As I prepare for my upcoming trip to Germany with my parents, I’m reminded of how renting cars in Germany is something I actually enjoy, unlike in the United States.
In this post:
I don’t enjoy renting cars in the United States
Personally I kind of dread renting cars in the United States for two reasons.
First of all, I don’t particularly enjoy driving in most parts of the United States. For example, I’m convinced we have the world’s worst drivers in my home state of Florida, especially around Miami. You have one person driving the speed limit on the highway in the left lane in a pick-up truck with their cargo not secured, and then some dude in a Dodge Charger swerving through traffic as if they’re getting paid for each lane change.
But even beyond that, renting cars is rarely an experience to look forward to. They’re expensive, and the cars aren’t particularly aspirational. I’m not trying to knock any cars here — after all, they’re a form of transportation above anything else — but I don’t think most people say “oh, I can’t wait to spend $600 to rent a Chevy Spark for a week.”
Just as an example, below are the choices for a Hertz rental at Tampa Airport for a week. As you can see, there’s not much to get excited about.
The one saving grace to renting cars in the United States is elite status — I value National Emerald Club Executive status and Hertz President’s Circle status (in fairness, that comes with the risk of being arrested, though sometimes I like to live on the edge). This at least makes the rental process quick, and means I have some number of cars to choose from.
Renting cars in Germany is fun, by comparison!
In terms of enjoyment, I find that renting cars in Germany is exactly the opposite of renting cars in the United States.
For one, driving in Germany is actually fun — the scenery is beautiful, drivers are good, and there’s no speed limit on many parts of the Autobahn.
The other thing is that German rental cars are typically actually nice, and not exorbitantly priced for what you’re getting (at least compared to the United States). In my experience, Sixt has the best selection of cars in the country.
For example, below are some of the rental options available for a one week rental at Frankfurt Airport, for my upcoming trip (and this doesn’t even factor in the Sixt Platinum discount that I’m eligible for — somehow I still have Sixt Platinum status from back in the SPG days, when there was some sort of a partnership, or something).
I mean, for a non pre-paid rate, you’d pay roughly the same for a Chevy Spark at Tampa Airport as you’d pay for a BMW X5 at Frankfurt Airport. Honestly, with all these Sixt options I kind of struggle to decide what car to go with, at least for the purposes of this trip, since I’m traveling with three other adults, and we’ll be doing quite a bit of touring by car (I’m curious to hear what y’all would choose!).
The one consideration with rental cars in Germany
Often my temptation is to just go for a really nice car when renting in Germany, given that you can actually drive fast in Germany, and you won’t get a deal like that from a legitimate rental agency in the United States.
One thing to keep in mind, though, is that most rental car collision damage waiver coverage offered through credit cards only covers you for cars with a value of up to $75,000 when new. So if you rent a car with a value above that, you’ll also need to separately buy rental car coverage, which further adds to the cost.
Speaking of that, I’m curious how others go about establishing the value of cars when renting abroad? Do you just Google the MSRP of that car in the country you’re traveling to and assume that’s correct, do you ask the rental agency, or what?
Bottom line
There’s such a contrast between renting cars in Germany and renting cars in the United States. Germany is one of the few places I truly enjoy renting cars, in terms of the driving quality, the types of cars you can get, and the overall value.
Anyone else enjoy renting cars in Germany as much as I do?
Hi I drove a Porsche 911 Carrera GTS via Lufthansa First Class deal with Avis a couple months ago. I went 260 km an hour at 1 AM LOL. The total cost was $280 ($150 for 12 hr rental which was actually 4 PM to 9 AM; $30 AMEX 75k Coverage, $40 for Avis's 1k deposit coverage; $30 for going above the 150km limit, $30 for a speeding ticket in Frankfurt). Truly such a joyride. Now I need to have a girl to drive with me hhh
Beware, my last attempt to rent a car with Sixt in Germany ended abruptly when the agent insisted I had to have an international driver's license. She was, of course, making this up: There is no law saying this. Enterprise happily rented to me without issue a day later. Be very very careful with Sixt in Germany, they are bad news.
I've gotten the IDL in prep for Euro trips. However, no one has ever requested it in all my rentals.
I have found the clerks on the continent speak English better than most Americans, especially those in Poland & Czech Republic. They have treated the IDL booklet as a nuance.
Even when I needed to get a police report for the time I backed the rental into the wall of the hotel garage, no one at the police station was concerned about the IDL.
My last avis rental was $35 a day with unlimited miles, not sure why people think renting cars in the US is so expensive.
One of the many things I love about Germany is that I don't have to drive - the trains rule!
I thought the same thing too - until I had 2 trains cancelled one day and then another 2 trains cancelled the following day (not postponed/delayed- cancelled). This was in Cologne and I was lucky that I wasn't catching a flight in Frankfurt. Several people were though and they were dropping F bombs.
Most of the cars you showcased that are cheaper to rent in Europe are because they are German branded or European cars, so of course they are cheaper to rent there. So obvious. Such a useless post.
Renting a car mid-week, e.g. for a business trip, will trigger totally different rates, often in excess of EUR 100 per day for a very standard car … there the alternative is using Deutsche Bahn, which offers a catastrophic experience for granted …
Agree with you Ben. We think of Germany as the land of cars.
BTW, We agree with you about Miami driving. We found equal in both Seattle and Oregon. Oregon highways only have two lanes, and the slow people sit in the left fast lane. Makes a longer trip from Seattle to SF.
