There is a speed limit of 50 km/h in rural areas and 100 km/h in built-up areas. Recommended maximum speed on motorways is 130 km/h.
Whether for leisure or daily use, driving is very popular in Germany, which is said to feature the most well-established and fast Autobahns. However, not all motorways in Germany have unlimited speed restrictions. You are allowed to drive as fast as the circumstances allows on 50% of the motorways, while for the other half are limited from 80 to 130 km/h, which are enforced.
Driving in Germany is on the right side of the road. On Autobahns, one must take the right lane and overtake from the left.
Speed LimitThere is a speed limit of 50 km/h in rural areas and 100 km/h in built-up areas. Recommended maximum speed on motorways is 130 km/h.
Traffic SignsGerman traffic signs can be classified into 4 types: regulatory, warning, information and direction signs.
Warning Signs
Warning signs are in red triangle shape with a few exceptions.
 Bumpy Road |  Level Crossing |  Pedestrians |  Children Crossing |  Wild Animals Crossing |
Regulatory Signs
German regulatory signs mostly feature circular shape with a red border, with some exceptions.
 Give Way |  Stop and Give Way |  No U-Turn |  No Overtaking |  No Passenger Car |
Information Signs
Information signs normally feature a square shape as well as blue background, with some other exceptions.
 First Aid or Hospital |  Car Park, Parking Garage |  Toll Road |  Stop-Customs |
Direction Signs
German direction signs mostly feature a blue or yellow background and markings with location signs, route number information and distance.
 Motorway Junction Sign to Service Area |  Signpost at Junction Leading Onto a Minor Road |  Diversion Sign |  End of Diversion |
Take a further step to read more useful information regarding Germany traffic signs here.
Seatbelt LawsThe driver and all passengers are required by law to wear seatbelts if the car is underway. Failing to do so will incur an on-the-spot fine of €30.
Booster Seat LawsChildren over 150cm tall can sit in the front of the car. Younger ones will require appropriate restraints in the rear. Note that a baby must be seated in a baby seat facing backwards in the front passenger seat, and the front airbag must be disabled. If the child seat is not set properly, a fine of €60 will be imposed.
Parking· Permitted Parking
Drivers are allowed to park when a “Parkschein” can be found, and can pay the related parking fee to a parking machine. Insert coins to pay for the amount of time you wish to keep your parking spot. then place your ticket on the car’s dashboard in plain sight.
(Image from hiveminer.com)
· Permitted Parking
In Germany, you are considered "parked" if you leave your vehicle or if you stop/stand for longer than 3 minutes, unless you are actively boarding or discharging passengers or loading/unloading cargo.
You may not park in the following spots:
- Within 5 metres on either side of an intersection
- In front of driveway entrances or exits, or on the opposite side of the street
- If the roadway is too narrow to allow vehicles to enter or exit the driveway
- If parking will obstruct the use of marked parking places
- Within 15 metres on either side of a bus or streetcar stop marked with a green H-sign with yellow background
- Within 50 metres on either side of a white X-sign with red poles when outside of urban areas or within 5 metres when inside an urban area
- On a priority road outside of urban areas
- In front of a curb-cut or wheelchair ramp
- Adjacent to a traffic island or median
- On the street side of another parked vehicle ("double parked")
- On a marked bike lane - Anywhere there is a “No Parking” sign on the same side of the street
Parking in forbidden areas will result in a parking fine that generally ranges from €5 to €25.
Fuel PricesThe average value for Germany gasoline price is €1.39 in January 2018 while diesel is €1.16.
TollUnlike trucks, passenger car can drive the Autobahn without toll fee.
However, cross a border into neighbouring countries such as Austria, Switzerland and Czech Republic will require purchasing a vignette that should be stuck on the car’s windshield. Make sure you let the car hire company know if you are planning to drive your vehicle outside Germany, and double-check at the counter whether the rented vehicle features the relevant vignette.
DUI LawsDrivers with more than 2 years' experience are charged with a fine if found driving with 0.05% BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) or with 0.03% in conjunction with any other traffic offences or accidents.
Traffic FinesThere are traffic signs indicating a speed limit at many street sections. Drivers who are speeding in Germany may be caught by a speed trap and the fine ranges from €15 to €680 in town and €10 to €600 outside towns.
（Image from ksta.de)
Travellers renting a car in Germany may receive billing details from their credit cards indicating that a certain amount has been debited, mainly because they have been found guilty of speed driving or prohibited parking. You can always contact QEEQ' 24/7 customer service team for clarifications on such cases.
