Here’s why you should rent a car in Germany

Germany is a beautiful country with much to offer any traveler (especially the adventurous ones, who wants to rent a car in Germany to preserve their freedom!)

• If you are a lover of history, Germany will not disappoint, with architecture spanning multiple centuries and cities with storied pasts.
• If you are a sightseer, Germany has many landmarks and festivals that attract thousands of people every year.
• If you are intent on relaxing on your vacation in Germany, the Bavarian forest and Alps are a prime location to experience tranquility.
• If you are planning on learning about Germany’s rich history, taking in the sights and culture, and relaxing… Well, you’re going to do an awful lot of traveling within Germany.

Germany is a fairly large country with quite a bit of space between the major metropolises. Before traveling to Germany, you should plan what you want to do or see, and then figure out how you’re going to get there. Probably, if you hire a car in Germany, you won’t be mistaken.

Most people who enter Germany fly in through either Frankfurt (the busiest Airport in Europe) or Munich (the third busiest Airport in Europe). Because of Germany’s central location in Europe, these two Airports are some of the busiest in the world, and you should prepare accordingly.

There are plenty of taxis, coaches and tour buses that pick up from the Airports, and are a safe bet for the sightseeing tourist. However, they fill up fast and you should have a prior reservation to ensure you’re going to get wherever you want to go. In addition, you can always take public transportation virtually anywhere in Germany. Of course, smaller villages and provinces are not on the major rail or bus lines, so you will have to arrange transportation from major hubs.

For some people, mass transportation is a lot of hassle with a lot of inflexibility. If you take a tour bus or coach, you’re stuck seeing what the tour guide is paid to show you.

You cannot wander off and go exploring, you’re a part of the group.

If you take public transportation, you’re at the mercy of time schedules and inflexible routes. It’s not as if the high-speed trains can divert their paths just to take you to that quaint little village off the beaten path. Sometimes, these tours and transportation systems can cost you more, especially if you’re not smart about planning what you want to see or how to get there. Additionally, taxi cab drivers often take advantage of unsuspecting tourists just because it’s an easy way to get a few extra euros. To avoid all this, consider to rent a car in Germany.

The best thing to do is to decide if you want a rental car prior to coming to Germany. This way, you can research the best prices, the best cars and understand insurance policies. Get online, and while you book your flight and hotel, add a car to the package. Hiring car online usually gets you better rates when you bundle. Make sure you focus on the size of the car, as the smallest car you can get is probably the best bet.

Make sure you pick an automatic car if you can’t drive a stick shift (because that would be embarrassing), and make sure there are enough seats for everyone in your party. You can’t fit 6 people in a 5-person sedan plus your luggage. On the topic of luggage, make sure you pack very lightly, especially if you’re in a large group. Sedans don’t come very large in Europe, and you don’t want to have to ditch someone’s suitcase because it doesn’t fit in the trunk.

Before you book everything, though, check with your credit card companies. Often, larger providers offer extended trip insurance and rental car coverage. This can come in handy if you have to cancel your trip for some reason, or if you run into trouble with your rental car. Unfortunately in Europe with inexperienced tourist drivers, accidents do happen; especially on the Autobahn, which tourists tend to think is their own personal raceway.

To avoid getting fined an insane amount of money, read up on your insurance coverage provided by both the car company and the credit card you book the car with. You cannot use another credit card’s insurance coverage if you didn’t pay for the car or trip using that card, so make sure you have enough of a balance to cover everything on the best card.

After you’re done with all that, consider where you want to pick up your rental car. The place that makes most sense to people is the Airport they arrive, as they don’t have to hassle with public transport before getting their own ride (read also “car hire in Munich Airport”) . However, if you’re on a budget and want the best deal, picking up at the Airport can cost you almost 25% more than picking up just outside the Airport. Germany has extensive “convenience fees” for rental cars, which adds up. After you’ve taken all this into consideration, you’re ready to book your trip and your rental car.

Fly to Germany and enjoy the open Autobahn (safely, please!).

See the best prices to rent a car in Germany!