You forgot to mention that Hertz in Tampa comes with a free 'police experience'
Recently I rented a really nice brand new (2 K miles) Toyota Hybrid in MUC for the whole month of July. My total cost was $ 839, and that included insurance for just about everything but the apocalypse. Unlimited miles. Those things are like computers on wheels. You go over the middle line, you get a signal. You go over speed limit, you get a signal. The only thing I find irritating, is if you...
Recently I rented a really nice brand new (2 K miles) Toyota Hybrid in MUC for the whole month of July. My total cost was $ 839, and that included insurance for just about everything but the apocalypse. Unlimited miles. Those things are like computers on wheels. You go over the middle line, you get a signal. You go over speed limit, you get a signal. The only thing I find irritating, is if you go more than 10% over speed limit, the steering jerks a tiny bit to the right side. Not that it actually changes the driving, it's just like a reminder, that if you are more than 10% over, and tickets are pretty steep in Germany. I had booked 10 months ahead. That makes it cheaper.
You can disable the lane and speed warnings. In fact, those safety features are manually adjustable and many newer Toyotas here in the US have the same thing (as do VWs and others). The wheel jerking in the VW is so jarring and annoying that I consulted the manual at the very next stop as to how to disable this (and yes you can easily do so).
My car renting experience globally is that the car I get is pretty much always the “or similar” which means it doesn’t matter what is advertised when I book it, I’ll always get something different of the same size!
Another vote for consolidators, heaps cheaper. I'd use Billiger-Mietwagen in Germany or any rental worldwide. Good price for insurance too and they'll help with claims, see off the swindlers who charge for "damage" after the fact - all too commonplace in German rental agencies.
For the bookings I had made for BMWs at SIXT in Europe past few years, I did not once got one. I was offered AUDI most of the time and Volvo (once in Paris) instead. I think I will go for BMW Rent next time I am in Germany.
Sixt has nice cars in Germany due to their origin. Avis and Hertz collections in Germany are poor. That’s ironic cause their collections in the neighbouring countries are nice.
The M4 Coupe and the E53 AMG Wagon are fun. The rest are yawn. I currently own a M4 Coupe and convinced my wife previously that the E53 Wagon was a perfect family car. However, the E53 is not so much fun to drive at it is to simply race down the autobahn. She hated it and stuck to the Range Rover. So not sure if you’ll like it or hate it.
I’d go with the X5, bet the base model, not the X5M model. Unlike Sixt in the US which seem to have only basic options, cars in Germany tend to come fully loaded with all the options you need. You won’t need the extra horsepower if you have older folks so I’d say the price difference is not worth it. Would love you end up booking!
Avis in Munich found a 1 inch scratch on a rim within 1 second of looking over the car for which they tried to charge me $600. It was a common scam reported on tripadvisor/google/yelp. It took 4 months of fighting with avis corporate to get it waived.
My experience with Avis at Munich airport was a lasting one! I make a video of the car on pickup of every scratch. Marked the pickup record. When I dropped the car off near Zurich I did the same and they inspected and gave a clean bill of health. Month later they wanted $2400 for damages they would never describe. I filed the claim through my Chase Sapphire Reserve. I was about 6 months before...
My experience with Avis at Munich airport was a lasting one! I make a video of the car on pickup of every scratch. Marked the pickup record. When I dropped the car off near Zurich I did the same and they inspected and gave a clean bill of health. Month later they wanted $2400 for damages they would never describe. I filed the claim through my Chase Sapphire Reserve. I was about 6 months before the issue was resolve and I got the $2400 back on my card. They know how to make interest on charges for damages until they finally admit is was wrong. Multiply that by many cars and you have a decent sum.
Lucky - I am an American who occasionally travels to Germany for work. Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex paid Insurance will cover a max of 75k and 100k (respectively), but there are a few exceptions. Depending on the car you choose to get, a Visa Signature card might actually provide better coverage. This was some years ago, but I would pay with my Sapphire Preferred (before Reserve came out) and they would cover certain vehicles...
Lucky - I am an American who occasionally travels to Germany for work. Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex paid Insurance will cover a max of 75k and 100k (respectively), but there are a few exceptions. Depending on the car you choose to get, a Visa Signature card might actually provide better coverage. This was some years ago, but I would pay with my Sapphire Preferred (before Reserve came out) and they would cover certain vehicles - They would pay 100% for a an Audi A6 or BMW 520i, 530i, but they would not pay at all for a BMW 535i or 550i (or Audi A8 or BMW 7er). Call Chase and do some digging. It might be that your Chase Hyatt card offers the best protection since it is primary coverage outside of the USA.
If you take the car from Germany to Austria, Switzerland, or Czechia, you will need to buy a Vignette before or just after the boarder.
Please do a thorough examination, and I cannot stress the word 'thorough' enough, before you even move the car from the parking space. Any wheel scratch, minor body scratch, windshield chip will be counted on the back end if it is not marked beforehand.
Also note that Limousines often have "unlimited kilometers" but SUVS have a cap before paying.
Bmw x5 m50, hands down. Rented it last summer with 4 adults plus luggage and it was perfect. Plus has a little extra juice for the autobahn ;)
Your examples illustrate the problem I had in Europe if you need a vehicle for more than 5 people. The rates are exorbitant over $1000 a week. That is not the case in the US.
"M3 Limousine" - love it. "Driver - please take me to my meeting in the sportiest manner possible!"
