Tips and advice when looking for a rental car in Germany
Here we have put together some tips on what to consider when looking for a rental car in Germany and regions/states such as North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony, Hesse, Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, Berlin, Schleswig-Holstein and Brandenburg.
Refuel the car before returning it
Different companies have different fuel conditions. If the car is to be refueled before return, do so to avoid extra fees from the rental car company. Some smaller companies have an administrative fee for refueling the car if it is to be left empty, which is stated in the conditions but not always in the total price. Look extra carefully at the refueling regulations! If the company has 'Pick up full, drop off empty' then there may be an administrative fee for refueling. Any fee is stated during the booking. It is often the cheaper companies that have 'Pick up full, drop off empty'.
Book as early as possible
Book as early as possible, it will usually be more expensive if you wait. In large cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt am Main, Essen, Stuttgart, Dortmund, Düsseldorf and Bremen, prices often rise the later you book. It can also be difficult to find cars at major airports such as Berlin Tegel Airport, Berlin Schönefeld Airport, Berlin Brandenburg Airport, Hamburg Airport, Munich Airport, Cologne-Bonn Airport, Frankfurt Airport, Stuttgart Airport, Dortmund Airport and Düsseldorf Airport, if you wait too long.
Compare prices from several companies and book the rental car on the Internet
Searching and booking car rental on the Internet becomes cheaper and it is easier and takes less time. Compare many companies and sites to find the best price. Autoprio.com compares several companies at the same time in a single search via Cartrawler. We do not own any cars but only compare prices from different companies such as e.g. Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Budget, Sixt, Thrifty, National, Enterprise, Alamo and Dollar, etc.
Are there several of you who will drive the car? Where are you going?
Extra driver? If more than one person is driving the car, this must be stated at the time of booking or at the company upon arrival. Remember that there may be restrictions on driving the car to other countries and taking the car from or to islands such as Rügen Island, Usedom Island, Sylt, Fehmarn, Föhr, Norderney, Borkum, Poel and Baltrum.
Is free mileage / free miles included?
Check that free mileage is included in the rent. If free mileage is not included, check that the number of kilometers in the contract is sufficient. All major companies have unlimited mileage, but less expensive companies may have a maximum mileage per day.
Do a quick inspection upon pickup
Inspect and examine the rental car when you pick it up. Check that all damages, scratches and dents are included in the condition report. Check how big the deductible is! What often differentiates between smaller, cheaper companies in Germany and larger global companies is the amount of the deductible. Also read the conditions carefully when it comes to how the car is to be returned. Smaller local companies may have an administrative fee if the car is to be returned with an empty tank. Any fee is stated in our terms and conditions when you apply.
Review the contract & terms carefully
Review and read the rental conditions before booking the rental car. Autoprio.com offers rental cars from several different rental car companies and the conditions differ between the different companies. Smaller companies may have administrative fees to be paid on site that relate to refueling after return. Any fees are stated during the booking. Review and read the contract when you pick up your rental car. Autoprio.com offers cheap rental cars from several different rental car companies in Germany and the contract differs between the different companies. If there is something you do not understand in the contract, ask someone from the company on site or contact us directly.
Frequently asked questions about car rental & renting a car in Germany
Can I book without a credit card in Germany?
Yes. You can make a booking without a credit card with Autoprio.com in Germany. Note that, even if you choose to pay by debit card, you will have to provide a valid credit card in the driver’s name at the time of pick-up since the rental agent requires a credit card from which to take the rental deposit. Credit cards accepted for pick-up are MasterCard, Visa, and in some cases American Express.
How old do you have to be to rent a car in Germany?
Most car hire companies have a minimum age limit of 21 years for rentals. However, requirements may vary depending on the car rental company and destination country. Please note that there may be additional charges if the main driver is under 25 or over 75 years old to cover the extra insurance cost. Any additional fee will be mentioned at the time of booking under summary of charges before you confirm the reservation at Autoprio.com.
How much do you charge for excess in Germany?
The excess amount depends on the car hire company and the rented vehicle and it will be refunded within 10-28 days after the rental if there has been no damage. Cartrawler offer damage refund insurance in association with Autoprio.com insurance partners, which will allow you to claim for reimbursement in the event that you have been charged for collision damage or theft. This damage refund insurance can be purchased at the time of booking.
How much does it cost to rent a minibus in Germany?
