Car rental in Germany crossing into Austria?

The international drivers license is more of a translation tool for your driver's license. I always get one because the cost is so minimal. You should have your Michigan license and passport with you at all times. Having said that, I am aware that there others here who think it is not necessary. Traveling into Austria (and Switzerland for that matter), you are required to get the vignette. Again, the cost is so little and it is so easy to get once you cross the border I do not understand why you would risk not having it. Just curious, what causes you to think about not getting one?

It is around $20 at AAA offices plus fee to take your photo. Twenty dollars as part of your trip cost is nothing. Why are you hesitating?Crossong borders is not a problem.

Austrian laws apply in Austria. Even if you're only there for a short period of time.

I’ve never heard of a rental crossing fee. I’ve driven a German rental to Austria. Just get the vignette at the border. When traveling to non English speaking countries I always get an IDP. It’s inexpensive and better to have it in case you need it.

"how would the car rental company know we need to pay the fee for taking their car across the border? - I don't know if rental companies track their vehicles nowadays but the bigger concern is the possibility of an incident happening in the other country, in which case you'll get hit hard financially if anything happens. Cross border fees are relatively new for car rentals, a niggly extra cost much like airlines charging for suitcases in the guise that it's an extra service.

A vignette is needed for highways in Austria. If you are not in a hurry, map out a route which keeps you off the highways. I've driven in parts of Austria and Switzerland without a vignette.

Ok thanks for the advice. It seems some rental companies charge up to 50 euros for crossing borders and others are only 10 euros or nothing at all etc… it makes sense to just figure it all in when comparison shopping for a rental and following the rules. Better to have the option since we are on the border for a lot of our itinerary. Any options on going through Auto Europe for the rental?

If you mean Auto Europe as a good option, then yes.

Where did you get information about border crossing fees? It is absolutely not true especially these countries. Come to think about it, its not true at all.

From the Sixt website, renting in Germany for one month:

"Foreign use
Authorization for trips to selected countries (e.g. France, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria)
$37.27 | total"

Some companies are charging more:

https://blog.autoslash.com/renting-a-vehicle-in-europe-those-open-borders-aren-t-so-open/

At this time Europcar through Auto Europe has no cross border fees but did have them when I checked some time ago.

Come to think about it, its not true at all.

um. sometimes it is

First, it is a permit, not a license. Next, taking a rental car into other countries can sometime attract an extra fee. Third, your car may already have a vignette - you should ask at the rental counter. Last, Mittenwald is absolutely charming and is where I would stay anyway.

GY, after reading this again, I completely misunderstood the part of a "cross border fee". I thought that you were referring to the vignettes that Austria requires. The last time I rented a car was 2019 and I did not have to pay any cross border fees while traveling through Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, and back to my origin in France. It is interesting to find this out.

Side question: does anyone know if the VW Tiguan I see listed on rental sites is the little one that’s Golf sized or the much larger ones I see in the states? I’d be interested in the small one if not I’ll just get a Polo or Golf

When you rent a car you don’t rent a specific auto but a class of cars. We rarely get what might be shown. Many times we receive a free upgrade and the last few times got a automatic transmission. I never pay for a GPS their always part of the equipment. I have my owe GPS in case. We always rent from Auto Europe and most of the rental is 3 weeks or more. Never paid so called border fee for each country we crossed into. My attitude is if the car is my main transportation I suffer with the costs for convenience.

It seems you only need the vignette for motorways and expressways. https://www.ch.ch/en/travel-and-emigrate/holidays-in-switzerland/motorway-vignette/#