Renting a car in Bavaria

Munich is a good starting and ending point. Returning the car to the original location saves you from paying a big drop fee. Is driving different? Yes. Germans stay to the right when on the autobahn and use their turn signals. Bavaria can be hilly/mountainous so if you have an issue with driving through mountains then driving may not be for you. Years ago I used to see cars pass each other on 2 lane mountain roads with oncoming traffic. The car being passed and the oncoming car would move right and allow the passing car to complete its maneuver. I have not seen that in the past number of visits. You have plenty of time before your go to learn the traffic signs, their meanings, and how to obey them. Bavaria is our favorite part of Germany and we have traveled it a number of times. While some will say the train is better, it depends on what you want to see. We have driven the romantic road a few times and never tire of it. Driving gives you the opportunity to stop and visit any small town that catches your interest. The same with a restaurant or shop. Garmisch is a nice town and seeing the Zugspitze by cable car or cogwheel is fun. We still have not made it to Berchtesgaden/Salzburg/Hallstatt so I can not comment on those places. If you pass by the church in Weiss I would recommend a stop. Very pretty rococo church. Rent your car from a reputable vendor and you should be fine. Avoid big city centers and you should be fine avoiding the surcharge for entering an eco zone.

You can get the toll vignette for the Austrian highways at filling stations between Munich and Salzburg and as you approach the border. As soon as you know the number plate of the car you can get a virtual one on line - that's what I do now. If you are tempted to drive into Liechtenstein or Switzerland the same applies, only more expensive.

If you are running low on fuel wait until you are in Austria - it is usually much less expensive than in Germany.

Germany is enforcing border checks with Austria and Switzerland, among others. Expect border delays. Maybe they won't be by summer. Who knows?

Many sections of the Autobahn where you will be in Bavaria have speed limits. Even so stay out of the left lane unless passing, and get back immediately. When the overhead gantries reduce the speed they mean there, not to just lift off. Speed limits are strictly enforced by camera, and 50 means 50, 80 means 80, 110 means 110. Not 10 over.

When you enter a built up area the name of the town sign also means a 50 kph sign even though it may not be marked. Cameras are often nearby.

Germans are used to following rules and expect everybody else to do so too. They will let you know in no uncertain terms if they think you aren't. I've been shouted at by a little old lady driver at least 90 years old who rolled down her window. I acknowledged her, no idea what she was shouting.... but I'm sure she was right.

Get an IDP.

Just remembered -- Munich gets awful congestion on the Autobahns in the vicinity of Munich, north of the city, east of the city, south and southeast of the city. Also expect delays on the Autobahn as you approach Garmisch Partenkirchen. Personal experience, many trips.

Since your plans are tentative, and since Bavaria is much more than just the Alps, I would encourage you to drop one of your two alpine bases and devote the time saved to something different. The "Romantic Road" was mentioned... not that you have to drive the whole thing, but there are some historic towns there that will take you further back in time than alpine resort towns do. Landsberg, Noerdlingen, Augsburg and Harburg are nice places and might be close enough for a day outing from Munich. And not too far from Munich airport are the towns of Regensburg (UNESCO World Heritage town) and Landshut; Weltenburg Abbey is in between these two, and the Donau Gorge (take a river cruise?) near Kelheim fills the "natural wonders" gap for this area. Check out some of these places before finalizing if you want to get off the heavily trodden international tourist trail. Again, don't try to do all this in 3 days... but adding some of these places to your trip will provide a better perspective on Germany.

The train serves all these destinations, although I think you'd also need a bus connection for Kelheim.

Exploring the German Alpine Road left and right by car is an attractive idea.

Larger rental car companies are Sixt, Europcar, Avis and Hertz. Sixt HQs is in Bavaria. Avoid expensive cross-border rentals. Check if contract allows driving also in Austria and Switzerland.

As mentioned Munich area incl. surrounding Autobahnen is very traffic crowded, especially during German summer vacations.

If you want to drive a car in Germany ensure the validity of your driving license in Germany and also the likely need for an IDP to have valid driving permission [not license only] in Germany. Violations are expensive and in case of accident a driver without valid permission loses the insurance coverage.

I like to use public transportation, but a car adds another dimension of flexability.
My wife and I recently rented while we were in Germany. We shifted from Munich to Nuremberg where I rented a car from Sixt at the Nuremberg airport. This was a perfect place to rent a car. There were no crowds, and the attendant was super helpful and focused on us. The car that I had reserved was there waiting for us. The airport is a bit outside of town so there was no craziness associated with getting to and from it. I returned the car in Frankfurt where there was all of the normal traffic and business.

Having just visited Germany in July for the first time and driving a portion of your trip (Rothenberg > Fussen > Oberammergau > Munich), I can say it was not as nearly as intimidating as I thought it might be. Gas stations like oases on the autobahn so you don't have to hunt for fuel. The 2-lane country roads between Fussen and Oberammergau were a delight and easy to navigate. Beautiful, pleasantly winding and hilly with not much traffic, at the foot of the mountains. Pastoral is the word I'm looking for. Parking wasn't an issue either.

We returned our Sixt rental in Munich next to the Ostbahnof which was next to our hotel. Most car rental sites will be near the two main train stations. I will say the brief time we drove in Munich proper was not enjoyable. You definitely do not need a car in Munich. We trained everywhere, including Dachau.

Rental sites let you chose auto or manual. Nav was very helpful and a good backup if you lose phone reception but some destinations/addresses were a pain to enter. VW Passat Estate served us well. You'll probably need rental insurance as my State Farm only covered me in North America.

I encourage you to stick with the secondary roads and avoid most Autobahns. Slower yes, but you will see so much more. The distances are not that great. You'll have the opportunity to stop at local cafe etc. and other sights. Maybe some twisty turnery mountain roads depending where you end up. Stick to the speed limits in Austria. Many speed cameras there and as of late more laser pistol control. I find taking the secondary roads much more pleasing and less stressful. I go out of my way to avoid Autobahn around Munich and most cities. Ever more walls to reduce noise on the Autobahns (Lärmschutz) also reduce your views of the countryside. Just familiarize yourself with German road signs and right before left when not on priority roads. Plan for parking and be ready for tight spaces compared to the US.

thanks for the reminder of Lärmschutz which also reduces speed limits

I find it more civilized driving in Germany and Austria. Obey the speed limits, stay to the right and all will be fine.

www.gemut.com

Is our go to for car rentals in Germany.