Renting a car in Germany is very easy and makes getting from place to place fast and fun. The roads in Germany are wide and modern, the signage is convenient, and the driving culture is pleasant. Also, its central location makes Germany an ideal starting point for trips to many surrounding countries.
In Germany you will also find the largest selection of luxury vehicles at relatively affordable prices, so if you have always dreamt of driving a sports car, Mercedes, Audi or BMW on the amazing autobahns - you have come to the right place.

◾ Speed limits
The speed limits in Germany vary according to the types of roads (highways, or autostradas, two-lane roads, highways, city and built-up areas, etc.). When the weather is stormy or in conditions of poor visibility, the speed on all roads is limited to 50 km/h. In any case, it is recommended to be informed in advance of the exact limits.

◾ Race tracks
Please note - it is absolutely forbidden to enter the rental car on tracks such as the Nürburgring or similar. The rented vehicle is not insured on these routes and those who violate this prohibition are exposed to significant fines.

◾ Toll roads
Germany enjoys an excellent road system that includes more than 11 thousand kilometers of highways known as autobahns. Unlike other European countries, traveling on autobahns is free and does not involve tolls or additional payments. A pleasure for all driving lovers.
Recently an app where you can pay the tolls directly was launched, you can read more details here-
https://www.asfinag.at/en/toll/vignette/digital-vignette/

◾ Fuel in Germany
Germany is one of the "greenest" countries in the world when it comes to environmental thinking and also offers fuels with extremely low emission levels of greenhouse gases, such as: 10E which is gasoline mixed with ethanol, SUPER and SUPER PLUS. These fuels are not suitable for every vehicle, so it is important that you clarify the issue when you pick it up at the rental station. At the gas stations you will also find unleaded gasoline 95 and 98 octane and diesel fuel gas (LPG) available in several thousand stations.

It is important to make sure that the vehicle is fueled, as high fines apply to drivers who get stuck on the highways without fuel. Some of the gas stations in the big cities will be open for you 24 hours a day, but most of the gas stations will be open from 08:00 am to 20:00 pm only.

Please note that the vehicle was delivered with a full tank of fuel. The renter must return the fuel tank in the same condition as it was received. In the event of a lack of fuel in the tank when returning the vehicle, a payment will be collected from the vehicle renter according to the rate determined by the vehicle supplier only, plus special fueling fees.

◾ City driving
In an increasing number of cities, the authorities impose restrictions as part of the struggle to maintain a green environment. In this framework, every vehicle is obliged to stick a sticker (in the case of a rented vehicle - green) on the windshield, and this indicates that it is a vehicle whose emission rating is allowed. The name of the sticker is UMWELTPLAKETTE and its purpose is to prevent polluting or old vehicles from entering the areas defined as green. These areas are marked with the Umweltzone sign and vehicles entering them without the sticker are subject to a fine. The rental company is obligated to provide the customer with a vehicle with a sticker, so it is very important to verify this at the time of pickup.

In addition, in certain areas within the city (mainly in residential neighborhoods and near educational institutions), there are signs called "30 ZONES" where the speed limit is lower than usual - up to 30 km/h only.

Please note that throughout Germany, there are areas in some large cities where traffic is restricted to residents only, or is prohibited at all in private vehicles. Accordingly, you can use the large parking lots located at the entrances to the cities, and from there move around by foot or by public transportation for the duration of your visit to the city.

If you are planning to stay in the cities, it is recommended to check with the hotel about the possibilities of arriving by car and about parking on site or in a nearby parking lot.

◾ Electric trains
In terms of traffic, it is allowed to travel by car in the lanes of the electric trains in Germany, but note that they must be given the right of way on the road.

◾ Parking in cities
If you stop the vehicle for a period of 3 minutes or more, this is considered parking in Germany. In many places parking is made possible by meters, and in such parking areas you can usually park at night for free, but in any case you should pay attention to the signage in each area.

Please note that parking is prohibited at bus stations or within 50 meters of tram stops or train stations.

◾ Turning on lights
It is recommended to use lights all the time. The recommendation becomes mandatory in cases of fog, snow or limited visibility or driving in tunnels.

◾ Planning to leave Germany with the rental car? It is important to pay attention
Because of its central location, Germany is a convenient point for trips to neighboring countries. Leaving Germany sometimes involves an additional payment to the rental company when picking up the car.
Be sure to mark the countries to which you wish to travel already when you start booking the car on our website (or telling our representative if you are making the booking via phone), so you will receive written confirmation from the supplier and will be covered in terms of insurance and road service.

