renting a car to drive in germany

For my money. The CDW through some American Express cards is the best deal going. Roughly $25 covers your entire rental. There are some things you need to check out. Are you in a qualifying state? Does your AmEx card offer it, or can you open one that does? Does the rental qualify for their coverage? If yes, it's definitely worth considering. One last thing. I had a rental, through AutoEurope, in Spain that my card didn't automatically recognize as a rental - so didn't automatically bill. If you aren't billed, you aren't insured. I checked my card, noticed the error, and called to have them manually bill me, before I picked up the car, so I'd be covered.

For the rental, check AutoEurope or Kemwel, online, for prices and cars that are available. My last three trips, I have purchased travel insurance through Travel Guard which covers not only my trip but also my rental car. I prefer to get insurance that covers every aspect of my rental car--tires, undercarriage, loss of use, etc.

Kathy, Didn't know if you knew this or not, but make sure you get an international driver's license for Austria. Can't drive without it. I had to renew my state license because it's going to expire a couple of months from now, and it has to be valid for 6 months. That is going to take me a month to get a new one, then a month to get the international one. It takes a long time, but you have plenty of time now. From the State Dept. Website.
A U.S. driver's license alone is not sufficient to drive in Austria. You must also get an international driver's permit (obtainable in the U.S. from the American Automobile Association and the American Automobile Touring Alliance) or by an official translation of the U.S. driver's license, which can be obtained at one of the Austrian automobile clubs (OEAMTC or ARBOE). This arrangement is only acceptable for the first six months of driving in Austria, after which all drivers must obtain an Austrian license. -Dave

Also I believe you must purchase a decal to drive on Austrian roads. Available at all gas stations. At any rate can someone confirm this?

Not sure why the international driver's license takes so long in Wyoming. Here in Seattle, you can walk into the AAA office and have yours in hand in 10 minutes. Costs $30. I imagine you can do the same at an AAA office in Chicago. RE sticker for cars in Austria: Yes, this is true, you must have one. It is called a "vignette" and you can get it at gas stations. One time, our rental car came with the vignette already on it, so check before you buy a new sticker. It is stuck on the windshield of the car.

Hi, We've also used the AmEX "Premium Car Rental Protection Plan" for our CDW when renting a car for our trips to Germany and Austria. Make sure you use the AmEx card for the rental and everything connected to the rental. This means even if there's an extra, local "road tax" (sometimes a Euro or so per day) to be paid at the rental counter. Use the AmEX for these realted costs. You do not need an "Internation Drivers License". You need an "International Drivers Permit". You can get one at AAA. Fill out a form, get 2 "passport size photo's" and pay about $20. That's it. Done right on the spot in the AAA office. The Austrian Vignette is a highway toll sticker. The cheapest version is about 8 Euro for a sticker good for 10 consecutive days. They can be bought in gas stations, convenience stores, etc. in Austria and near the border of Austria in neighboring countries. We usualy buy ours on the highway right after leaving Munich airport. Don't drive on Austria's highways without this. If there is one already on your car, check the dates on it to see if it's still valid. Paul

hi all, thanks so much for your thoughts, advice and tips... i have heard of the vignette and intl drivers permit.. on my list to look into so thanks for the reminders and tips. i do not have an american express card and am a bit confused on how it works. are you saying that the total coverage thru amex is a flat fee of $25.. vs what looks like to be coming out of the rental agency for cdw, theft etc in the hundreds? does this work the same thru other credit companies like Visa? i think i read that if you go thru your credit card company and get in an accident the car rental place could charge you the full vaulue of the car(apprx $35m) right away. they also can put a hold upfront on your credit card? i was going to call travel guard and see what and how they offer and also the domestic car rental places to have them clarify fees and deductibles. my first trip to europe and renting a car so excuse me if i am totally misquided or way off base.. thanks for clarifying... :)
thanks again!!

george,
you know it... i can't tell you how excited my husband is to drive on the autobahn! actually rather scares me...lol!

