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 /

Blair Ramsden

June 16, 2025

Destination: Dusseldorf

10Excellent

Very satisfied.

Cynthia Camp

Destination: Frankfurt

2Poor

I booked a manual Golf, but the counter said they didn't have it. Initially, they offered to replace it with a Skoda Fabia, which was surprising because that's a downgrade rather than an upgrade. Later, they switched it to a small Kia SUV, claiming it was a new car. However, it had poor performance and was hard to drive, the interior had a strong smell, and there was a scratch on the front right wheel arch that wasn't marked. They also didn't provide an email address to send photos of the damage, which ended up causing lengthy and exhausting communication with the platform.

Julius Hughes

Destination: Munich

Convenient and satisfactory.

Lauren Fred

Destination: Stuttgart

Pretty good.

Miriam Lily

June 15, 2025

I was quite satisfied with the overall service during this car rental experience. I’d give it 5 stars. The rental price was reasonable compared to previous occasions. Besides the 300 euros deposit, there was an additional 30 euros service fee. The Volkswagen car we rented was manufactured in 2024 and had only 2,100 kilometers on it when we picked it up—a brand-new car. We booked the car pickup for 9:00 AM and arrived a bit earlier, but the counter staff told us to come back at exactly 9:00 AM to proceed. The rental process was simple; they asked if we had insurance, we showed them our insurance documents, and they didn’t try to sell us additional coverage. Returning the car was even more convenient—just drive it into the garage, hand over the keys, and you're done. No further formalities were required. Compared to our experience with ALAMO in Zurich last June, which was a disaster, this was so much easier. From now on, we’ll rent with Europcar. Although their costs might be slightly higher, the pickup and return process is hassle-free, the cars are well-maintained, and the overall experience is reliable.

Xavier Sweet

June 14, 2025

Excellent service.

Laura Joule

Bradley Jefferson

June 13, 2025

Very satisfied

Quentin Beerbohm

Very good.

Iris Gallup

June 11, 2025

The staff were friendly. Although communication in English was a bit challenging, they made great efforts to explain. The wait time in line was a bit long.

Kay Pound

6Average

The car was in good condition, but on the second day of the rental it showed a message indicating it needed more engine oil. Not sure if this is because Audis consume more oil.

Kelly Yale

Destination: Berlin

Ansel Blume

June 9, 2025

Una Coleridge

June 8, 2025

Tom Cotton

This was my first time renting a car from the Hertz branch in Frankfurt, and due to the crowd, I had to wait in line for about 30 minutes.

Abner Thodore

June 6, 2025

Since domestic insurance requires advance payment and reimbursement afterwards, I opted to purchase on-site insurance which eliminates the need for upfront payment. Although it's pricier, it offers peace of mind.

Ernest Montgomery

June 5, 2025

Overall excellent.

Noel Ackerman(n)

The store staff seems inexperienced.

Aubrey Holmes

June 3, 2025

Good.

Page Rhys

June 1, 2025

The car rental and return procedures were very convenient, but they charged a 680-euro deposit, and I don't know how long it will take to be refunded.

8Very good

Good

Roberta Walton

May 31, 2025

Overall satisfied, but the car interior was somewhat worn-out.

Sandy Piers

May 30, 2025

The pick-up and drop-off store service was very warm and friendly. Since the car pick-up was in Germany, an accident occurred during the trip. Europcar in Austria tried their best to assist with a car replacement, and when no similar car was available, they considered the option of repairing the vehicle. Ultimately, we opted to switch to a slightly smaller car. Although the whole process was a bit complicated, you could feel that everyone tried their best. Additionally, QEEQ's support from China was excellent, constantly tracking our car replacement progress overseas. They also kept reminding us of the requirements and procedures for on-site compensation and subsequent claims.

Arvin Ben

Extremely satisfied.

Bennett Mill

Very satisfied, will continue to use.

Karen Jackson

Great service!

Joyce Funk

May 29, 2025

Destination: Hamburg

Kerr Adelaide

Very satisfied! Got a free upgrade!

Nelly Johnny

May 26, 2025

Esther Katte

Efficient and excellent service.

Jared Swift

May 25, 2025

Previously arranged 7-seater vehicle was unsatisfactory, vehicle change caused delays.

Douglas Bunyan

May 24, 2025

4Average

A very disappointing experience. I already paid for full insurance, but upon arrival at the store, I was presented with three options:
1: Deposit of 2000 euros. If any issue occurs with the vehicle during use, up to 4500 euros may be charged. The deposit will be held for 5 weeks.
2: Deposit of 150 euros. If any issue occurs with the vehicle during use, it's fully covered. The deposit will be held for 7 days. Return the car with a full fuel tank. Cost is 49 euros per day.
3: Zero deposit. If any issue occurs with the vehicle during use, it's fully covered. You can return the car with an empty fuel tank. Cost is 47 euros per day, plus an additional 90 euros.

This is essentially forcing customers to purchase extra insurance.

Madeline Surrey

Gabrielle Tuttle

Myra Lawrence

May 21, 2025

The overall car rental experience was extremely satisfying! The customer service staff were friendly, the online booking process was smooth, and the pricing was transparent with no hidden fees. There were plenty of vehicle options, and the car rented was in great condition with a high level of cleanliness inside and out. The only minor downside was a short wait for document processing during pickup, but it was still within an acceptable range.

Eugene Priestley

May 20, 2025

Overall, it was pretty good. Although there was a mileage limit, it was sufficient for me.

Sebastiane Roger

May 18, 2025

Since it was a Sunday pickup, there was only one staff member in the store. The efficiency was low with long waiting lines, but once it was my turn, the process was handled quickly and efficiently.

Celeste Jack

May 17, 2025

The car's condition was poor, the fuel gauge was inaccurate, the Stop&Go function was erratic, and the built-in wireless CarPlay frequently failed and disconnected.

Marguerite Robin

Parking fines cannot be paid online, and the staff on-site can't assist either, so you have to figure it out yourself.

Rosemary Godwin

May 16, 2025

I forgot to bring my passport and arrived late, but they upgraded me to a new model A5.

Kent Stephens

May 15, 2025

Very satisfied, no hard selling.

Felix Hume

Very satisfied. I forgot to refuel the car before returning it, but the corresponding amount was automatically deducted, and the remaining deposit was refunded quickly.

Spring Willard

May 14, 2025

Satisfied

Cornelius Gill

When we arrived at the counter to pick up the car, everything was prepared in advance. However, even though we had already prepaid for crossing the Czech border when renting, we were told at pick-up that it was not allowed. Alternatively, we could switch to a Toyota 7-seater, but we were not notified about this beforehand.

Kristin Paul

Absolutely terrible! This was the worst car rental experience I've ever had. The car started beeping on its own the second day and displayed a message in German about some required service. Tried calling but couldn't get through for ages. The rental company's location is inside a hotel, making it hard to find. By far the worst experience.

Regina Green

May 13, 2025

Excellent

Yetta Vogt

SIXT is great, they have plenty of cars and locations.

Alice Philip

Elva Nathaniei

May 12, 2025

Natalie Springhall

Germany Car Rentals