Every time I've rented a car in Germany I ran into some kind of trouble. Too late at the counter, bogus claims of damage, different than negotiated rate, etc. In the US OTOH with the Hertz Presidents circle status I find rental cars completely pain free - just pick a car and start driving. I also found the US a lot less expensive, but maybe that's because I have a good corporate rate.
The cars...
Every time I've rented a car in Germany I ran into some kind of trouble. Too late at the counter, bogus claims of damage, different than negotiated rate, etc. In the US OTOH with the Hertz Presidents circle status I find rental cars completely pain free - just pick a car and start driving. I also found the US a lot less expensive, but maybe that's because I have a good corporate rate.
The cars are a lot nicer in Germany that's true, but I mostly just want to go form A to B, and at least in Germany I'm only renting a car anyway if there's really no good public transportation option available (in the US that's the norm unfortunately).
I recently rented an Audi A6 wagon from Sixt at Malpensa. While the car was great, the service was a disgrace. The wait line at the rental desk took 90 minutes, each transaction with the agent took at least 10 minutes, followed by a very vague instruction to take two rights and two hallways to the lot, only to find that the car was not ready. I have also had bad experiences with Sixt in the US, but figured in Europe it woudl be better. Never again.
I miss the days where you had the option to rent a Porsche from Avis for only 99 euros for 3 hours if you were flying on an LH F ticket. Fuel was included so you didn't even need to refuel the tank before returning it, which was awesome because they're gas guzzlers. I used to purposely have a longer layover in FRA to take advantage of this and go out driving up and down...
I miss the days where you had the option to rent a Porsche from Avis for only 99 euros for 3 hours if you were flying on an LH F ticket. Fuel was included so you didn't even need to refuel the tank before returning it, which was awesome because they're gas guzzlers. I used to purposely have a longer layover in FRA to take advantage of this and go out driving up and down A5 at 150+ mph in a Targa 4s. When I was done, I could pull up to the LH F terminal to check in for my next flight and the staff would return the car for me (they will turn in any rental car for you).
Clearly Lucky does not drive much outside the US. Florida drivers are not even in the top 10 worst drivers in the world. I've driven in over 80 countries and not one even comes close to Saudi Arabia. Indian drivers are bad but the road conditions rarely permit one to drive fast. Saudis on the other hand drive horribly and fast. Even in small towns one frequently sees accidents. I still loved driving there for...
Clearly Lucky does not drive much outside the US. Florida drivers are not even in the top 10 worst drivers in the world. I've driven in over 80 countries and not one even comes close to Saudi Arabia. Indian drivers are bad but the road conditions rarely permit one to drive fast. Saudis on the other hand drive horribly and fast. Even in small towns one frequently sees accidents. I still loved driving there for the novelty but Riyadh during rush hour was absolutely terrifying.
Sorry, but I am with Lucky on this one. Having lived in Florida (central not south) and travelled to many other countries, Florida drivers are bad. There might be a few places that are worse, but there can't be many. There are many places where there are crazier drivers, no doubt, but in most of them, they don't actually run into each other. Everyone (local) knows the rules of the road and adheres to them....
Sorry, but I am with Lucky on this one. Having lived in Florida (central not south) and travelled to many other countries, Florida drivers are bad. There might be a few places that are worse, but there can't be many. There are many places where there are crazier drivers, no doubt, but in most of them, they don't actually run into each other. Everyone (local) knows the rules of the road and adheres to them. In Florida, you have no idea where they are going to come from next. Can't count the number of times someone hit the horn at me for stopping at a stop sign
I had to laugh at ur horn comment. I lived in India for two years and had the horn replaced under warranty twice!
Try driving in Latin America; it makes driving in south Florida look professional. That said, the issue is SOUTH Florida and not the entire state. You have a mix of newer immigrants, old people and New Yorkers (also famously horrible drivers) all on an overburdened set of highways. It's bad, but far from the worst.
I think this post maybe a little premature. The IDEA of renting in Germany or indeed anywhere in Europe is all fun and games (I'd go for that Audi A6 Wagon if I was you) BUT the reality is, at least in my experience - even with elite status, you STILL get trapped at the desk whilst the agent endlessly types away at a computer screen whilst being offered various additional levels of insurance, upgrades,...
I think this post maybe a little premature. The IDEA of renting in Germany or indeed anywhere in Europe is all fun and games (I'd go for that Audi A6 Wagon if I was you) BUT the reality is, at least in my experience - even with elite status, you STILL get trapped at the desk whilst the agent endlessly types away at a computer screen whilst being offered various additional levels of insurance, upgrades, GPS, child seats, whatever all at huge fees and then there is worry about speed traps, other drivers (I think Italians may even give Miami residents a run for their money in terms of driving quality) and the very detailed inspection when you return. It's not exactly as stress free as turning up at LAX and breezing into a boring but newish and cleanish SUV from Hertz and whisking yourself out the gate in 5 mins.
Using car rental consolidators based in Germany seems to save me heaps of money. The bumper to bumper all inclusive insurance there is an option I always pick. Be aware, though, of charges for 2nd driver, one way rentals, or crossing into other countries.
Just got back from a DEN-FRA-DEN trip with an Avis rental for the week. Arrived on time and proceeded to the Avis desk where I was told I was getting a "FREE" upgrade to a SUV from my compact car. Asked again for a compact that would be easy to park and fit in the narrow streets and was told only SUV's were available so took the keys to a brand new MG SUV. Arrived...