Please note that in some countries in Europe, like Switzerland and Austria, a special sticker is required for driving on highways, which you can purchase in kiosks at the borders. The responsibility of purchasing the sticker is the renter's alone, so make sure to stick it according to the local guided and make sure if a sticker is needed whenever you exit a country and enter another.

In addition, some vehicle groups (mainly luxury cars, automatic cars and minivans) are subject to restrictions when moving to Italy or the former Eastern European countries. You must find out these restrictions in advance and make sure that your departure to these countries is approved and that the approval appears on the rental voucher.

 Driving in Germany during winter

◾ Winter tires and snow chains
winter tires are mandatory in certain areas of Germany even if you do not drive in snowy or mountainous areas, so it is recommended to verify the issue in advance and at the rental station. A vehicle with summer tires in the winter season is subject to fines and even immediate shutdown. It is recommended to order snow chains in advance and in any case make sure before leaving the rental station that you know how to put them on and that they fit your vehicle's tires.

◾ Going Skiing?
Book the Ski Rack on which you can assemble your skis to the car in advance. Please note that the device is intended for two ski sets only. In addition, it is worth knowing that rental companies do not offer a device for snowboarding.

Antifreeze liquid
at very low temperatures, the fuel in the tank may freeze. Therefore, we recommend parking the vehicle in a covered parking lot and/or adding antifreeze liquid to the fuel tank when refueling (a special substance that prevents freezing), which can be purchased at gas stations if necessary.
 

For more tips regarding renting a car during wintertime click here

and for important tips regarding renting a car abroad click here

Booking a car in Germany with Ofran will allow you to enjoy the benefits of traveling with a rental car in Italy, exploring all the sites and attractions that interest you and the freedom to do so according to your schedule.

Also, you'll be able to choose from a wide range of car groups the most suitable car for your vacation in an easy and comfortable process and with great prices.

Ofran wishes you a safe and pleasant trip with your rental car in Germany

 Car rental in Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg, and its largest city. It has a long history as the seat of kings, and later the palaces became government buildings and museums. The city is associated more than anything with the automobile industry, as Mercedes Benz and Porsche vehicles came out of it. When visiting the city, it is recommended to visit the museums dedicated to luxury vehicles.
Renting a car in Stuttgart will allow you to get out of the city and travel in the beautiful surrounding nature. The city is surrounded by forests and is located in the largest vineyard area in Germany, and due to its proximity to the Black Forest, it is also a convenient and recommended departure point for a trip there.

 Car rental in Hamburg
Hamburg, which is on the banks of the river Elbe, is the second largest city in Germany.
It offers its visitors a multitude of parks and lakes, museums, magical promenades, magnificent houses and many canals, thanks to which it is called the "Venice of the North". For visitors to Hamburg with children, the city also offers a number of fun amusement parks such as the "Hamburger Dome" amusement park and you can also visit the beautiful Hamburg Zoo.

During a visit to the city, it is recommended to visit the fish market held on Sundays, the beautiful town hall and the lively port. It is also recommended that you visit the "Plantan on Blumen" garden and Ulster Lake, which is in the center of the city.

The location of Hamburg in the north of the country will give those of you who book a car rental in Hamburg the opportunity to explore the magical environment surrounding the city and visit the many attractions and cute corners that are a short drive away.

 Car rental in Dusseldorf
The city of Dusseldorf, whose name literally means "the village on the river Dussel", is actually not a village but the seventh largest city in Germany and the capital of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (the largest state among the 16 states that make up Germany). Following its careful restoration after the Second World War, a beautiful and modern city was created, offering the tourist good food, high-class hotels, museums, bars and everything you can expect from a German capital, but compared to the interesting and turbulent Berlin, Dusseldorf is the beautiful and refined sister. By renting a car in Dusseldorf you can move around the city or go out to the nature reserves or zoos surrounding the city or to one of the amusement parks.

