Rent car in Germany and travel to Switzerland, Austria, and Italy | FerrariChat

Rent car in Germany and travel to Switzerland, Austria, and Italy

Discussion in 'Europe' started by Gran Drewismo, Apr 18, 2012.

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  1. Gran Drewismo

    Gran Drewismo F1 Rookie

    Jan 24, 2005
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    #1 Gran Drewismo, Apr 18, 2012
    Hello,

    I am traveling to Germany next month and would like to rent a car and drive to the above countries. Can anyone recommend a car rental company that would allow this?

    Thanks in advance.
     
  2. giago

    giago Formula Junior

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    #2 giago, Apr 18, 2012
    What kind of car an exotic?
     
  3. Gran Drewismo

    Gran Drewismo F1 Rookie

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    #3 Gran Drewismo, Apr 18, 2012
    No just a standard one. Enterprise has a BMW 1-series ("or similar"), that would be my top choice.
     
  4. BLAMPEE

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    #4 BLAMPEE, Apr 18, 2012
    This is EXACTY what I did last summer for 17days! :)

    My brother and I used Hertz at Frankfurt International. :). Rented a handy little Garmin with the car, too. :)
     
  5. Gran Drewismo

    Gran Drewismo F1 Rookie

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    #5 Gran Drewismo, Apr 18, 2012
    Last edited: Apr 18, 2012
    Were there any extra fees or insurance for going outside Germany?

    We'll be picking up the car at Frankfurt International. Thanks for the lead!
     
  6. BLAMPEE

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    #6 BLAMPEE, Apr 19, 2012
    I don't know but I can find out. My bro did all that before we got to Frankfurt.
    I know that the price wasn't that bad because it included all the insurance and taxes.

    You have to have an International Drivers License, though.

    You get them at AAA and they cost like $20???
     
  7. greyboxer

    greyboxer F1 World Champ

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    #7 greyboxer, Apr 19, 2012
    By law all EU cars have to be covered for some EU use so the only queries are (a) whether its a reputable company and (b) whether they include Switzerland - both answers should be in the the sites' faqs but may not be clearly stated - some appear to charge more insurance the further East you plan to go
     
  8. Gran Drewismo

    Gran Drewismo F1 Rookie

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    #8 Gran Drewismo, Apr 19, 2012
    Why is there an issue with Switzerland?


    I talked with a guy from Enterprise yesterday and he said that it's up to the local office if they will allow the car to go to those countries or not. I emailed them after our conversation so hopefully I will hear soon.
     
  9. greyboxer

    greyboxer F1 World Champ

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    #9 greyboxer, Apr 20, 2012
    Switzerland is not in the EU
     
  10. PoleApart

    PoleApart Formula 3

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    #10 PoleApart, May 1, 2012
    Usually not an issue with any of the large rental companies. For Switzerland and Austria you will need to buy vignettes on the border, or first gas station you come across, to stick on the windscreen in order to use the highways. Swiss one is valid 1 year and the shortest Austrian is I think 10 days.

    I've always found Avis had the best rates and Sixt the coolest cars.
     
  11. Gran Drewismo

    Gran Drewismo F1 Rookie

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    #11 Gran Drewismo, May 3, 2012
    Thank you! I appreciate this information. Makes me feel better about the trek.
     
  12. koisokok

    koisokok F1 World Champ
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    #12 koisokok, Jun 28, 2012
    A little late, but I did a trip from Frankfurt to Paris, Switzerland, Italy , Austria, Prague and then back to Germany ..rented from Avis with no problem , only an issue with eastern European countries like Prague that I was told not to go to. Unlimited mileage included. going to do it again next summer, can't wait...! Just watch out for speeding on the highways as I got 8 tickets from the camera lights on the highways.
     
  13. BLAMPEE

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    #13 BLAMPEE, Jun 28, 2012
    That's the exact trip me and my bro took last year (minus Paris).

    We didn't get any speeding tickets at we drove fast.

    Also...I don't think he asked if we could visit any other countries. We just did it anyway. :p

    We were there 13 days and had a blast!
     
  14. Gran Drewismo

    Gran Drewismo F1 Rookie

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    #14 Gran Drewismo, Jul 5, 2012
    Just wanted to post an update on my original question.

    I ended up renting from Hertz and drove through the countries in question with zero problems. No International Driving License needed. Just rented online, showed up at the counter at the Frankfurt Airport, showed our USA/Idaho driver's licenses, signed some papers and we were off.

    Driving through Germany was an absolute breeze (Germany: I love your drivers and roads, we need them in the US!) and after stopping at the Swiss border for a Vignette driving to Italy was no big deal either.

    We put a little over 2000 kilometers during our adventure and it was very painless.

    Thanks for the help everyone!

    Just out of curiosity, how long did it take for your speeding tickets to show up?
     
  15. apuseni

    apuseni Karting
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    #15 apuseni, Sep 23, 2012

    The French highways put the Germans ones to shame.
    particularly as of late the German highways are in perpetual construction,
    so you get to drive the magical 80kmph / 55mph

    And driving on US highways can be more fun because
    in Europe one always passes on the left.

    So, overall, it's a largely boring affair, unless you get a suicidal eco-driver
    to jump in front of you while doing over 200kmph, which happens
    relatively often in Germany. Subsequently, you are stuck for 2-3h while
    the police/fire dept. block the highway.

    Autobahn - not what it used to be.
     

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