Driving in Germany

1) Do we need an international driving permit in Germany?
No as long as you have a US license (source: I just know)

2) What are the specific passport requirements for Germany (length of time before it expires, etc. - I've seen 3 months and 6 months)?

Edit: see below

Passport. must be valid for 6 months after your return date. It's the same for all Schengen countries.

See https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/germany.html

IDP is not a legal requirement in Germany. However, if you plan to drive into Austria, it is. It doesn't matter if you previously were not required to produce it for a police officer. It's a matter of being legally required.

Sorry DJ, but state department trumps USA today.

They sure do and that's why I listed the source in case somebody found some more authority of information. Thanks!

You didn't say where in Germany you are going. I would not plan on renting a car until I knew where I wanted to go, had thoroughly explored the public transportation options, and found it was impossible, or very difficult, to get to those places. German has the best system of public transportation in Europe, the largest rail system well augmented by buses.

You want to go to Germany to see and do things you can't see and do at home. For an American, effective train travel is a rare experience. You will almost certainly spend less money on public transportation, travel more relaxed, and the driver, at least, will have more time to see the scenery instead of traffic and the road.

Lee,
We have been to 7 European countries and have only rented a car once; we're quite comfortable with rail systems, etc., and absolutely plan on using them. However, we've found that we tend to miss seeing things off the beaten path, so to speak, and so will rent a car for our first trip to Germany. We plan on having it for our first week, then returning it outside of Rothenburg (I think, anyway - my husband is making those arrangements, not me) and then taking the train to Dresden, then Berlin. So yes, I get it. Thank you for your help.

I should also add our itinerary: land in Frankfurt, drive to Bacharach. Then Baden Baden, then Fussen, then Munich, then Rothenburg, then Dresden, then Berlin. Obviously there are side trips within those cities: Dachau, the Black Forest, you get the idea.

It sure is! But we've done tight trips like this before, and we're actually pretty good at it. We are SO excited.

I see that some of the comments now have spread slightly from the 2 initial questions, so please let me explain that the only reason you think that you didn't need the IDP in Italy is because you never had a conversation with a policeman or an accident. Much like saying you drove around home for two weeks (safely) and therefore needed neither your Michigan drivers license or even insurance.

Generally speaking - yes, IDP required in Italy, Austria, France (other more difficult options also possible in France).

and no, not legally required in Switzerland, Germany or Belgium.

If your German driving trip should find itself in Switzerland you will require a Swiss toll Vignette (cost CHF 40, valid 14 months December - January a year later, no other durations possible). In Austria in addition to the IDP, you will need an Austrian toll Vignette (about €8.90 for 10 days, other longer durations are possible, none shorter). In Germany your rental car will have a round coloured sticker on the windscreen (Umweltplakette - environment permit) which is required in city and town centres across Germany. The colour can be green, amber or red. Most towns and cities now only permit the green one - which a late model rental is likely to have. If your driving trip should find itself in France, they have very expensive Autoroute tolls and a similar colour sticker required for many cities. The car needs both, the German one is not sufficient. There are 6 levels of numbered colours and the system is more complicated. It is unlikely that a German rental will have one. If you don't have one on your car and want to drive into, for example, Strasbourg, you can drive as far as a park and ride lot, park the car and take the tram into the centre - easier too.

Thank you! That is very helpful. While we'd love to drive through another country, unfortunately we just don't have the time on this trip - our rooms and flights are already booked. You know, it's funny - I have been to Italy twice with my family, and every person who rented a car there has gotten various tickets, except my husband and I. We did everything right, and we're very careful every time we drove, and came out clean! Anyway, it'd be nice to not have to rent a car on this trip, but I want to see some castles, damn it, and not just from afar on a train.

My wife and I are also heading to Germany in a couple weeks, and although at the start mostly using the train, we're renting car in Munich and taking it through Salzburg, Hallstatt, Reutte, into Switzerland, etc. before returning to Germany.

We've really appreciated the efficiency of European rail travel, but have also have great experiences driving in France and Germany and, as Danielle said, it gives the opportunity to see another side of the country.

Good tips and reminders, Nigel! We're even dipping into Strasbourg, so thank you for using that as your French example. :)

Scott

OP - I know you've already booked your lodging but if it's refundable I'd really advise you to change your German itinerary.

Rick Steves' German recommendations are crap, to be honest. As you see all over this forum and people I meet in person, everyone traverses this pretty large country to see the "must sees" which usually aren't because of what Rick wrote. His book is great for Bavaria and the Romantic Rhine and very little else.

If you can't switch your hotel bookings at this date then ignore what I said and go forth and enjoy. If you are interested in having your mind changed for a more enjoyable trip that doesn't have you schlepping to and fro to places like Baden-Baden of all places (ugh, why, Rick, why?) feel free to respond or PM me.

I won't weigh in the car versus train issue. I generally prefer trains but there are certainly parts of Germany that are more easily visited by car and I won't deny that.

Edit: I'm sorry but your itinerary just HURTS me in a mental way. Bacharach then coming all the way back to Baden-Baden and then on to Fuessen? Rothenburg is in there somewhere? Dear god, WHY?

I literally just took an overnight trip to Mainz, at the "foot" of the Romantic Rhein (close to Bacharach). In theory it's a 2 hour drive, but between construction and traffic it was 3 1/2 hours. That's normal. Your schedule literally has you schelpping all over the place for no reason except that Rick Steves randomly chose a few places in Germany that tourists "had to visit" back in the 1980s for whatever reason because he takes a 'highlight' approach to travel which is honestly misguided since what he considers a highlight is available within any region without all the ping-ponging around. I'm sorry. The way he's brainwashed travelers into poor itineraries just makes me mad.

Folks, just do a little bit of research, it doesn't have to be this way!

@Sarah

Sarah, whilst I wholeheartedly agree with your post it might be somewhat beneficial for those who are intent on following RS's advice to explain why you find his advice and the OP's itinerary choice a bad one. Why, for example, do you advise against Baden Baden or Rotheburg? I feel without highlighting the reasons it doesn't provide much information for the OP to make any judgement on reconsidering.

I'm not sure why RS has so much sway over American tourists. Reading through these forums over the last few months has made me realise that the same old places are being included in itinerary's time and time again at the detriment to so many other fantastic places and it seems a shame that people are going somewhere simply because Rick say's so.