Just got back from a DEN-FRA-DEN trip with an Avis rental for the week. Arrived on time and proceeded to the Avis desk where I was told I was getting a "FREE" upgrade to a SUV from my compact car. Asked again for a compact that would be easy to park and fit in the narrow streets and was told only SUV's were available so took the keys to a brand new MG SUV. Arrived in the pickup up area to find a long row of MG SUV's and loaded up in ours to find the NAV was in German with no instructions to change it. A couple of helpful Avis employees spent 20 minutes trying to get the NAV to work in English and finally succeeded but 1 KM away the NAV reverted back to German without our touching it and I noticed the automatic transmission was having a lot of trouble shifting gears. Back to the rental counter insisting on the compact we had reserved but was told only SUV's available, but with some polite insistence the very nice clerk found an Opel Corsa, manual transmission, had just arrived. The Opel was perfect and we found out later from an Avis employee that the Chinese manufacturer of the MG SUV had provided a very, very lucrative deal to Avis on the cars but no one who rented them liked them. Be careful what the give you for an "upgrade."
Yes, we spent our whole weekend reading (unsuccesfully) all of the outputs from the car in German. Didn't really bother us, pretty much every car is the same, but definitely didn't help us very much either.
I have done this trip, with car seats, that torneo is the way to go. You’ll appreciate the extra head and gear space.
Fun, not really. Avis at FRA airport gave my info details to a city hall who contacted me for a ticket. They are not supposed to disclose this kind of private info. I would have preferred that Avis sent the ticket instead.
Heading to Munich in the first week of September, and I am struggling to find these kind of prices :(
Am I missing something?
I head back before Oktoberfest starts, so I'm not sure what's driving up the pricing...
A6 with the upgrade engine, there's a lot of value and space with that. 400 for the week, sold.
I second this one. I don't know what mobility issues Ben's mom has or her height, so its possible an SUV might be easier for her to get in and out of, but aside from that the A6 wagon with the boosted engine is the way to go. Even with the Autobahn, I personally doubt Ben would get a ton of use out of the M/AMG versions of anything (at least for the price differential),...
I second this one. I don't know what mobility issues Ben's mom has or her height, so its possible an SUV might be easier for her to get in and out of, but aside from that the A6 wagon with the boosted engine is the way to go. Even with the Autobahn, I personally doubt Ben would get a ton of use out of the M/AMG versions of anything (at least for the price differential), especially with his parents in the back of the car, but the upgraded engine would be worth it. I don't know how his parents are as passengers, but my mom is such a nervous backseat driver I practically refuse to drive if she is going to be in the car with me.
Aren't you getting prices with included standard insurance with small excess? That's standard in Europe. So you would only need to worry about covering excess. Rental cars in USA can be bland, but the same goes for Europe. If you live here, German cars are not really that exciting and I would even make an effort to avoid some of them (like cra**y A6 40TFSI).
No offense but you clearly don’t rent often in the US. Go to a Hertz Presidents Circle in the US and tell me they don’t have $40,000 cars. Forget the online booking engine. You just need to book a midsize to get into the buffet. You have a Cap1 that gives you status! You should be the poster child for renting in the US.
Ben, go with the A6 45/55 Avant! Lots of space for adults in the back, luggage in the way-back, gorgeous interior, drives really well. Get the 55 if you can (V6). Audi 40 and 45 engines are 4-cylinder.
If you want to go really fast, and maybe draw some attention, get the AMG E53 Estate. That thing is a beast!
But in general I would stick with midsize or larger station wagons for autobahn...
Ben, go with the A6 45/55 Avant! Lots of space for adults in the back, luggage in the way-back, gorgeous interior, drives really well. Get the 55 if you can (V6). Audi 40 and 45 engines are 4-cylinder.
If you want to go really fast, and maybe draw some attention, get the AMG E53 Estate. That thing is a beast!
But in general I would stick with midsize or larger station wagons for autobahn driving with 4 adults. Much better handling and fuel efficiency than SUVs.
Think if it this way - an Audi Q7 is like an A6 Avant with a refrigerator tied to the roof.
Since you don't seem like a huge driving enthusiast, I wouldn't bother with any of the performance models like the AMG/Ms. They aren't usually much more luxurious than the regular models and they are huge gas guzzlers, which will significantly add to the price with German gas prices. Also, with your parents and your mom's partner in the car you probably aren't going to be taking advantage of the additional performance they offer.
Personally,...
Since you don't seem like a huge driving enthusiast, I wouldn't bother with any of the performance models like the AMG/Ms. They aren't usually much more luxurious than the regular models and they are huge gas guzzlers, which will significantly add to the price with German gas prices. Also, with your parents and your mom's partner in the car you probably aren't going to be taking advantage of the additional performance they offer.
Personally, I would go for one of the wagons. They are super practical and comfy and lower to the ground than an SUV (which will be easier for someone with limited mobility to get in and out of). Also, of course they tend to get better gas mileage than their SUV counterparts and are easier to park. Finally, while they are common in Europe, most automakers have unfortunately stopped selling wagons in the US because they don't sell well here (or if they do, they get "SUV-ized" like the Audi allroad). It's a fun opportunity to drive a nice car you wouldn't get to drive back in the States and I think a wagon also suits the needs of your group best.