Angela,
I didn't realize you could get an international driver's permit at AAA immediately. Being in the middle of nowhere, I always assume I have to order things by mail. I checked and there's a AAA office in Cheyenne. Thanks for the tip! -Dave

Sorry to let your husband down about the autobahn driving - it is nowhere near as romantic as it may seem, and very hard work. The two-lane parts of the Autobahn are not fun, because you're either stuck going 50 mph behind lots of trucks, or you have to gun it to over 100 mph to pass on the left. It's very "active" driving and not relaxing at all. The German autobahns often wind around rather than straight roads. They can be very fast in bursts, but can just as quickly come to a grinding screeching halt (with or without accident) (causing or not causing an accident) and absolutely creeps along or just stops at construction sites and contraflows (that's an English expression, I don't know the German or American translation - it means that one or more lanes cross over to the other direction roadway while the other direction goes over to the shoulder and perhaps one lane). Learn the German word "stau" which is the German equivalent of a tailback or traffic jam. They tend to arise suddenly and frequently mean a complete stop for some time. On the traffic reports you will hear the location, direction, number of kilometers length of the stopped traffic, and the word "stau". Pray when it is on the radio or roadside signs that its not in the direction you want to go. more...

... continued Yes, there are parts with no speed limit but there are also many parts with speed restrictions. And one lane is full of trucks going slowly, and the other is full of Audis, Mercedes, BMWs (and me in my not at all souped up but very comfortable at 175 kph Honda) all going too fast (except me). Until you are comfortable with looking both forwards but also in your mirrors all the time, indicating and changing lanes frequently - always ready to move out of the way for something coming up at warp speed (you won't expect just how fast they do come up) who has his phasers set to stun (you can see that is the case by the flashing headlights), but most importantly you MUST be always prepared to go from warp speed to impulse or even a complete stop instantly (you then hope that the cars and trucks behind have also realized that the autobahn has come to a complete screeching halt with no warning (yes- NO warning) and often for no obvious reason. The distance between cars traveling at warp speed can be very close indeed, often forming a train. Because of all that, Germany has some of the worst car accidents on autobahns I have ever seen. I'd never seen such completely crushed cars as a couple I saw over the past few years - one in traffic, one into the trees, one into a bridge. Make sure that if he goes for it that the car has tyres with the right speed rating.
All that being said, if wants to go for it let him go for it. Just with eyes open (physically as well as philosophically). In case you wonder - I do speak with the voice of experience.

poor hubby... i think he does envision the "romantic" autobahn. however we live in chicago so we are well versed with traffic! thank you for the hints on the traffic reports... keep them coming... i initially started this with questions on rental insurance... i made some calls and if anyone is still interested i agree that going thu the credit card company looks the best.. VISA includes cdw, theft at no charge it in the benefits. The rental company covers liability, and in this case doesn't hold back the value of the car ahead of time which is what i was worried about. kathy

One other thing about driving in Germany. Generally the signs are very, very good both on the autobahn and off. But there are a couple of laws that you need to know about which are not signed in the usual way. You need to memorize the national speed limits of each country you drive in because they are usually not posted in Europe except right at the border as you go into a country, usually at speed on a major road, where you don't have time to study and memorize. They vary from country to country, and from vehicle type to vehicle type. Unless they are over-ridden by signage they apply. For example, in the UK, for a passenger car, it is 70 mph on a motorway or dual carriageway, 60 mph on rural single carriageways and lanes, 30 mph in built up areas. In Germany it is 130 kph on autobahns where regulated (expect speed cameras) and expressways, 100 kph outside urban areas, and 50 kph in urban areas. The other thing to be aware of how the speed change is handled as you go from a non-urban area to an urban area. There is no speed limit sign. It is as you pass the town/village/city name sign. There are often speed cameras just the other side of the sign. The sign means 50 kph from here, not this is where you take your foot off the gas. An interesting variation on a theme, the French national speed limit on autoroutes is 130 kph - however if it is raining that drops to 110 kph. You might find http://www.gettingaroundgermany.info/regeln.shtml helpful.