Q1.What is an insurance excess？
Q2. How can I add an addtional driver?
Q3.What if I want to pick up or drop off my rental car out of office hours?
Q4. Can I take the hired car to another country or cross border?
Q5. Can I pick up my car at one location and return it at different location?
Know our privacy policy - you can easily unsubscribe any time!
May 19, 2022
Destination: Frankfurt
The car was larger than expected. The car had a minor fault for 2-3 minutes in the automatic transmission, before it corrected itself - a little bit worrying. We reported it to Europcar and they will investigate.
View moreMay 10, 2022
Destination: Munich
El carro superó mis expectativas
View moreMay 10, 2022
Destination: Berlin
Budget charged me in USD instead of Euros.
View moreApril 21, 2022
Destination: Frankfurt
global is sold to europcar. so that you must to go terminal 1 to pickup.. its so far from t2.
View moreApril 20, 2022
Destination: Cologne
Budget me dió un coche de inferior categoria y cambio automático.
View moreApril 6, 2022
Destination: Frankfurt
Nice staff. They offer my very good upgrade for affordable price. Car was clean and as expected Overall great customer experiance
View moreFebruary 27, 2022
Destination: Munich
I am still waiting for my updated receipt, having had to take it for an extra day.
View moreFebruary 25, 2022
Destination: Duesseldorf
Due to a delayed flight the rental office was closed. I never even got a car from them… all I got was to pay the full price for the rental as it was a “no show’ I could understand if they charged me 20 eur or so, but 100%!! That’s not ok.
View moreJanuary 18, 2022
Destination: Mannheim
excellent
View moreDecember 1, 2021
Destination: Frankfurt
This company is a joint with Europa Car. They are located on the second floor of the mall. They location can be hard to find, so look for the EuropaCar local.
View moreNovember 29, 2021
Destination: Berlin
We upgraded to a Corsa automatic at a very reasonable price.
View moreNovember 29, 2021
Destination: Memmingen
Mejor coche que el reservado VW polo a VW golf. El coche es demasiado moderno, tiene muchas asistencias a la conducción que no me explicaron.
View moreNovember 21, 2021
Destination: Munich
Friendly staff with great recommendations and spoke English which was helpful.
View moreNovember 16, 2021
Destination: Frankfurt
Car provided for rental was not what I paid for. I specifically requested a Manual transmission Audi A4. I was provided a completely different vehicle with an automatic transmission. I would like a partial refund.
View moreNovember 13, 2021
Destination: Frankfurt
Very easy process, friendly and polite! Definitely recommend this location for car rentals
View moreNovember 9, 2021
Destination: Cologne
This experience with Budget was good as always. Very helpful desk staff. Easy pick up process. Good condition of cars.
View moreNovember 3, 2021
Destination: Cologne
I had to wait for the 20 minutes so that the employee finishes his private phone call infront of the pickup station. Then the car was SUV Tiguan and I have reserved a sedan Mercedes so didn’t like the options and when asked I was told that this is the only available option
View moreNovember 1, 2021
Destination: Cologne
Only problem was (but it's hopefuplly being solved) that they have tried to charge extra day, even if the car was returned 5 hours earlier and not later.
View moreOctober 31, 2021
Destination: Duesseldorf
Pick up process and staff was excellent. But drop off process terrible. there was no enough explanation for exit and to go to the departure counters of the airport. With me other customers also were trying to find the departure elevators and throllies.
View moreOctober 29, 2021
Destination: Memmingen
Fantastic service super professional staff.
View moreOctober 28, 2021
Destination: Duesseldorf
excellent service from Europcar
View moreOctober 28, 2021
Destination: Krefeld
Staff at Europcar were efficient, courteous and answered all questions I had at the beginning of the rental. It was the most pleasant experience I had in a car rental place for years.
View moreOctober 5, 2021
Destination: Memmingen
Excelent service
View moreSeptember 30, 2021
Destination: Frankfurt
Great experience with Europcar! Had e new car with modern features. Thank you.
View moreSeptember 28, 2021
Destination: Frankfurt
My flight was delayed and because I did not give the flight number upon reservation, Europcar had already rented the car out to someone else. They told me it would be hours before I could get the class I booked again. They made me pay the difference for the next class up. Not happy.