How much it costs to rent a 9-seater minibus in Germany depends on the time of year, the supply of buses in different cities such as Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, Essen, Cologne, Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Frankfurt am Main and Dortmund etc. In Germany you can find a 9-seater minibus from about € 99 / day. Do a search with Autoprio.com and easily see all current prices for minibuses right now. The price for the minibus shown is per day and is based on a weekly rental for 7 days. The offer can be changed or removed at short notice by the various rental companies.
Are there any cross-border charges if you want to leave Germany?
The car rental agents like Thrifty, Hertz, Avis, Sixt, Budget, National and Europcar may choose to charge you for cross-border travel. Any fees will need to be paid at the rental desk in Germany in local currency. We will state whether cross-border travel is allowed and in which countries at the time of booking under rental conditions at Autoprio.com.
What is the cheapest car rental company in Germany?
In the past 14 days, the cheapest rental cars were found on Autoprio.com at Global, Hertz Dream Collection, Aznur, Buchbinder, King Rent, Caro, Advantage and Global Drive in cities like Bremen, Frankfurt am Main, Berlin, Essen, Dortmund, Cologne, Munich, Hamburg, Düsseldorf and Stuttgart, etc and at airports like Berlin Tegel Airport, Berlin Brandenburg Airport, Cologne-Bonn Airport, Berlin Schönefeld Airport, Hamburg Airport and Munich Airport, etc. In the larger cities you can find a rental car for € 26 - 58 per day.
Do I need an international driver’s licence in Germany?
If your licence is not printed in the Roman alphabet (i.e. Arabic, Greek, Russian or Chinese) you will need to bring an international driving licence and your domestic licence in Germany. If you are renting abroad (outside your country of residence, or outside where your license was issued), an international drivers licence is usually required regardless of the alphabet. International driver’s licences must be accompanied by the original domestic licence of the driver.
How much does it cost to rent a cargo van in Germany?
How much it costs to rent a van, moving truck or small truck in Germany depends on the time of year and the range of models in different cities and airports. In Germany you can find a smaller truck or van from about € 116 / day, medium truck from about € 151 / day, large van from about € 174 / day.
How can I find car rentals near me in Germany?
Do a search for the city, island or airport closest to you in Germany. A search for country or e.g. island in Germany lists the largest airports like Düsseldorf Airport, Munich Airport, Berlin Tegel Airport, Cologne-Bonn Airport, Stuttgart Airport, Hamburg Airport, Berlin Brandenburg Airport, Berlin Schönefeld Airport, Dortmund Airport and Frankfurt Airport. Then take a look at our map of cheap car hire companies to find the best rental cars near you.
What is the best rental car company in Germany?
Based on ratings and reviews on autoprio.com, the best car rental companies in Germany are Thrifty, Hertz, Avis, Sixt, Budget, National and Europcar. You can find these car hire companies in cities like Bremen, Frankfurt am Main, Berlin, Essen, Dortmund, Cologne, Munich, Hamburg, Düsseldorf and Stuttgart.
How much does it cost to rent a car long term for a month in Germany?
On average, a normal-sized rental car in Germany costs approx. € 1624 per month (€ 58 per day). A smaller rental car costs approx. € 728 per month. The best prices can be found in the largest cities such as Bremen, Frankfurt am Main, Berlin, Essen, Dortmund, Cologne, Munich, Hamburg, Düsseldorf and Stuttgart. The price for the rental car shown is based on a monthly all inclusive rent for 28 days. The offer can be changed or at short notice completely removed by the various car rental companies. Larger cars, luxury cars, vans and moving cars cost more.
Which costs are included in the rental price in Germany?
In the majority of cases the rental price includes breakdown assistance, airport fee, tax, third party liability protection, unlimited mileage and collision damage waiver. Please note that the costs included may vary depending on the car rental company and destination. The car hire company may also choose to ask you for a deposit or excess at the rental desk in Germany. Make sure to check the rental conditions at the time of booking at Autoprio.com.
What are the most popular car rental locations in Germany?
Based on searches on autoprio.com, the most popular cities to rent a car in Germany are Frankfurt am Main, Essen, Cologne, Berlin, Bremen, Munich, Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Leipzig, Dresden, Hanover, Dortmund, Nuremberg, Stuttgart and Hamburg. The most popular airports are Berlin Tegel Airport, Berlin Brandenburg Airport, Cologne-Bonn Airport, Berlin Schönefeld Airport, Hamburg Airport and Munich Airport.
How much does it cost to rent a car for a week in Germany?