In Deutschland gibt es fast nur Autos mit manuellen Schaltungen. Das sind die Amis ja eher weniger gewohnt. Ausserdem kommt glaube ich die Versicherung noch mit drauf. Kein speed limit auf vielen Autobahnen stimmt zwar, aber da wo es speed limits gibt, auf Autobahn und im Stadtverkehr, wird dafuer umso haerter kontrolliert. Ausserdem sind Deutsche Autofahrer stressiger als in Amerika (meiner Meinung nach).
Not so much anymore at the major rental car companies. Mostly automatic these days.
I would go with the full pampering insurance package when renting in Germany, god forbid you got into an accident, they can regulate that amongst themselves, rather than you trying to deal with that weeks later from 4000mls away.
And do a THOROUGH walk around. Everything you find, the smallest scratch, needs to be formally documented, not just by iPhone pictures.
Agree. I had a Sixt car that was returned to the shared-rental car center at MUC. The return inspector found a 4mm spot along one door edge where the paint was missing and marked it on the paperwork. Fortunately Sixt never blamed or charged me for it but the inspectors are ruthless.
Considering that you are travelling with 3 adults, including people with mobility issues and that you are doing long trips I'd go with an SUV. I'd choose the Q5/X3 if you aren't travelling with much luggage, the X5 if you expect a more considerable amount of luggage, or the X5 M50 if you want the same amount of storage as the X5 and that extra 100hp or so to roar through the Autobahn, assuming your...
Considering that you are travelling with 3 adults, including people with mobility issues and that you are doing long trips I'd go with an SUV. I'd choose the Q5/X3 if you aren't travelling with much luggage, the X5 if you expect a more considerable amount of luggage, or the X5 M50 if you want the same amount of storage as the X5 and that extra 100hp or so to roar through the Autobahn, assuming your parents and you don't mind going 200+ km/h every now and then ;)
If it were 3 young adults I'd definitely go for one of the Touring / Estate cars, but I'm sure your parents and your mom's partner would appreciate the extra comfort an SUV has to offer. Also on the topic of narrow roads, if this was a trip down on Amalfi (or anywhere in Italy for that matter) or rural UK / Southern France / Spain, I would definitely take it into account... but in my opinion roads on the Schwarzwald region and northern BW aren't particularly narrow.
Not unique issue, but I rented a car in Frankfurt and dropped off in Zurich, Switzerland and had a one way charge. Not an issue, but the car I got in Frankfurt was a Swiss car and by in its tag number it came from the same Zurich location I was returning it too. This was Hertz.
Whenever I rent in Europe, I always select the cheapest automatic they have which is usually some sort of tiny car. When I show up to get the car, they never have one and have to upgrade me for free to whatever automatic they have available. I’ve ended up with an Alfa Romeo, Mercedes and BMW and never paid more than $200 for a week.
I noticed that, too - Although not an automatic, I rented a small manual, but when I got there, I was automatically upgraded to a Saab (?) six speed manual full size car. Fun to drive and lots of power.
The Germans love foreigners that rent these nice cars and then think they are all of a sudden Formula 1 drivers and park their butts in the left hand lane on the autobahn. Before any rental car company gives a car to anyone in Germany....they should tell them that the left lanes on the autobahn are for passing and that Germans will literally run you off the road if you putz around in the lane.
I think it's the complete opposite. In Europe, they have to look up and down the car 100 times and check every scratch. In the US you get in and get out without anyone looking at it and there's rarely any trouble.
There's a reason why Amex insurance doesn't cover Italy because fraud is so rampant.
In Italy car rental includes collision and theft by default as law. You cannot decline CDW. Therefore, there is no need for AMEX to cover it.
That is false. That is not the law in Italy.
I rented there recently and no insurance was included.
Omar - Wrong! Google it if you don’t believe me. I rent cars there several times a year.
Ben, if you like German cars, then you should compare what Sixt is offering in Tampa. They do have a lineup of BMW to chose from and with discount promo the prices are about the same. Last time I rented a Mercedes in FRA, it took some time and upon return I was asked to show that the spare tire and the instruments to install it are still in the trunk.
My car rentals...
Ben, if you like German cars, then you should compare what Sixt is offering in Tampa. They do have a lineup of BMW to chose from and with discount promo the prices are about the same. Last time I rented a Mercedes in FRA, it took some time and upon return I was asked to show that the spare tire and the instruments to install it are still in the trunk.
My car rentals in US are solely through National using a company contracts. As Emerald Executive Elite, I just walk to pick up a nice car from typically a good selection, and the drop off is very easy as any scratches and dents less than a golf ball do not count. I just pick up my carryon and walk to terminal with the receipt coming in email (with no unexpected extra charges as it is often in Europe) . What could be more easy!
Go for the X5 M50i
It’s spacious and comfortable especially for luggage and three people
Beauty is the interior and ride are fun as the car is fast and has a v8 engine yet is luxurious and comfortable. Definitely worth the money!
Eww, automatics!
I have rented in southern Germany, Poland, Czech Rep, France, and Uk (twice).
I would suggest that you always insure the car via your credit card versus the rack rate at the rental agency.
However, you must realize the card will only cover the damage to the vehicle, not 3rd party liability (causing bodily harm to someone else). The rental agency is required to have such coverage on all their vehicles. However, I...
I have rented in southern Germany, Poland, Czech Rep, France, and Uk (twice).
I would suggest that you always insure the car via your credit card versus the rack rate at the rental agency.