 Car rental in Memmingen
The town of Memmingen, located in Bavaria, came to the attention of the Israeli tourist when Ryanair airline opened a direct route to it. The flights to it are at an attractive prices and it is about an hour's drive from the city of Munich. For these reasons, renting a car in Memmingen is a cheap and efficient solution for getting to Munich or continuing a trip to the Black Forest.
As for spending time in the town itself - it is a fairly small town with a population of 42,000 inhabitants. It has several beautiful and ancient buildings and pleasant places to stay.
Once you have landed, you can continue from there to drive on the magical and mountainous Allgäu region, which is one of the most beautiful regions in Germany. In the area there are popular surfing and snowboarding sites, such as the Oberstdorf snowboarding site, and recommended sites - one of them is the Neuschwanstein Castle, which besides being a beautiful castle of historical significance - it was also the inspiration for the famous castle at Disneyland.

 The Black Forest
The Black Forest located in southern Germany is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Germany and Europe as a whole, especially for family trips. This is a beautiful geographical area in the southwest of Germany - an area called Baden-Württemberg and is about 160 kilometers long. This area borders Switzerland in the south and France in the west. In the area you will find besides reserves and hiking trails also mountains, waterfalls, lakes, and beautiful and magical towns. Beside all these there is a great abundance of activities for children and families in the area. The popular season to visit the Black Forest is during summer, between June and August, while in the winter the trips in the area are more ski resorts as well as visits to the various Christmas markets. The most convenient way to travel in the Black Forest is in a rented car, with which you can reach more easily and freely all the colorful lakes, villages and towns, as well as all the many attractions and experiences that the Black Forest has to offer.

The area is particularly suitable for staying at one resort and to go on various day trips with the rented family car. Among the destinations that are recommended to visit in the area you will find Lake Titiza, which is recommended to sail in its waters; Mount Feldberg, which is the highest in the Black Forest, to the top of which you can climb by cable car; The Triberg Falls, the highest in Germany, next to which are several magical hiking trails; Baden Baden, the famous spa town with hot springs where you can pamper yourself at the end of the day's trip and the beautiful Münster Church in Freiburg.

If you have enough days in the area, we recommend taking advantage of the location of the Black Forest and going on day trips to a number of special sites in Germany and the neighboring countries of Switzerland and France - among them, for example, you can visit the Rhine Falls and Zurich in Switzerland, where a number of fun events are held in the summer months; travel to the island of flowers in Lake Constance in Germany; Or visit the beautiful town of Colmar, known for its beautiful canals, or the magical city of Strasbourg in the Alsace region of France.

Renting a car in the Black Forest with Ofran is done easily and at attractive prices mainly from Munich, but also at the service station located in the old capital of the Black Forest - the city of Freiburg. When traveling in a rented car in Germany in general, and in the Black Forest in particular, it is recommended to purchase a cellular data plan, as traffic changes and road closures sometimes occur, and it is recommended to stay updated in real time.

Germany with children

Renting a car in Germany will allow you to enjoy the open spaces, forests and nature and get around easily with the whole family.

 The Black Forest with children
If your trip to the Black Forest is a family trip and there are little ones in the car, with the rental car you can reach them easily. The famous Europa Park is considered the main attraction for families in the area, and is one of the largest amusement parks in Europe. Among the other main attractions in the area for children you will find the ropes park on Mount Feldberg; the Steinen bird park; the Bad Paradise water park; the Todenau slides; The Steinwasen Park and a large variety of swimming pools, water parks and hot springs in the area.

 Neuschwanstein Castle
The famous Disney castle is one of the favorite attractions for visitors to Germany with children, and also for those who are children at heart. The castle that was the inspiration for the famous Disney castle is located in the Bavarian Alps and is surrounded by a landscape that adds to its charm.
 

Shopping in Germany

 Schildergasse, Cologne
The shopping street in Cologne is considered the busiest street in Europe. It houses huge department stores and outlets with all the famous brands you can think of.
The main attraction here is the Weltstadthaus, a huge glass structure in the shape of a whale that is actually a clothing store.

 Zeil, Frankfurt
The street known as the "Fifth Avenue" of Germany, and if you are in Frankfurt is the best place to go to stroll among the prestigious brands and return home with luxury souvenirs.

 Ku'damm, Berlin
Kodamm, or in its full and more complicated name, Kurfurstendamm, is a particularly popular shopping street in Berlin, and one of the best places to spend a pleasant evening. Here you can find luxury brands such as Armani, Chanel, YSL and more, alongside the fashionable bikini mall, which contains all the trendy brands and cool pop-up stores, or the KaDeWe department store which offers 6 floors of fashion, accessories and more.