On average, a normal-sized rental car in Germany costs approx. € 406 per week (€ 58 per day). A smaller rental car costs approx. € 182 per week. Best prices can be found in major cities such as Bremen, Frankfurt am Main, Berlin, Essen, Dortmund, Cologne, Munich, Hamburg, Düsseldorf and Stuttgart. The price for the rental car shown is based on a weekly all inclusive rental for 7 days. The offer can be changed or removed at short notice by the various rental companies. Do a search with Autoprio.com and easily see all current prices for rental cars right now.
Are there extra charges for drop-off at a different location in Germany?
Yes, in most cases the car rental agents like Budget, Europcar, Sixt, Avis and Hertz will charge an extra fee if you wish to return the vehicle at a different location in Germany. We will clearly state whether the one-way fee is included in the rental price or what additional cost may arise at the time of booking at Autoprio.com.
How much does it cost to rent a car in Germany?
Renting a small car in Germany costs from about € 26 per day and up, depending on the season and supply (2024). Renting a normal-sized car costs from about € 58 / day. Larger cars, luxury cars, vans and moving cars cost more. How much it costs to rent a car depends on the time of year, range of cars, country and what type of car you plan to rent. Sometimes you can find a cheaper rental car depending on the season. In the majority of cases the rental price includes breakdown assistance, airport fee, tax, third party liability protection, unlimited mileage and collision damage waiver. Please note that the costs included may vary depending on the car rental company and destination country. The car hire company may also choose to ask you for a deposit or excess at the rental desk. Make sure to check the rental conditions at the time of booking. The price for the rental car shown is per day and is based on a weekly all inclusive rental for 7 days. The offer can be changed or removed at short notice by the various rental companies.
Car rental where every cost is included, no hidden fees and free cancellations/amendments up to 24-48 hours before you are supposed to pick up the car. An easy and safe booking of rental cars online. Autoprio.com can offer rental cars in cities, ferry terminals, travel centers and airports in Germany.
We compare rental car prices and car rental from several companies in all popular destinations in Germany, and find the best prices on rental cars. Search for and book in cities and communities such as, Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt am Main, Essen, Stuttgart, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Bremen, Hanover, Leipzig, Duisburg, Nuremberg. We list prices from companies that are safe and quality assured so that there will not be any problems when you arrive.
More about Germany
Germany (Federal Republic of Germany, West Germany) has approximately 81,802,000 inhabitants and is located in Europe. Total surface/area 357,021 km² / 137,847 mi². Germany is the 15th largest country when it comes to inhabitants and the 64th largest regarding the surface in the world. The 2th largest country when it comes to inhabitants and the 6th largest regarding the surface in Europe. The largest regions/states/counties are North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony, Hesse, Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, Berlin, Schleswig-Holstein, Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saarland and Bremen from a total of sixteen. Alternative names are Deutschland, Federal Republic of Germany, West Germany, Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Duitschland. The capital is Berlin where about 3,426,400 people live. Websites on the internet often have the domain .de. See the weather reports and find maps of Germany. We give tips and recommendations on attractions, museums, experiences, and destinations which you can visit during your stay in the country. +49 is the country code when you want to make a phone call to the country. The official currency is Euro (EUR) and is used for your payments. Neighboring countries are Switzerland, Poland, Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, France, Austria. Is it included in the price to cross national borders? Usually not, the car rental company may charge a fee to cross national borders to Switzerland, Poland, Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, France, Austria. All additional costs are paid directly at the rental desk in the local currency, Euro (EUR). It is stated in the rental terms and during the booking whether it is allowed to cross national borders and to which countries. Different languages that are used are e.g. German. Berlin (c. 3426400 pop), Hamburg (c. 1739100 pop), Munich (c. 1260400 pop), Cologne (c. 963400 pop), Frankfurt am Main (c. 650000 pop) are the five largest cities. The top five highest mountains are Zugspitze (2962 m / 9,718 ft), Watzmann (2713 m / 8,901 ft), Watzmann Mittelspitze (2713 m / 8,901 ft), Hochblassen (2706 m / 8,878 ft) and Leutascher Dreitorspitze (2673 m / 8,770 ft).
