Despite its reputation as a "car country," one of the perks of visiting or travelling around Germany is that it's easy to do so car-free.
Whether you're a traveller with plans to see some of the sights as you pass through, or a resident with plans to explore new parts of the country more deeply, you'll generally find it's easy to do so with some combination of high-speed intercity trains and local public transportation.
That said, there are some destinations that are easier to reach by car. And, for more than a few visitors, driving the Autobahn is an attraction in itself.
How easily you can rent a car in Germany, however, depends on a few factors – the main ones being which country your driver's licence is from and which language its printed in.
What are the basic requirements for renting a car?
To legally rent a car in Germany you'll generally need to meet the following requirements:
- You are at least 21 years old
- You have a valid driver’s licence from your home country
- You've had your licence for at least one year
It's worth noting that many companies also require the main driver to have a credit card in their name. A hold is then put on this card as a deposit. However, some companies like Sixt allow renters to pay a refundable deposit with a debit card instead.
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It's also worth noting that some companies apply surcharges for people under the age of 25, and some may have more strict requirements regarding driving history.
Driver's licence in German or English
The bigger caveat to be aware of is that your home driver's licence needs to be in German or English.
If your licence is written in a non-Roman script (such as Arabic, Japanese, or Cyrillic), it'll likely need to be accompanied by an International Driving Permit (IDP) to be accepted in Germany.
The same is generally true for licences that are not in German or English. Driver's licences from EU member states - as well as EEA countries - are valid for driving in Germany, but rental car companies may demand that you provide a translation document or an IDP.
You can rest assured that your driver's licence will be accepted if it:
- Is written in English or German
- Has a clear photo
- And is valid (unexpired)
If so, major rental companies like Sixt, Hertz, and Europcar usually won’t require you to present an IDP. But policies can vary, so it’s always advisable to double check with the provider before booking.
The rules for residents
If you're living in Germany, rather than visiting as a tourist, the rules are a bit more complicated.
Within the first six months of living in the country the same rules listed above will apply. But after six months of residence, non-Europeans (EU/EEA) are generally required to obtain a German driver's licence.
People from some countries - such as the UK, Japan, or New Zealand for example - can swap their driver's licences for a German one.
But people from other countries that do have reciprocity agreements with Germany - including some but not all US states - will need to go through the process to earn a German driver's licence as if they were learning to drive for the first time.
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