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?
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September 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 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 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 27, 2020
Destination: Cologne
Great experience. Friedly staff, clean and good car.
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: Hannover
Top staff at the airport.Kind, competent and jokey
View moreMarch 16, 2020
Destination: Berlin
Everything is prefect.
View moreMarch 16, 2020
Destination: Frankfurt
Arrendé un auto Mercedez Benz y me entregaron un Renault. Creo que hay mucha diferencia entre los dos autos.
View moreMarch 14, 2020
Destination: Munich
The staff were great and very helpful - spoke excellent English. Car was a Passat rather than a Skoda Superb - as Booked - they don't stock Skoda. Although I know the Skoda is bigger, the Passat worked out alright. The pick up and drop off were easy and staff were very helpful.
View moreMarch 14, 2020
Destination: Frankfurt
The 2 agents I dealt with at the counter were extremely helpful and courteous. I was even given an upgrade to a much larger and newer vehicle for a very small up charge fee. I loved the vehicle and I had no issues with the rental company.
View moreMarch 13, 2020
Destination: Duesseldorf
It was ok
View moreMarch 13, 2020
Destination: Frankfurt
Good
View moreMarch 7, 2020
Destination: Frankfurt
The car was good but I wanted to change the name and the address of the invoice and Enterprise didn‘t want to help me with that.
View moreMarch 4, 2020
Destination: Munich
We rented a Ford S-max minivan to go skiing to Austria. The car was all the time located in the secure car parking in front of the hotel. Unfortunately, either due to the cold or snow, the car window cracked. There was no sign of any external damage. When I returned the car, a member of staff told me that it should be no problem. When I got home, I saw a bill for 500 euro. I feel that I got ripped off for nothing(manufacturing defect). Good luck in resolving this issue as well, the expected response times are longer than 7 days.
View moreMarch 2, 2020
Destination: Hannover
Staff is really the best I ever met on airports Car was really good
View moreMarch 2, 2020
Destination: Berlin
it’s ok
View moreFebruary 29, 2020
Destination: Duesseldorf
Everything was good and generally, we had no problem. There was just one thing. The car was diesel and also using AdBlue. When we were on the road, the car started giving a warning "AdBlue level is low, after 130 km the engine will not start". The km in the warning was continuously decreasing so we had to fill AdBlue. Normally the GLOBAL rent a car is responsible for filling AdBlue we are just responsible for the filling diesel. After dropping off the car, we showed the receipt of AdBlue and got the payment of it after some days, there was no problem! But it was an extra procedure that we shouldn't have made an effort. And also if we did not show and request our payment back, it would be an extra cost for us so it does not sound good!
View moreFebruary 24, 2020
Destination: Hannover
Top and friendly staff at Hannover Airport.It is a feeling like coming home to friends
View moreFebruary 19, 2020
Destination: Berlin
car has some demages, but it’s ok
View moreFebruary 18, 2020
Destination: Tuebingen
The car is clean and new. It’s better for the beginner if the staff guides the customer to check the car condition before hitting the road.
View moreFebruary 17, 2020
Destination: Hannover
Every week it is really a pleasure to meet this kind employees from EUROPCAR at Hannover airport
View moreFebruary 15, 2020
Destination: Frankfurt
Good car,they gave me diesel and big car...Only car tank was not full...I told personal and he changed 3/4 on check list...When i drop off car,Mrs.Lisa was so kind,she finished all procedures fast and easy...Thanks
View moreFebruary 14, 2020
Destination: Frankfurt
The lady didn't know the rule even though she was working there for 27 years as she claimed. The rule is if somebody has an Indian driving licence and they are travelling germany for short term (less than six months) they can hire a car with the same indian driving licence with out an IDP. I requested her and tried to explain her but she wouldn't listen, although i've hired a car so many times in germany & UK with the same licence. She made me go to the local police station and when they confirmed then she gave me the car. This whole process took 2 hours and i was so much depressed by all this.
View moreFebruary 13, 2020
Destination: Hannover
Top staff at EUROPCAR airport HAJ
View moreFebruary 11, 2020
Destination: Frankfurt
I didn’t get the SUV I reserved but they gave me a smaller car and I was so pissed off like they wanna reap people off
View moreFebruary 7, 2020
Destination: Hannover
Top staff at Hannover airport.Thank you very much
View moreFebruary 5, 2020
Destination: Berlin
it’s ok thanks
View moreFebruary 4, 2020
Destination: Munich
The counter staffs are very friendly and gave us clear guidance. We really appreciate it.
View moreFebruary 4, 2020
Destination: Memmingen
We were upgraded and were very happy with the larger car
View moreJanuary 29, 2020
Destination: Memmingen
The car was a free upgrade. Very nice and spacious. Unfortunately, Hertz counter in Memmingen airport opens a little late for our flight. We arrive at ~7 am and the counter used to open at 7:30 which was fine. Last time someone showed at 7:50 and told us they actually open at 8:00. This will leave us to wait 1 hour to pick-up the car on future bookings.
View moreJanuary 24, 2020
Destination: Wuppertal
The car was new, perfect. Counter could have been faster.
View moreJanuary 22, 2020
Destination: Hannover
Top team at the airport at EUROPCAR
View moreJanuary 22, 2020
Destination: Halle
The staff were talking poor English and the male staff was not polite. Also I requested to use toilet but he rejected!! The other things like vehicle condition etc. were good.
View moreJanuary 21, 2020
Destination: Frankfurt
The car was exactly what we asked for. Very clean and new. Very good service at the counter. Easy to find right by arrivals at Frankfurt airport.
View more