tips on renting a car in Germany

As far as I know, there is only one of the maior car rental companies in Füssen, namely Hertz. Make sure you get a full CDW, either through your credit card (check conditions carefully!) or through the rental company. And if you want to drive the car across the border to Austria, you need an International Driver license (not for Germany).

According to Google Maps, there is a Herz auto rental office in Horn, just across the Lech river from Füssen. It's at , at Füssener Str. 112.

I rented a car last year in Germany through AutoEurope, which is a large car, rental wholesale company. They work with individual companies, like Avis, Hertz, Sixt, and so on. I’ve used the company for decades, and I’ve always found them very trustworthy and reliable. I like it because you can compare prices from the various individual companies and pick what works best for you.

We have been driving rental cars across Europe for 25 years. Germany is our favorite country to drive in. I looked up rental on Auto Europe Baden-Baden to Fussen for 5 days in June thru Hertz. Economy Car Price 294.00 Basic Rate to 393 No Deductible (the best). There is a fee for the drop in Fussen. Probably around 45.00 (my guess). No, you don't need a IDP but like in Ireland you don't need one there, but some car rental companies require it. Hey, it's only 32.00 at AAA get it. As long as your not in a big city parking shouldn't be a problem. Follow your GPS and you will have a great time.

thank you SO MUCH, this is super-helpful!

Here are some tips:

If you park in a parking garage, make sure you pay your parking fee before you leave. It is super embarrassing to have a bunch of angry Germans beeping their horns at you while you scamper to the kiosk to pay the fee.

If you are parking in what would appear to be free parking (like in the states) look for a small kiosk. Then put the parking ticket in your window. Got a parking ticket b/c I thought I was in free parking when visiting Rothenberg od T.

There is a little card that has a clock on it that you will mark when you parked for free parking. You put that in your window as well.

Put your parking ticket in a safe place while out and about. Yup another time getting honked at by angry Germans because I lost my ticket and had to phone for help.

You drive on the right and pass on the left - no slow driving in the left lane

Look at least three times before getting in the left lane to pass. B/c all of the sudden there will be a Lambo that wasn't there two seconds ago screaming past you.

Parking Garage parking spaces are very tiny! Finding Parking in cities can be a nightmare.

Make sure you hotel has parking spaces. That becomes a very interesting challenge too if they don't have a dedicated space.

In Fussen, there are a ton of tourist wandering in the streets not paying attention. I have never seen my husband want to get out of a place fast enough as when he pulled in to park and saw all the cars. He was like nope. We we came to the parking attendant he was like I just want to get out of here and the parking attendant chuckled.

Make sure you know how to drive a manual transmission. If you don't make sure to let the rental car company know ahead of time.

Oh and there are cameras to catch speeders. Not police. When you dive into a town/village make sure you slow way down or you will get a frowny face (and maybe a ticket)

Watch for bicycles. They are everywhere. Especially on switchbacks in the mountains. You will be driving along and turn a curve and there is a bike.

Find the common international driving signs to have handy. I mistook a no parking for a do not enter.

Over all we enjoy driving in Germany. Most of our funniest stories revolve around our adventures in driving.

@Susan K

I really had to smile when I read your post. So true.
For me an everyday occurrence is it for others not of course :-)

and when you get it wrong, even the slightest tiniest thing wrong expect some otherwise lovely (I'm sure) little old lady to roll her window down and shout at you.

Don't worry, it isn't personal - she does it with everyone who doesn't meet her standards.

By the way, my German is passable - not as good as 50 years ago but passable - but in the few times I've been in that situation I have never understood what was being shouted...

I rented a car through Costco for our upcoming trip to Munich. There rates were the best I could find.

Bavaria Ben always recommended Gemut.com

lisa,

I would also recommend called gemut.com as they're very knowledgeable and helpful. They have a North American toll free number or you could contact them on their website.

Having read the small print on my credit cards "collision and damage" insurance coverage - all the excuses they have for denying you compensation, and all the hoops you have to jump through to get it - I would only rent a car in Europe if the rental came with CDW.

Many times if inquired to Gemut about rental and asked for the cost with CDW. The have always refused to quote it that way, telling me instead to use my credit card insurance, which I don't want to do.

In Germany, I always take the train or bus. Public transportation has always enabled me to get to anywhere I wanted to go for a lot less cost than a rental car. And I have no liability for damage to the train.

We’ve always rented through www.gemut.com. Food prices, outstanding customer service and advice. They’re

On all my experiences of driving in Germany, I actually find it more civilized than here in NJ.