Travel to Germany

For those about to embark on a car hire holiday to Germany there are a number of factors to consider ensuring your safety. The roads in Germany are widely held to be some of the best in the world but the rules of the road should be understood to get the best out of your car hire holiday.

The autobahns are seen by many as the pinnacle of the driving experience but this is not always the case. Most believe there to be constant state of speed anarchy on the roads but this is simply not true; may parts of the autobahn network do in fact have speed limits.

Still as you embark upon you car hire holiday you may be disappointed by the autobahns of Germany. Most people envisage roads of ten lane carriageways where drivers all travel at supersonic speeds. This is however is not true; the majority of the autobahn network is double or triple carriageway and the drivers predominantly drive at sensible speeds; it is only a minority who whiz along in their super cars. The autobahns of Germany are however supremely maintained and offer an efficient way to get the best from your car hire journey.

When you first embark in your hire car remember to make all members of your travelling party belt up before every trip. It is the law in Germany that all occupants in a car must wear seatbelts and the law is rigorously enforced. If travelling with children under 1.5 metres they may not sit in the front seat unless they have an approved child seat; thankfully most car hire companies can provide these on request.

Failure to meet such road going requirements can lead to on the spot fines. The police in Germany generally collect fines for motoring misdemeanours although if you cannot produce the cash your car may be impounded; try explaining that one to the car hire company. Thankfully corruption in the German police force is practically non-existent so you will know that your fine reaches the appropriate authorities.

Speed cameras are a definite consideration when undertaking a car hire holiday. Apart from Britain, Germany has the highest concentration of enforcement cameras to catch those breaking speed limits, tailgating and those jumping red lights. If driving a hire car you may think that it will be possible to avoid any fines, this sadly is not the case as the rental company will pass on any fines they receive onto you. Mobile cameras are also commonly used and are set up to catch similar offenders to those caught by stationary camera positions.

Drink driving penalties in Germany are some of the harshest in Europe; it may even include a suspension on your first offence. Penalties begin from the low level of 0.05 percent which twinned with the high alcohol content of German beverages means if you do have a drink, do not even think about climbing in your car for a journey. Driving while under the influence of drugs, whether legal or illegal is also prohibited and carries high fines.

Other laws include the prohibition of using your mobile phone whilst driving, unless utilising a hands free kit. If you do need to make a call you will not be prosecuted if you pull over and turn the engine off. One of the stranger motoring laws prohibits the revving of engines excessively, so boy racers be careful when in Germany. Also it is illegal to slam your car doors in a violent manner. Serenity is obviously evident in German motoring legislation.

Try to ignore the misconceptions that Germany is a racers paradise, this way you will avoid fines and in some cases further prosecution. Granted there are places where speed limits do not apply, but German drivers in the most part are well trained and well educated in road safety measures. Consideration and common sense are vital. If you follow this advice there is no reason why your car hire experience in Germany should not be enjoyable.

Germany lies in the centre of Europe and is the ideal place for a fly-drive holiday. With distinct regions throughout the country it offers tourists with a hire car the chance to drive the autobahns and sample much of the culture. The cities of Germany vary from old world elegance to domineering modernism, with a history so rich in culture and events there is little surprise that Germany is as fascinating as it is beautiful.

The road network in Germany has long been heralded as one of the best in the world, mainly due its liberal approach to speed limits. When in a hire car do not however get carried away on the autobahns; surprisingly only a limited amount of the network has no speed limit and penalties are often harsh for law breakers.

There are also rules that must be followed that are different from other nations, especially when letting other cars past. Using a hire car to experience the autobahn system can be fun, but remember the stress of performance sports cars belting past you at high speed is not always enjoyable. Traffic jams can also be a problem; my advice is to use the autobahns minimally and use country roads as much as possible.

The nature of Germany is as diverse as its history, the swathes of deep forest offer those who like the serene accompaniment of the countryside a tranquil existence. The use of a hire car when touring these forests is highly advisable as they are spread apart and the facilities in national parks are perfect for visitors travellng by car. With over ninety nature reserves within Germany, nature lovers will be spoilt for choice.

If entering the south Munich, Freiburg and Passau are the main gateways and picking up a hire car from any of these airports brings Bavaria into focus. The Bavarian people are warm and hospitable and love to party. Visitors will enjoy the wide variety of beers and historical beer halls that are found in nearly all towns. Munich annually hosts the Oktoberfest festival which sees huge amounts of people descend on the city for drinking and revelry. If a fan of good beer and good company Oktoberfest is a must, although it may be wise to leave the hire car at home.

Due to the German history of castle building, there are hundreds of examples of castles throughout the country. Making a road trip of these in your hire car is a perfect romantic getaway; especially as many now offer accommodation. Ranging across a variety of epochs each castle in Germany has its own distinct charm and appeal. Some resemble the castles of a fairytale while others are clearly evidence of Germany's military past. Many illustrate the opulence of Germany during the latter modern period and would most likely be called palaces rather than castles.

In Germany the motor industry is heavily developed with some of the most recognizable names in the entire world. The country reflects this love of the car with a host of museums linked to such powerhouses as BMW, Mercedes, VW and Porsche. There are even excursions that will allow the hire of a high performance car to experience the many racetracks. Of these racetracks, the Nurburgring is probably the most notorious and is definitely worth an excursion for anyone who considers themselves a car enthusiast.

There is no doubt that Germany as a destination is well worth a visit. Whether it is to sample the beer and cuisine, or just drive around in a hire car visiting the fabulous castles there is something for everyone. As the country that invented the motor car, enthusiasts will be fascinated by the motoring history and will most probably enjoy the race tracks. Just remember to take car on the autobahns.