Germany tourist attractions & activities
Experience an amusement park, water park or theme park, then there are these options, Minigolf, Legoland Deutschland, Heide Park, Wunderland, Reeperbahn, Schloss Beck, Phantasialand, Tropical Islands, Natur-Solebad-Werne, AquaDom & SEA LIFE Berlin, Turnacker, Freibad, Freizeitpark Lochmühle, Barfußpark – Dornstetten, Barfußpfad – Bad Sobernheim, Kinderland Trassenheide, Barfußpfad – Bad Orb, Mittenwalder Panorama-Barfußwanderweg, Sommerrodelbahn Bad Doberan and Europa-Park. Do you travel with your children? Spend a day looking on animals? Hellabrunn Zoo, Zoo/Aquarium, Kobelt Zoo, Berlin Zoological Garden, Worms Zoo, Haustierpark, Zoo Cologne, Bayerwald-Tierpark Lohberg, Leipzig Zoological Garden, Opel Zoo, Karlsruhe Zoo, Vogelpark Zoo, Zoological garden Dusseldorf, Zoo Frankfurt, Tierpark Neumünster, Augsburger Zoo, Wilhelma, Serengeti-Park, Wildpark Osterzgebirge, Schmetterlingsfarm Trassenheide, Heidelberg Zoo and SEA LIFE München are tropicarium, tropical house, animal parks, aquarium, zoos and terrarium. Take the opportunity to taste the local wine during your holiday. Weinbau Hubert and Winterhalde are examples of vineyards and wine producers. A day for wine tasting in Germany?
Cheap car rental with unlimited mileage in Germany
There are many different models and sizes of cars to choose from. Fleet list in Germany: Premium cars (Premium), Electric cars, Small SUV, Mini cars (Mini), Compact elite, Small-medium truck-lorry (Small-medium truck), Moped, Luxury elite, Hybrid cars, Economy elite, Exotic cars (Exotic), Fullsize cars (Fullsize), Medium SUV, Estate, 9 seater minivan / Minibus (9 seat minivan), Intermediate elite, Compact cars (Compact), 7 seater minivan (7 seat minivan), Convertible, Special cars (Special), Luxury cars (Luxury), Intermediate, Economy cars (Economy), Fullsize elite, Large truck-lorry (Large truck), Cargo van, Mini elite, 5 seater minivan (5 seat minivan), SUV / Jeep (SUV), Standard cars (Standard), Minivan. Big cities and popular destinations have more car types to choose from. If you want to rent a luxury car then search at the major airports and the most popular destinations in the major regions such as North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony, Hesse, Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, Berlin, Schleswig-Holstein, Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saarland and Bremen etc. It can also be harder to find and book special cars during peak season, if you do not search well in advance, before you need your rental car.
Cars you can rent in Germany are e.g. Medium SUV, etc. Intermediate elite: e.g. BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, etc. Estate: e.g. Renault Clio Estate, Ford Focus Estate, Skoda Octavia Estate, Volkswagen Passat Estate, Mercedes E Class Estate, etc. Cargo van: e.g. Volkswagen Caddy Combo Van, Vauxhall Astra Combo Van, Fiat Ducato, Mercedes Atego Koffer 7.49T, Mercedes Sprinter, Exotic cars, etc. Fullsize cars: e.g. Audi A5, Mercedes C Class, BMW 3 Series, etc. Compact cars: e.g. Mazda CX-5, Citroen C4 Cactus, Opel Astra, Volkswagen Golf GTI, Volkswagen Golf, Large truck-lorry, etc. Convertible: e.g. Audi A3 Convertible, Audi TT Convertible, Mercedes E Class Convertible, Moped, Economy elite, etc. Economy cars: e.g. Fiat Panda, Volkswagen Polo, Opel Corsa, Ford Fiesta, Special cars, Electric cars, etc. Luxury cars: e.g. Mercedes G63 AMG, Porsche Panamera Turbo S, Jaguar XF, Porsche Cayenne S, BMW M3, etc. Mini cars: e.g. Citroen C1, Volkswagen Up, Peugeot 107, Toyota Aygo, Fiat 500 S Dualogic, Hybrid cars, etc. 9 seater minivan / Minibus: e.g. Ford Transit, Mercedes Vito Traveliner, Mercedes Vito, Ford Tourneo, etc. Minivan: e.g. Mercedes Sprinter, Mercedes Viano, etc. Standard cars: e.g. Volkswagen Passat, Audi A4, BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, Compact elite, etc. Premium cars: e.g. BMW 5 Series, Mercedes CLS, Audi TT, BMW 4 Series Coupe, Mercedes E Class Estate, etc. 5 seater minivan: e.g. Renault Scenic, Citroen Berlingo, Kia Carnival, Fullsize elite, etc. 7 seater minivan: e.g. Volkswagen Touran, Ford Galaxy, Mercedes Viano, Renault Espace, etc. Intermediate: e.g. Ford Mondeo, Audi A3, Citroen C5, Mini elite, etc. SUV / Jeep: e.g. Audi Q5, Mercedes GLE, Hyundai Santa Fe, Small-medium truck-lorry, Small SUV, Luxury elite, etc. However, in smaller cities and on islands like Rügen Island, Usedom Island, Sylt, Fehmarn, Föhr, Norderney, Borkum, Poel, Insel Baltrum, Ziegelwerder, Wörth, Weißenthurmer Werth, Insel Wangerooge, Walfisch, Vilm, Valentinswerder, Uthörn, Urmitzer Werth, Insel Urkewitz, Ummanz, Trischen, Insel Tollow, Tertius, Teerhofsinsel, Tauber Werth, Süfs, Südfall, Süderoog, Steinwerder, Steinwerder, Steinbruch, Starkenwerder, Spieringshorst, Insel Spiekeroog, Insel Seddinwall, Schweriner Horst, Schweinsand, Schweden-Insel and Schwanenwerder etc, the range is smaller.