However, you must realize the card will only cover the damage to the vehicle, not 3rd party liability (causing bodily harm to someone else). The rental agency is required to have such coverage on all their vehicles. However, I will buy the supplement 3rd party coverage if available via the agency, even if it's at an inflated daily rate. Europe is getting wise about injury lawsuits, especially the UK.
With Chase they have a list of vehicles that are covered. An Audi A6 is covered for example but the high performance S6 is not and the $125k (in US) RS6 is not. Audi A8, S Class 7 Series class vehicles are also not covered.
I had wanted an S-Class but ended up with an A6 Avant as that was the highest class of vehicle covered.
Related to Germany in cars when we...
With Chase they have a list of vehicles that are covered. An Audi A6 is covered for example but the high performance S6 is not and the $125k (in US) RS6 is not. Audi A8, S Class 7 Series class vehicles are also not covered.
I had wanted an S-Class but ended up with an A6 Avant as that was the highest class of vehicle covered.
Related to Germany in cars when we pulled into the garage at the Andaz Munich in a line by the door was an E63 AMG wagon, an M5 Wagon and an RS6 Avant. My comment was, “The Real Housewives of Munich are here.”
Just a couple of thoughts from my recent weekend in Germany:
We rented an A6. Surprisingly (for me) pretty blah! I drive a Jaguar xfs at home and expected similar performance and was seriously underwhelmed. Also would reiterate the comment about maybe going a little smaller than larger primarily due to parking. Not a problem most of the time or on the open road, but occasionally a very big problem parking.
Second, probably not for...
Just a couple of thoughts from my recent weekend in Germany:
We rented an A6. Surprisingly (for me) pretty blah! I drive a Jaguar xfs at home and expected similar performance and was seriously underwhelmed. Also would reiterate the comment about maybe going a little smaller than larger primarily due to parking. Not a problem most of the time or on the open road, but occasionally a very big problem parking.
Second, probably not for Lucky, but for others, car rental agencies off airport close at noon on Saturdays and are closed Sundays. I was planning to take trains to Luxembourg (after getting off a redeye in Frankfurt and not wanting to drive far), however, found out that the trains don't run to Luxembourg on weekends, would have been a bus, so decided to stop at Trier and rent car there. Nope, train would have arrived too late to get rental car on Saturday, so wouldn't have a car until Monday. Had to get off the train at Koblenz to get to an agency in time to get a car. More driving than I planned but turned out fine.
What engine did you opt for? They offer the economy engine option and the autobahn engine option. You’re obviously going to be underwhelmed with the small engine in terms of performance.
Yes, what John said. Screenshots list A6 Avant with 40, 45, and 55 engines. I wouldn't even think of getting an A6 with the 40 - that would be painfully slow, especially loaded with 4 adults and their luggage. I have an A4 allroad (too bad Avant is not available here) which only comes with the 45 engine - adequate, but no sports car.
Probably my mistake, didn't notice which engine it had, almost certainly was the most economical one offered. Really wondered why the A6 I had heard was pretty amazing was not so amazing!
Germany is not so wonderful.
Car rental prices are often higher than in the article. Those prices are good!
They often try to charge you for tiny scratches that you didn't make.
Gas is expensive.
As a German/American, I travel to FRA at lot and have done so for years. One of my biggest gripes is the crappy Avis station at FRA. Lines are forever long even for Preferred Members and it's been like that for years and not just since Covid. Agents are rude and act like they can't be bothered to even do their jobs.
I have also had an issue there in which they blamed me for...
As a German/American, I travel to FRA at lot and have done so for years. One of my biggest gripes is the crappy Avis station at FRA. Lines are forever long even for Preferred Members and it's been like that for years and not just since Covid. Agents are rude and act like they can't be bothered to even do their jobs.
I have also had an issue there in which they blamed me for a scratch on the car which I know I did not do. Unlike in the US, you have to go over your car with a fine tooth comb and take pictures of any damage at pickup or they will try to blame you and charge you. Take special note that at pickup, the cars are parked in an area that is extremely dark so seeing any damage is virtually impossible. (I now pull the car out of the spot and pull it to a section with more lights to check it.) When you return the car the area is lit up light an airport landing strip and I have had the agents be super crazy about checking the cars. They will even double check to make sure the emergency vest and warning triangle (that is supposed to be in the car trunk at pickup) are still there. Who in their right mind that comes from a foreign country knows to make sure there is a vest and the triangle there when you pickup your car? If there wasn't one...they will try to charge you! So in summation....renting nice cars in Germany can be fun but be very cautious if you do it from Avis at FRA.
Did you manipulate the screenshot about the Sixt offers? Why are there no electric vehicles displayed? Did you set the filter to ICE only?
Nevertheless, I really appreciate the progress being made by Sixt on EVs. Just booked an EV (Ora Funky Cat) in Thailand. Although Teslas at Sixt are fairly cheap and you might have free SuperCharging.
There is a simple reason why Sixt rents luxury vehicles at cheap prices in Germany. The MSRP...
Did you manipulate the screenshot about the Sixt offers? Why are there no electric vehicles displayed? Did you set the filter to ICE only?
Nevertheless, I really appreciate the progress being made by Sixt on EVs. Just booked an EV (Ora Funky Cat) in Thailand. Although Teslas at Sixt are fairly cheap and you might have free SuperCharging.
There is a simple reason why Sixt rents luxury vehicles at cheap prices in Germany. The MSRP ( in Germany BLP "Brutto-Listenpreis) is insanely high. Sixt gets huge discounts and may even sell same at a profit after 6 months. The German car manufacturers simply cannot place that high amount of cars in the market at high prices. So they prefer a second distribution channel with rental cars and business leasing not available to the general workers to keep MSRP high and offer smaller discounts.
