What is an insurance excess?

The excess is the amount you'll only be liable for in case of damage (under Collision Damage Waiver) or theft (under Theft Protection) of the vehicle. Information about the excess will be clearly stated in the price inclusion when you reserve a car on QEEQ.

How can I add an additional driver?

You are advised to make a request upon your arrival at the rental counter. Additional charge per day will incur unless '1 Additional Driver Included' is stipulated on the rental. Please note that the same licence and age requirement applies to the additional driver. The additional driver is supposed to present the required licence document along with the main driver at pickup.

Germany traffic rules and self driving car rental tips

The Complete Germany Driving and Rental Guide

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.

Speed Limit and Traffic Signs

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 Limit

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.

Traffic Signs

German 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 and Child Safety

Seatbelt Laws

The 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 Laws

Children 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, Fuel and Toll

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.

Germany Parking Machine Sign (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

Germany_Traffic_Sign_Bus_or_Tram_Stop_15m_Parking_Prohibition_Prior_to_And_Behind_This_Sign_30m_Altogether

- 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

Germany_Traffic_Sign_X_Sign_Give_Priority_to_Rail_Transport

- 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

Germany_Traffic_Sign_No_Parking

Parking in forbidden areas will result in a parking fine that generally ranges from €5 to €25.

Fuel Prices

The average value for Germany gasoline price is €1.39 in January 2018 while diesel is €1.16.

Toll

Unlike 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.

Traffic Violation

DUI Laws

Drivers 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 Fines

There 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.

Germany Speed Trap （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.

Driving Licence and Age Requirements

Foreigners on short-term visit may rent a car and drive with a valid foreign driving licence for up to 6 months in Germany. All licences issued by the European Union are accepted. To drive in Germany, the driver must present a valid national driving licence that has been held for at least 1 or 2 years (according to different car hire companies).

You must be at least 18 years old to hire a car in Germany, and age may vary by car category.

Guest reviews

1 /

Giles Geoffrey

August 5, 2025

Destination: Dusseldorf

10Excellent

Very satisfied

Henry Reed

August 4, 2025

Destination: Frankfurt

Very satisfied.

Uriah More

Good service, quite nice, recommended.

Lewis Bartholomew

A very good experience.

Paddy Gosse

Destination: Munich

Very satisfied, the car is in good condition.

Eileen Doherty

August 3, 2025

Very convenient and fast.

Bert Holt

8Very good

Satisfied

Ingram Matthew

4Average

The overall experience was very poor and terrible, with a very rigid attitude.

Lawrence Christie

August 2, 2025

Marina Pitman

July 31, 2025

Doris Harvey

July 30, 2025

Herbert Jordan

2Poor

Although I chose full insurance for peace of mind, the insurance provided by Zuzuche is underwritten domestically, not by the rental office. This led to extremely poor service from the staff, who were not only rude but also refused to provide the requested car model and insisted on aggressively upselling their own insurance. They even threatened that if the car was damaged, compensation would start at a minimum of €1500. When picking up the car, I noticed several XC60s parked there, which felt discriminatory. The worst part was being charged a late fee, something I've never encountered before. Our flight was delayed by an hour, and then we had to take a train from Cologne Airport to Düsseldorf Airport, causing a total delay of 1.5 hours. We were charged over €30 for late arrival.

Cheryl

6Average

It's okay, but they might persuade you to rent a more expensive car.

Cecil Cronin

July 29, 2025

Spring Willard

Destination: Nuremberg

Pretty good.

Cyril Marcus

July 28, 2025

Fairly standard.

Elizabeth Longfellow

The car rental experience at Terminal 1 of Frankfurt Airport was very pleasant. The store location was clearly marked, situated on the basement level of the terminal, making it easy to find. The staff were friendly and ensured the paperwork was processed quickly and efficiently. The car pickup process was smooth, the vehicle was clean and performed well. Notably, the instructions for both pickup and drop-off were clear, saving a lot of time.

The entire rental process was seamless, from booking to pickup and finally drop-off, with every step well-organized. The vehicle interior was clean, the seats comfortable, and the driving experience excellent. Additionally, the extra services provided by the store, such as GPS and child seats, were very practical, adding convenience to the trip.

Overall, the car rental experience was not only efficient but also highly enjoyable. Whether it's a first-time rental or a repeated one, the service here is always satisfying. Highly recommended for anyone needing a rental car.

Sharon Walker

July 27, 2025

Warm and friendly service, brand-new SUV with spacious interior and powerful performance.

