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Hertz in Germany

History – tangible and recent, old and fantastical – is one of the lures of Germany. From the Baltic coast in the north through the fairy-tale villages and clifftop castles on the Rhine, to the jutting peaks of the Alps, Germany is a spellbinding country. Arranging car rental in Germany is the best way to learn everything about the country’s recent and distant past.

We have pick-up points in all the major cities so you can get into your car in Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt and more. Alternatively, you can collect your car from the major international airports.

With a fantastic collection of vehicles to fit the bill for a variety of needs and trips, you’re guaranteed a smooth arrival and our very best price.

Driving in and around Germany

Germany is famous for its roads. The perfectly engineered and well-maintained autobahns are designed for easy travelling across this diverse country. There are no tolls for private cars on Germany’s freeways. Many sections of autobahn have no speed limit, but extra regulations regarding overtaking and vehicle usage are observed. Our local teams will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

Speed limits elsewhere in Germany are 130 km/h on highways, 100 km/h on other roads, and 50 km/h in built-up areas.

The ‘Romantic Road’ from the river Main to the Alps is a once-in-a-lifetime drive, taking in the lovely castles and charming villages between Würzburg and Füssen. This route is almost 400 km long and takes you through some of the most beautiful sights and landscapes of southern Germany. Extend this journey slightly at each end and you’ve got the perfect link between Munich and Frankfurt.

Travel through the Black Forest in search of relaxing spa towns and door stop-sized portions of gateaux on the A5 between Freiburg and Heidelberg near the Swiss border. Or journey through political iconography and the landscapes and towns that inspired the world’s great composers on the A9 between Berlin and Leipzig.

Whichever route you take, car rental in Germany is the best way to see the very best of the cities and all the sights in between.

A quick guide to Germany

From the castles of Bavaria to the brutalist architecture of brilliant Berlin, a journey through Germany is a jaunt through the eras.

Berlin, Bach and the baroque

Germany’s jumping capital Berlin has an intriguing past. Relive key moments in modern history with a trip to the infamous remains of the Berlin Wall and hear the stories of a once-divided city. Enjoy exciting nights and cultured days in this 24-hour city with world-renowned bars and restaurants and tangible history at your fingertips.

On the banks of the river Elbe sits the capital of Saxony. The city of Dresden is a two and a half hour drive from Berlin. This baroque gem offers a striking silhouette of domed palaces and jutting church spires.

To the west of Dresden, fast-paced Leipzig is a haven of the decorative and musical arts. This city has witnessed the giants of German culture. Walk the same streets as Bach, Mendelssohn and Wagner and, if you’re visiting at the right time of year, enjoy an atmospheric church hall concert during the city’s popular Bachfest in June.

The grand and the Gothic

Over in the West of Germany, Cologne’s Aldstadt (old town) is filled with galleries, Gothic spires and ancient Roman walls. Warm your hands around a mug of glühweinin the winter months at Germany’s best Christmas market – this is a city known for its warm welcome.

Birthplace of Beethoven and beautifully located on the banks of the Rhine, Bonn is a 30-minute drive away if you’re starting out from Cologne. Enjoy summers by the river and great museums in this charming city.

The bounty of Bavaria and the Black Forest

The entire world seems to descend on Munichin autumn to celebrate Oktoberfest. But outside this holiday season you’ll find a big city with a small town air. Though it’s now a centre of business and commerce, Munich hasn’t lost its roots of lederhosen-clad men and bustling Bavarian barmaids in traditional dirndls (dresses). Sprawling parks and timber buildings give the city an olde-worlde feel.

A short drive from Munich, visit the castle that inspired Walt Disney with a trip to Neuschwanstein Castle. Perched in the foothills of the Alps and in the heart of the Romantic Road, mountain views from the esplanade are stunning and the interior is a mismatch of avant-garde colour and kitsch. Continue along to Füssen for a full view of the German Alps along one of the world’s best drives. Meadows flecked with edelweiss stretch beneath jagged frosty peaks.

In the far west of southern Germany lies the deep and mysterious Black Forest. The setting for many of the Grimms’ fairy tales, this is a land of magic and folklore. Villages in deep woodlands make you feel like you’ve just stepped in to Hansel and Gretel. Base yourself in the university town of Freiburg in the south of the Black Forest where half-timbered houses and gilded clock towers adorn the winding streets. Or relax in northern Baden-Baden, a 19th-century spa town, nestled in a nook of wooded hillside and famed for its restorative waters.

With a wide range of cutting-edge cities, towering mountains and folksy forests, Germany is one of the best countries in Europe for a memorable road trip.