed. Traffic is often very intensive, and vehicles approaching at very high speeds may appear in the left lane. Always maintain the right lane unless overtaking.

The safest driving style—maintain a speed comfortable for you in the right lane, allowing other road users to overtake you freely on the left. Remember that overtaking on the right on autobahns is strictly prohibited.

Check the environmental sticker

Before heading to any major German city, ensure your rental vehicle's windshield displays the colored environmental sticker Umweltplakette. Without this green sticker, entry into designated environmental zones Umweltzone, present in most city centers, is prohibited. The violation fine is quite substantial. Generally, all rental companies equip their vehicles with these stickers, but verify this personally.

Be prepared for narrow streets in old towns

Historic centers of towns like Rothenburg ob der Tauber or Bad Urach feature very narrow, cobbled streets. If your goal includes trips through historic towns, favor compact models—this will save considerable time and effort when maneuvering and searching for parking spaces.

Questions and Answers About Car Rental in Germany