Elaine Burns

July 26, 2025

The store is easy to find, but requires a long walk. When we arrived in Munich, it was already late at night. The store provided a car and parking spot, but we had to search for it ourselves. Unfortunately, the designated license plate wasn't at the given spot, forcing us to return to the store for assistance. The staff searched around but couldn't find the car either, so they had to provide us with another vehicle. The entire process took about an hour, which was quite frustrating. The T-Roc's trunk is quite spacious. You can lower the trunk floor by one level, easily accommodating one 28-inch suitcase, one 26-inch suitcase, and additional small items.

Xanthe Service

July 25, 2025

The overall service was quite good.

K.Wan

Destination: Berlin

10Very smooth and price is good.

The staff is good and process is quick.

Marjorie Nelly

July 24, 2025

Rupert Hansom

July 23, 2025

Destination: Goettingen

Very convenient, staff are patient.

Miles Judson

Extremely satisfied. Since there was no BMW X1 available at the time, they provided a brand-new Volkswagen TAYRON 7-seater SUV with 0 kilometers. It was an excellent new car with advanced smart technology, robust safety features, great handling, and quick acceleration. Drove it across several countries.

Beck Maggie

July 22, 2025

My first self-driving trip in Europe ended perfectly, thanks to Europcar's high-quality and professional service throughout the journey. Many unexpected situations and minor issues were handled smoothly and effortlessly, making it a very wise choice. Europcar's services are highly professional and well-regulated, allowing you to enjoy your trip with complete peace of mind.

Aaron Ricardo

I booked a Golf but was given a lower-grade SEAT. The navigation screen's touch function wasn't working, and CarPlay was unusable. Overall, the large rental company was not as good as expected.

Morton Joule

July 20, 2025

Extremely satisfied.

Tiffany Carl

Aubrey Holmes

July 19, 2025

The Golf I booked was upgraded to an Audi A3, perhaps because I purchased full insurance. The process was simple and quick.

Maureen Ruskin

Destination: Dresden

The staff were very friendly, and there was almost no need to queue on-site.

Perry Lytton

July 18, 2025

The car had only driven 600 kilometers, very new.

Betsy Butler

Excellent, I would rate it 10 out of 10.

Eleanore Ferguson

Destination: Cologne

Robert Field

July 17, 2025

It's okay, the handsome guy joked with me.

e.wein

10easy, cheaper than any other website, no issues

Very good, no issue qeed was much cheaper than pther place and even in branch.

July 16, 2025

2QEEQ was great, europcar was fraudulent as they did not uphold the contract and provide reserved car

Worst experience with car rental. Have rented many vehicles in the past and this was terrible .

Melissa Becher

July 14, 2025

Got downgraded, but it's acceptable.

R.Rechden

July 13, 2025

9Excellent

Já comentei anteriormente

Qeeq offers insurance under Axxa, the FlexToGo ofers theirs anyway. if you took Axxa, you have to leave a block on your credit card for a high ammount, and it takes months to remove

Maggie Barnard

July 12, 2025

Isaac Wallis

Not satisfied, not even a minute earlier allowed.

Newman Herbert

July 11, 2025

Okay

Guy Lyly

July 10, 2025

Destination: Potsdam

QEEQ provides quick and efficient service, but renting cars abroad still has room for improvement.

Rosemary Godwin

Overall not bad, few people and the car was new. The customer service at the German airport was friendly. However, when I asked about buying the Austrian highway pass, they strongly recommended a €140 package that included insurance, claiming it would cover highway fees and that Austrian insurance was very expensive. But since I already had full coverage, they eventually left the decision to me, so I only purchased the €7 per day highway pass. Remember, they can sell you the highway pass directly, so there’s no need to go to a gas station; just ask them.

Quentin Beerbohm

A satisfying trip.

Magee Cooper

Satisfied. Drove approximately 100 kilometers after picking up the car, and the oil light turned on. Paid for the oil refill out of pocket.

Beau Bentham

July 9, 2025

Good service.

Ingo Woitkowiak

Destination: Dessau

10TOP Preis-Leistung und freundliches Personal

Das Auto hat meine Erwartungen ünertroffen, sehr gepflegt und neuwertig. Ich war angenehm überrascht. Eine Top-Wahl. Der Service und das Personal waren sehr angenehm und freundlich.

Susie Hudson

July 8, 2025

Overall, the service was acceptable. However, I was told at pickup that I would have to wait an hour and a half for the model listed in my reservation. If I wanted the car immediately, I would need to upgrade to a more expensive model. In the end, I had no choice but to upgrade.

Grover Gabriel

July 7, 2025

I booked a Mercedes-Benz automatic business car in March, but when I went to the store on the morning of June 18 to pick up the car, they gave me a manual car, which I couldn’t drive at all. They also informed me that there were no automatic business cars available across all AVIS locations in Germany that day. I am extremely disappointed with such a large company being so unreliable. This seriously disrupted our travel plans.

Germany Car Rentals