I three times had problems in Frankfurt airport returning the car after times. I searched online, and they have a
Last time, I made a film and everything, and they tried to charge in Europcar damages that were there before, I am Privilege Elite VIP, Luckily I returned the car after 10pm, but was sleeping in Hilton, so I was back in the counter in the morning and discussed very card to get out...
I three times had problems in Frankfurt airport returning the car after times. I searched online, and they have a
Last time, I made a film and everything, and they tried to charge in Europcar damages that were there before, I am Privilege Elite VIP, Luckily I returned the car after 10pm, but was sleeping in Hilton, so I was back in the counter in the morning and discussed very card to get out the charges since I had photos and videos.
I had a similar problem with Avis and Hertz. All in Frankfurt airport. The return part is a third-party company that wants to add damages in any case.
Just to be aware to film and picture everything while there!
You’re partially right. South Florida and metro Chicago both have the worst drivers in my experience.
I plan on picking up a Volkswagen or Opel at Munich airport and doing 180 KPM all the way to Eagle’s Nest.
In future Euro visits, may I suggest the Wolf's Lair (Wilczy Szaniec) in north east Poland . It was Hitlers headquarters for the eastern front. You can walk around on your own or go with a guide.
Make sure you also visit the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk.
Having a rental made these visits sooo easy versus a train or tour bus.
Just don’t rent an exotic car and drive the Nürburgring- unless you never want to rent a car in Germany again (something an acquaintance of mine discovered the hard way!) ;)
Ben, the rental car agency can always tell you the value of the car. It’s very normal to ask about it. However, it’s important to know the fine print of your insurance. For example, Chase explicitly does not cover Alfa Romeo. Which isn’t even a luxury brand in Europe.
Regarding status and upgrades (I have Sixt Diamond status), I always book with insurance included (but with the highest possible deductible). Then if the car...
Ben, the rental car agency can always tell you the value of the car. It’s very normal to ask about it. However, it’s important to know the fine print of your insurance. For example, Chase explicitly does not cover Alfa Romeo. Which isn’t even a luxury brand in Europe.
Regarding status and upgrades (I have Sixt Diamond status), I always book with insurance included (but with the highest possible deductible). Then if the car is within the coverage of the credit card coverage, I just have them remove the additional insurance when I pickup the car. However, if they upgrade me to a $200k vehicle, I keep the additional insurance, as it doesn’t increase in price because of the upgrade. If I hadn’t booked with insurance and wanted to add it during pickup, the insurance for the $200k car would be much more expensive.
2nd the recommendation for the E53 AMG- plenty of room for adults and luggage, and pushing 500hp.
I also feel like everyone has a “the drivers in Boston/NYC/[insert high powered city here] are the WORST!” opinion, which is really just an indication they haven’t been to South Florida. Yes, drivers in other places, especially northeast cities, are aggressive, but the problem in SFL more that drivers are simply *unskilled.* It’s one thing to see someone...
2nd the recommendation for the E53 AMG- plenty of room for adults and luggage, and pushing 500hp.
I also feel like everyone has a “the drivers in Boston/NYC/[insert high powered city here] are the WORST!” opinion, which is really just an indication they haven’t been to South Florida. Yes, drivers in other places, especially northeast cities, are aggressive, but the problem in SFL more that drivers are simply *unskilled.* It’s one thing to see someone weaving aggressively through traffic on the highway, but it’s quite another to see people constantly pulling out late into oncoming traffic, taking right turns by swinging out wide into the left lane before turning, casually driving through red lights, and going the wrong way on one way streets. I’ll take aggression any day over incompetence; the latter is far more unpredictable.
Touring by car - get a Grand Touring BMW.
M4 or 440 4 seats but GT layout. Back seats exist but will be tighter. M3 if you want lux (big back seat) but experience of exiting mountain road corners with a thrill. Go with 5 series sedan if you want something that's fast but doesn't look fast. Z4 if you really want a thrill but that's for you n Ford only...just 2 seats.
...
Touring by car - get a Grand Touring BMW.
M4 or 440 4 seats but GT layout. Back seats exist but will be tighter. M3 if you want lux (big back seat) but experience of exiting mountain road corners with a thrill. Go with 5 series sedan if you want something that's fast but doesn't look fast. Z4 if you really want a thrill but that's for you n Ford only...just 2 seats.
I can't recommend enough.
Splurge n you won't regret it.
Driving cars like these BMWs I see here on roads they were designed to be driven on is a dream of mine. US rentals do stink...
I've been looking for a way to rent a Porsche Boxster S or GTS/Spyder or GT3! in US to drive HW1 aka PCH. If any Cali's have suggestions (that aren't $2k/day) let me know. I haven't found anything.
You do need to be careful with car size in Europe. European parking garages are TINY and in general much harder to maneuver than what you're used to in the US. An X5 could prove to be a huge liability depending on where you're driving it. Germany and Northern Europe aren't too bad (especially if you never need to use a garage) but it would be nearly impossible to park an X5 in many garages in Spain, Portugal, Italy, etc.
I'll second this. There are some incredibly tight streets and parking spaces in Europe. It's tempting to get a big luxurious car when you're traveling with several people, but the experience is absolutely not the same as in the US with its generally wide lanes and generous parking spaces. I'd get a smaller but fun-to-drive car. (Caveat is that I have very little driving experience in Germany, but certainly in Italy and the UK, parking can be tight and lanes narrow.)