View moreSeptember 28, 2021
Destination: Baden-Baden
I had to return the vehicle on 25/09-21 by 16:45 and indeed I did, but the counter was already closed and there was no one to get the vehicle so I left the key in the safe. The next day I received an email from Europcar that the vehicle was returned in 26/09-21. I hope everything is fine and Europcar will not charge me for another day. Sincerely. Jacob G.
View moreSeptember 20, 2021
Destination: Frankfurt
Almost new car with only 3.000 km. No problems at all.
View moreAugust 9, 2021
Destination: Landshut
Would always rent with Europcat again. Most friendly service in Landshut/Germany and when you call customer service very friendly and knowledgeable too
View moreAugust 5, 2021
Destination: Frankfurt
Counter staff was helpful and friendly. Great experience. Car was good
View moreJuly 6, 2021
Destination: Munich
The car had some technical issues, changed the language during a trip Super flexible as I came a day late and they held the car
View moreNovember 4, 2020
Destination: Wuppertal
easy to find the car and easy to drop off, must enter one at the time so it takes a bit to serve each customer but that is perfectly fine during corona times
View moreOctober 13, 2020
Destination: Kempten
kempten staff very friendly
View moreAugust 21, 2020
Destination: Memmingen
The car interior wasn’t clean enough. Everything other was perfect. The lady at the desk was extremely kind! Thank you!
View moreAugust 12, 2020
Destination: Wuppertal
Everything was clear at the moment of booking and I have even been upgraded to a better, much larger car, which was very exciting! No problems whatsoever at the return.
View moreAugust 3, 2020
Destination: Wuppertal
easy to find and was upgraded, smooth service
View moreJuly 14, 2020
Destination: Bremen
I have booked COMPACT class, and I get Renault Clio (station wagon)!? Not enough space for traveling with pregnant woman and a child behind in a child seat.
View moreJuly 7, 2020
Destination: Wuppertal
Car had some scratches which were not marked, fuel was level to level, altogether everything was fine.
View moreJune 10, 2020
Destination: Wuppertal
I was upgrade and therefore more thank happy. Fuel was level to level which is always tricky cause you end up loading more fuel than originally needed, but okay. Was fine.
View moreJune 5, 2020
Destination: Bonn
The best in Germany, easy to find, easy to pick up, lowest price, best condition
View moreMay 29, 2020
Destination: Stuttgart
Very good rental company ! They suggested me a lot of upgrade possibilities... but I don't need them for my trip.
View moreMay 21, 2020
Destination: Duesseldorf
very good experience. would recommend to others as well
View moreMarch 25, 2020
Destination: Hamburg
Everything was fantastic
View moreMarch 23, 2020
Destination: Frankfurt
Great car, quick pick up and drop off! Very satisfied
View moreMarch 22, 2020
Destination: Frankfurt
Należy tutaj wyeksponować fakt bardzo złej i niezgodnej lokalizacji punktu odboioru samochodu podawanej we wskazówkach zawartych na umowie. Zły, noeprecyzyjny opis lokalizacji biura na terminalu a załączona mapka wprowadza w błąd. Chodzi o lokaliza ję na terminalu. Lokalizacja odbioru samochodu, czas otwarcia biura we Frankfurcie nad Odrą nieprzychylny dla klienta. Parkowanie samochody po jego odstawieniu i oddanie kluczyków na sga ji benzynowej odległej o 5 km to jakaś ogromna pomyłka. Tymbardziej, że odbywa się to tylko do godz. 21.00 A co z oddaniem samochodu po tym czasie? Ja musiałem czekać do rana na otwarcie biura. To wiązało się z koniecznością nocowania w hotelu i opóźnieniem mojej dalszej podróży. To wymaga koniecznej poprawy a ja osoboście jestem bardzo niezadowolony z takiego obrotu spraw.
View moreMarch 17, 2020
Destination: Hannover
Everything as all time very good.
View moreMarch 16, 2020
Destination: Berlin
Everything is prefect.
View moreMarch 16, 2020
Destination: Hannover
Top staff at the airport.Kind, competent and jokey
View moreJune 27, 2020
Destination: Cologne
Great experience. Friedly staff, clean and good car.
View moreJuly 24, 2020
Destination: Frankfurt
I was extremely satisfied with pre-booking and return dealing with Toufik El Kadaoui who was very professional and helpful answering all my questions and helping with the whole rental process (long term rental)
View moreDecember 1, 2021
Destination: Frankfurt
Counter staff was helpful but I would suggest if they can print bills and receipts in English rather than in german for tourists. Also if they can provide courtesy car service for pickup and drop off would be amazing.
View more