Using car of family living in Germany

What issues?

Cars rented in Germany are generally registered in Germany, too. How would a borrowed car be different than a rental?

Because the car is not registered under your name, it would be prudent to have some kind of documentation that the owners have allowed you to drive it. I'm not 100% positive, but I think this is a legal requirement in Germany. Of course, it would only be enforced if the Polizei pull you over. The route from Frankfurt to Rome can take you through either Austria or Switzerland. If the car doesn't already have a vignette sticker, you will need to purchase one at the border to drive through either of these countries. Each has a separate vignette. The Swiss vignette is only available in one year increments, but you can buy the Austrian version for a one time passage, a few days, or for the full year. I know almost nothing about driving in Italy.

One question, though maybe for the family rather than you, is whether the family's car insurance would cover the car while you were driving it.

The family members are traveling with us and we were thinking about using their car for the trip to Rome. I've read articles (don't remember where) that you can't take a rental car into Italy. You need to leave it at the border, cross by some other means, rent another car in Italy. If that is true, is it the same with someone's personal car. We have 3 weeks in Europe, the family is traveling with us for 10 days. Really lost trying to figure the logistics of the whole thing. The hubby and I want to see Paris as well. The family will not accompany us for that portion.

"I've read articles (don't remember where) that you can't take a rental car into Italy." If that is true, it's probably the policy of the rental company, not Italian law. Although I've never driven to Italy, I know plenty of people with German-registered cars who have. Other than tolls and the above mentioned vignettes, there are no restrictions on driving a car registered in one European country into another.... ... and before I get corrected by someone in the forum community, yes, there are certain urban areas where you need special permission to drive (in Germany, you need an emissions sticker), and certain roads are open only to residents... but for the most part, the roads are more or less "open".

"The hubby and I want to see Paris as well. The family will not accompany us for that portion." A car is more trouble than benefit in Paris.

The reason that some car rental places don't want their cars going to Italy or some other places is due to the insurance losses they have suffered. If the family is OK with it then there may be no reason not to. They will have to pay additional insurance for you to drive their car - regardless of where you drive it - and their insurance may have restrictions on where their car can go. That would be one for your relatives to look at. In Europe the insurance is generally for named individuals with specific named vehicles, as opposed to the US where the insurance is on the car and others can drive it. If crossing borders you will need all the car papers with you. Having a car in Rome, and having a car in Paris is as much good as a chocolate teapot. I've done it both places and in both places the car stayed in the garage accruing costs.

NIgel, can you translate "chocolate teapot" into American English? It sounds like a great expression I might want to use on occasion, and I want to get it right!

Sure Lola. "as much good as a chocolate teapot". Chocolate - nice Teapot - essential for modern civilization But put boiling water into a chocolate teapot and what do you get? A yukky mess. Therefore = as much good as a chocolate teapot = no use whatsoever. QED.

A car is just a huge burden in either Paris or Rome. I can't give any suggestions for Paris, but in Rick's book on Italy he suggests parking the car at the train station in Orvieto where the parking lot is big, free and secure and taking the train into Rome. Also spend a day in Orvieto, it is a great place.

Thanks, Nigel! I am going to add that one to my vocabulary.

Cindy, is this family you're borrowing the car from German, or American military staioned there? They need to do some paperwork on base if military.

They are american military living off base in Wiesbaden. Here is a possible itinerary: Flying from the states to Paris, staying there for 6 days Take the train to Germany spending 5 days around Germany with the family taking day trips in their car with them Then all of us using their car head towards Rome stopping along the way for the next 10 days. We will fly back to the states from Rome and they will drive back to Weisbaden. Is this a good plan?

You know, Cindy, assuming that all the paperwork is fine, that looks like a really bonzer trip. Starting in Paris, getting rid of the jet lag, having a beautiful city to wander around for nearly a week, rellies and Germany for 5 days, 10 days to stroll to Rome and enjoy it. I can't think of anything much better than that. Well done.

Is it possible this thread has gone this far without the International Driving Permit having been suggested? (I tend to skim these posts so may have missed a reference.) Cindy, to drive in Italy you will need an IDP which is available at minimal cost from your local AAA office. It is an internationally recognized translation of your drivers license (not a substitute) and is required for foreign drivers in Italy.

Our family over there has German drivers licenses and German bought cars. Is that enough or is there more needed if they do all the driving to Italy?

If they have European (not military) licenses they do not need IDP. If you have a US state license and you want to drive, you need an IDP. If you are a passenger only it makes no difference what you have or don't have.

If the family is military they would have the military drivers license issued in Germany and certainly not German ones.

Thanks eveyone for the GREAT advice. I think we are going to use the train for except for our time in Germany! CAN'T WAIT!!!!