Though renting and driving in Germany is fun, I've had two unpleasant dealings with Sixt. Thankfully my CSR was there to protect me.
I now only rent with Avis.
I just came off a Sixt rental in Austria. They sent me a bill for $1,450 for a scratch the length of a thumbnail. Biggest scam ever. An acorn falling from a tree could have done that. Thank goodness I have Amex Premium car insurance, which has handled it. I've heard from others after the fact that Sixt has this reputation. I'll never use them again.
I had always rented from Sixt about 10 years ago, with no issues. I had read of these "scams" after I had already done a prepaid rental with them. When I picked up the car the list of existing damage (hairline scratches) would have taken me half a day to verify them all. Luckily the car came up saying it needed an oil change (actually was 7000 miles past it) so I was able (after...
I had always rented from Sixt about 10 years ago, with no issues. I had read of these "scams" after I had already done a prepaid rental with them. When I picked up the car the list of existing damage (hairline scratches) would have taken me half a day to verify them all. Luckily the car came up saying it needed an oil change (actually was 7000 miles past it) so I was able (after much discussion) to get them to swap cars. Replacement was a brand new BMW 3 series touring, so no "damage" issues. I will NOT rent from them again.
As there are four adults either the E53 (station wagon for extra luggage space) or the BMW M5. Those will happily get up to 240km/h where the autobahn is restriction free.
Or if the adults have mobility issues and don’t like ducking into a car an SUV works too. A BMW X5 or X7 should have plenty of space.
We had a Volvo XC60, but it only did 180km/h.
Remember passing on the right is illegal!
South Florida does, in fact, have some of the worst drivers in the world. Germany has some of the best. It is amazing how orderly driving is there. However, it can also be exhausting. There are many rules that are completely different, such as yielding to the street on the right in villages even when you appear to be on the main road. Driving 100+ mph means you really need to pay attention. Speed limits...
South Florida does, in fact, have some of the worst drivers in the world. Germany has some of the best. It is amazing how orderly driving is there. However, it can also be exhausting. There are many rules that are completely different, such as yielding to the street on the right in villages even when you appear to be on the main road. Driving 100+ mph means you really need to pay attention. Speed limits change frequently, though many nice rentals will display the speed limit since they have a camera in the rear view mirror.
Sometimes the train is much more relaxing on vacation, though some areas of Germany are difficult to reach by train. Cars are also better when traveling with young children or people with limited mobility.
Do the E53 Estate! Plenty of horse power and probably enough space for bags too!
Enterprise is my go to in Germany. It's the one place where I routinely find them priced the same as the other companies (I find them to be much more expensive in the US), and their service is amazing. My last car was a "double" upgrade.
The other thing to be aware of is that all gas in Germany is premium. Fuel prices there are already more expensive, and then factor in that you're...
Enterprise is my go to in Germany. It's the one place where I routinely find them priced the same as the other companies (I find them to be much more expensive in the US), and their service is amazing. My last car was a "double" upgrade.
The other thing to be aware of is that all gas in Germany is premium. Fuel prices there are already more expensive, and then factor in that you're paying for "premium" on top of it, and it gets very expensive. I had a hard time filling up for under €100... Also, watch out for trap cams! The land of the autobahn is littered with them on their country roads, and they are sensitive. Not a fun email to get 6-months later!
@pstm91
Well, I don't remember anymore but it's been for a while (years) that I could fill up for 100€ in Belgium. Germany is just a little more.
Regarding the tickets, I would not worry at all in Germany, because 95% of drivers respect the limits, so you won't be able to get over them, regardless on what lane you are driving. From my experience nowadays, Germany is the less risky country in...
@pstm91
Well, I don't remember anymore but it's been for a while (years) that I could fill up for 100€ in Belgium. Germany is just a little more.
Regarding the tickets, I would not worry at all in Germany, because 95% of drivers respect the limits, so you won't be able to get over them, regardless on what lane you are driving. From my experience nowadays, Germany is the less risky country in Western Europe to get speeding tickets.
You should try Belgium or France.
Anyway, as Ben has a German background I'm quite sure he know's how all works in Germany.
Ooops..forgot the link: https://fun2drive-japan.com/car-rental/
I do, but my all time fav is renting JDM classics in Japan!
Q5/X5 for 4 adults - and two exes ;) - for the space. The Q3/X3 are pretty tight in the back especially if you need room for suitcases.
To be fair I would say that the Audi/BMW equivalents would be X3/Q7 and X5/Q7. The Q3 is more equivalent (though maybe just a tad roomier) than the X1.
I think you meant X3/Q5, but otherwise you are correct and this is reflected in the price points. The Q3 is definitely closer to the X1. The first couple iterations of the X3 were small, but it has ballooned in size and I wouldn't be surprised if the current X1 is at least the same size or bigger than the original X3.
I'm curious where you got the $75k from? I don't see that number quoted in the detailed benefits guide for the Chase Sapphire Preferred for example. But if that's the limit it would make me nervous as I've definitely gotten upgrades to cars that likely cost more than that before.
Why not rent from Sixt in the US then (where they are available)? I've rented BMWs from them before, and they are a pretty good outfit.
When I rent from Hertz, I typically rent electric. Teslas can be fun to drive, even the Chevy Bolt has some get up and go (I've rented both from Hertz).