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Post-Trip to Germany - By Rental Car

Posted by (Canada) on

I am happy to report that I have completed a 2 week trip around Germany last month. As some may recall, I planned a driving tour around the country, starting with Frankfurt, Wolfsburg, Berlin, Leipzig, Bayreuth, Nuremberg, Würzburg, Mainz, the back out of Frankfurt.

I was successful in obtaining a Volkswagen model at the Enterprise Car Rental in Frankfurt Airport, and returned it with driving just over 2,200 km. FYI - I could not secure vehicle insurance in Canada for the Germany car rental so I took the car rental insurance. While it was costly, at just over €370 for the 2 week coverage but no questions or issues with the vehicle condition upon returning it.

I spent approx. €275 for fuel. (for over2,200km). I had no issues with finding parking though almost all hotels (even Berlin) has parking options onsite or nearby. Overall, it was a great experience and it gave us the opportunity to visit small village off the beaten track or simply drive to a destination versus train/subway and walking.

Now the downside... since I have returned I have received 2 speed violations. One from the city of Dietzenbach and the other from the city of Würzburg. Both incidents were in 50kmph speed zones where I exceed the speed by 10kmph and 8kmph. In each case, Enterprise charges €30 and then references contact to the local authorities where one fine was €30. The fine with Würzburg is still unpaid as their online payment system is horrible and could not process credit card payments. While I have been home for 4 weeks now, the latest violation was receive just last week.... I am hopeful that is it as I made all attempt to obey the speed limits but unfortunately, my Canadian familiarity with going 5-10 kmph over the limit was tough to break. All violations were received via remote speed cameras.

Since I booked my car rental for free (airline loyalty points) the extra charges of vehicle insurance and now speeding tickets are not too much of an issue and I would do it all again. Getting out on the AutoBahn and opening up the R series Volkswagen we had was a wonderful experience and much of A72 was a pleasure to drive (with limited construction and wonderful scenery).

All in all, a great experience!!

Posted by
3542 posts

Thanks for the report on Germany by car. It seems to be an easy country to drive in, IF you obey the speed limits strictly!

Posted by
8203 posts

I lived in Germany from 87-91 when the Germans were just starting to place cameras for traffic violations. Then it was mainly Red Light cameras. Once you learned where they were, no problem. Now, they must be more widespread. We found that to be the case in the UK when we got a 40 GBP ticket for going 35 MPH in a 30 MPH zone.

In most states in the USA, if you drive a few miles over the speed limit like 35 in a 30 zone, the police won't even stop you.
The state of Georgia has a law that unless you are going more than 10 MPH over the speed limit that only the Georgia State Patrol can stop you and ticket you. This keeps speed traps under control.

I have gotten use to going just a little over the limit, but with cameras in Europe, you can't do that. Stick to the limit.

Posted by
75 posts

Both incidents were in 50kmph speed zones where I exceed the speed by 10kmph and 8kmph.

Is there a sign indicating speed cameras?

opening up the R series Volkswagen

Nice. I'll be in Germany in a few weeks and renting a VW Passat Estate. I've been using Google street view to acclimate myself to some of the roads. I see the narrow width of some of these town roads and get a bit nervous. Studying street signs as well.

Posted by
20 posts

nixit71, yes, using google map prior to travel to help build a degree of knowledge was key with my trip. I was so familiar with some areas that once I arrived, it was likely being home. I don't recall seeing any signs for speed cameras.

Posted by
2989 posts

Is there a sign indicating speed cameras?

No, only exception I saw rarely are tunnels and sometimes speed limited construction zones on Autobahn.
And I urgently ask visitors to please follow our traffic rules - not your interpretation of it.

If on the ticket "10kmph and 8kmph" are listed, this is already after deduction of tolerance. So, in minimum these to case you were more than 10 km/h above.

finding parking though almost all hotels (even Berlin)

Berlin has by far the lowest density of registered cars per 1,000 people in Germany (see diagram in article in German language). Some areas have a parking issue but most of all the green party in Berlin deleted hundreds of car parking places. Btw: with Parkopedia you can always find near parking garages.

Google Maps has a low quality. Preferred quality also by car manufacturers is here.com.

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