We will be taking the train from Paris to Landsberg am Lech and staying in Landsberg for three days. We will then be flying home out of Munich. I thought we would rent a car to be able to get around the Lansberg area while we’re there. Then we would also be able to drive ourselves to Munich for our flight back to the states. I was speaking to someone, however, who’s been to Germany many times and says that driving there is very hectic and dangerous because it’s not like we do in Florida. She states that there are no speed limits and that people drive high-speed‘s and that the Audobon is very fast and that not being able to read the road signs in German will make it even more complicated. I am wondering your thoughts on the level of difficulty for renting a car and driving through Landsberg and then to the Munich airport.
Posted by
Green Bay
20977 posts
They have speed limits, and you should obey them carefully as they use robocams to log your speed, take a picture of your license plate and send the ticket to the rental car company, who has your credit card number. Only rural stretches of autobahn have no speed limit sections. More likely, you will learn a new German word, Stau, traffic jam.
But if you drive like they do in Florida, ie. hanging out in the passing lane for extended periods of time, expect to see a pair of headlights flashing at you in the rear view mirror. Germans take way more driver training to get a license than you ever got. So they won't break the law and pass you on the right. But if you don't scoot back into you proper lane swiftly, they will get extremely annoyed.
Germany is very sane place to drive, everybody knows the rules, except maybe you.
Posted by
NYC area
2956 posts
That's a personal preference. I find driving in Germany to be much more civilized than in New Jersey. Basically you stay to the right unless passing. Trucks generally always stay in the right lane. Here, you drive in any lane no matter how fast or slow you are going. Tractor trailers are all over all the lanes. Autobahns with no speed limit are few. Even so, stay to the right. Easy. Getting to and around Munich airport the signs are in German and English. The rental car return area is simple and signed in both German and in English.
Learn a few basic and common road signs.
This is an excellent piece to read before deciding and going.
https://www.gemut.com/images/stories/report/carrentalspecialreport.pdf
Paul
Posted by
Bavaria
2457 posts
She states that there are no speed limits
Apparently she never has driven on the A 96 from Landsberg to Munich. Most of the route is limited to 120 km / h, in the Greater Munich area to 100 or even 80 (makes me furious every time I drive into Munich;)); so it's a rather leisurely ride.
not being able to read the road signs in German
All you need to read is "München" (Munich) and a airplane symbol. Look up the route at google maps so that you know where you will have to transfer from the A 96 to A 99 and finally to A92.
Personally, however, I would prefer the stress-free alternative and take one of the hourly trains (two easy transfers in Kaufering and Munich-Pasing).
EDIT: I've just checked the Europcar prices - including full CDW and gas you will end up at €135. A taxi transfer might be about the same. I'd write to [email protected], the biggest (well ...) taxi company in Landsberg.
Posted by
Rural Georgia
2181 posts
driving there is very hectic and dangerous because it’s not like we do in Florida
If you are an over 50 Florida driver, please take a bus or the train.
Posted by
Edmonds WA
246 posts
We always rent a car in Germany. I think its one of the most organized comfortable driving areas in the world. Never had any issues. The signs are clearly marked and you'll get used to them quickly.
Posted by
Washington DC Region, USA
7053 posts
Germans obey the rules of the road and expect the same of visitors. Yes, they have speed limits there too. I don't see how driving in Germany would be hectic and dangerous - the injury and fatality data between Germany and the US doesn't bear this out (quite the opposite as driving standards there are much higher). Plus the road quality is much superior, leading to increased safety; no third-world potholes all over the place like in US cities.
If you're a confident driver who can learn some basic travel signs (available on the internet), then you're good to go on the autobahn (stay in the slower lane if you can't go with the flow of traffic). If you're less than confident or are a golf-cart type of driver, then it's probably too much to adapt to German driving.
Posted by
OP
83 posts
Wonderful! Thank you so much for all your responses. Very helpful and certainly makes me feel more comfortable about renting a car.
Posted by
Salt Lake City
1524 posts
I lived in Germany for 6 years and had my own car. I like driving there in the countryside, less so around big cities where the traffic can be dense and daunting if you are uncertain about where to go. German drivers are like American drivers, all over the map. They range from very aggressive to very timid. They do have auto accidents and those accidents do cause traffic jams. I would not be all that comfortable relying on the autobahn around Munich to get to the airport to catch a morning flight. If you lived there, you would better know the chances and what precautions to take.
Landsberg is a nice a small town that even my 70+ year old arthritic knees could cross in ~30 minutes. I am not sure why you would want a car there. If you wanted it to see the countryside, you still might turn it in the night before and take the more reliable trains to airport.
I hate hectic mornings before the hassle of an overseas flight home and would likely spend the night before in Freising (another nice small town) - a 15 taxi ride to the airport.