Renting a car in Germany [What to look out for]

Learn the ins and outs of renting a car in Germany as a foreigner. We cover topics like the requirements, where to find the cheapest offers, what car rental insurance to get, and what to look out for in the handover and return of the cars.

🔗 IMPORTANT LINKS:

📼 RELATED VIDEOS:
How to get a DRIVING LICENSE in GERMANY - A step-by-step guide for Foreigners

⏰ Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
00:50 - Requirements to rent a car
03:11 - Most popular car rental companies
04:25 - What to look out for during booking
06:22 - Car rental insurance
09:59 - What to look out for in the car handover
12:15 - Tips for the car return
12:58 - Our experience renting cars in Germany

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[ibrayyash]

U guy's nailed it. I am a new comer here in Germany from a NON-EU country, and this was exactly what i am looking for. Sehr hilfreich. Danke 🙏

[parshsachdeva]

Great video- I have rented to visit in Germany over the past 25+ years. Difference between USA vs Germany. In the US you an itinerary for 8 days, if you return the car earlier, will only be charged for the duration of the time you had the car. During my last visit to Germany, I had to leave after a day. The rental company Avi’s charged me for the entire duration of itinerary (9 days), and early drop off fee.

[eischa]

You always upload the right video at the right time😍😍😍

[MAGCHRISA]

Thanks! Great topic. Two things, ALWAYS check the car… cannot be overstated. For experience, I got a certificate from my home country supporting my years of experience and wrote to the companies to make a case. It has been well so far.

[ingritortiz]

Thank you so much. Very useful information. I’m glad I found your video. 🎉

[henrique_zsp]

What a good timing!! I'm thinking on getting a rented one myself

[kreight_]

One hint for those that have less than one year in the German drivers license: apparently the short-term rentals like DB Flinkster does not apply this rule and you can drive right away, even booking the car for quite some time. Might be more expensive than regular renting, though you don’t have to pay for the fuel, it’s included.

[lacho]

Great video!
One suggestion for a new video: types of car purchases. Here in Germany leasing options are more similar of what we call renting in Latinamerica but there is a bit more complicated with initial payments, some include insurance, others don’t, etc…

[chandraguptatara]

Thank you very much both of you! You guys make very useful videos 😊

[aminnazari]

Thanks Simple Germany! Another great video. What about long-term car rental? will you record a video for that?

[jamescc]

I have Citi Bank Visa, and it does cover car rental. I guess I have to check with them. The card does cover car rental but need to make sure it is ok in Germany, Italy, b/c we don't want painful surprise.

[joannunemaker]

Great information. I enjoyed this video. 😊❤

[fidelgainsan]

Also, just to note that renting a car in Germany, you're not able to choose what specific car you want to drive. It's defined as the same vehicle class, so whatever picture of the car model you see on the website, ot is not necessarily that you get the same car, but the same class. In other countries, ypu might be able to choose what exact car model you want to rent.

[nurimustafa]

Thanks for warning to check the car. Checking a car is time consuming, especially it is difficult at night. I take a picture of the car from all sides just in case. I hope when needed those photos will be helpful somehow.

So far I rented a car in hourly basis, maybe you could do video about it as well.

About my experience with hourly rating:

1. They are in more locations than daily rent cars. Very convenient!
2. You pay subscription price around 5-20 euros monthly
3. You can book time, but if you bring the car earlier you will still get charged. I dont know exactly but it is around half of the regular hourly price for the unused time.
4. If you cancel booking in less than 24 hours before booking start time then the same rule applies, they charge you. If cancel it +24 hours before booking starts then you dont pay fine.
5. If your booking time is 10:00 then you can open a car around 09:55 and use that time to check the car.

[chasjadmahmood]

Great video. I was curious to know about “Miles” car rental. Don’t know about other cites but in Berlin it’s pretty popular.

[NitishBhaskar]

Anyone with less than one year on their German License, can together show the ADAC translation (or whichever translation they used for the license exchange in Fahrerlaubnisbehörde) along with German license to show 1+ years of experience. I have used this a lot of times until my German license was a year old.

[morbvsclz]

There may also restrictions about which cars you can take where. Back when I rented a car in Germany to go to Poland on a business trip, there was a specific information, that cars from Audi, Mercedes, BMW and Volkswagen are not allowed to be taken there. So I had to get a Renault...

That was back in 2017, not sure if that is still the case.

[Selfrespect]

Hello Ladies, just wanted to drop you "Thanks"

[nabeelmohamed]

I booked a VW T-Roq from Sixt
and once I got an upgrade to Mercedes e class and the other time an Audi Q2
Waiting to get a BMW the next time😂
P.S. the VW was not available hence I got Lucky

Also I was able to use my German license before one year experience

[GMTron]

Thanks for the informative video, excellent structure. 😊
Can you confirm if the Radio Tax has changed since today(July 01)?