What to consider when looking for rental cars in Germany?
Book the car in Germany before your trip, it is almost always cheaper. Also, book as early as possible, it becomes more expensive the closer you get to your trip. If your car is supposed to be collected at an airport you should book before you leave, as in Berlin Tegel Otto Lilienthal Airport, Berlin Schönefeld Airport, Berlin Brandenburg Willy Brandt Airport, Hamburg Fuhlsbüttel Helmut-Schmidt Airport, Munich Franz Josef Strauss Airport, Cologne Bonn Konrad Adenauer Airport, Frankfurt am Main Rhein Airport, Stuttgart Echterdingen Airport, Dortmund Wickede Airport and Düsseldorf International Airport. Caro, Buchbinder, Advantage, National, Dollar, King Rent, Global Drive, Alamo, Sixt, Enterprise, Thrifty, Aznur, Hertz Dream Collection, Europcar, Avis, Payless, Flizzr, Keddy By Europcar, Firefly, Budget, Global, InterRent, Hertz are the companies autoprio.com compares in Germany to find the best price.
Traffic regulations and car driving
Renting and driving a car is usually easy and effortless, but as in all countries there are many traffic regulations in Germany you must follow. If you are going to visit and drive in large cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt am Main, Essen, Stuttgart, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Bremen, Hanover, Leipzig, Duisburg, Nuremberg, prepare yourself for a lot of traffic, especially in rush hour and that it is sometimes difficult to find parking. Try to memorize the most common parking and traffic regulations before you leave to ensure that your car trip is safe, and to avoid trouble with the police.
Destinations in Germany
Compare car rental and find cheap hire cars in regions such as: Cheapest Rental Cars North Rhine-Westphalia, Rental Cars Bavaria, Rent a Car Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony, Hesse, Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, Berlin, Schleswig-Holstein, Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Saarland. Search hundreds of rental car sites at once for car rental deals in Germany. Find the best hire cars and the cheapest car rental in towns such as: Cheap rental cars Berlin, Cheap car rental Hamburg, Car Hire Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt am Main, Essen, Stuttgart, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Bremen, Hanover, Leipzig, Duisburg, Nuremberg, Dresden, Wandsbek, Bochum, Wuppertal, Bielefeld and Bonn. Compare car hire and van rental in airports such as: Hire a Car Cheap Berlin Tegel Airport, Hire a Car Berlin Schönefeld Airport, Rental Cars Berlin Brandenburg Airport, Hamburg Airport, Munich Airport, Cologne-Bonn Airport, Frankfurt Airport, Stuttgart Airport, Dortmund Airport, Düsseldorf Airport, Bremen Airport, Hannover-Langenhagen Airport, Leipzig-Halle Airport, Nuremberg Airport, Dresden Airport, Karlsruhe Baden-Baden Airport, Münster Osnabrück Airport, Augsburg Airport, Erfurt-Weimar Airport and Rostock-Laage Airport.
Car rental companies we compare in Germany
Buchbinder, Europcar, InterRent, Keddy By Europcar, Aznur, King Rent, Avis, National, Global, Firefly, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz Dream Collection, Advantage, Global Drive, Hertz, Thrifty, Budget, Sixt, Payless, Flizzr, Caro and Alamo are the companies that autoprio.com compares in Germany.
Car Hire & Rent a Car Germany Customer Reviews & Feedback
