Hi,

I will be visiting family in Ravensburg, Germany during the Christmas holidays. I have been offered a car by a family member to drive while there. My question is what will be required as far as license, insurance, etc for me to drive in Germany?

I have a US (Texas) issued drivers license and am insured.

One other qeustion......What are a few must see sights that would make a great day trip while in this area?

Thanks a bunch for your response!

Hi wg,

>I have a US (Texas) issued drivers license and am insured.<

Have you checked with your insurance carrier to see if you are covered if you drive someone else's car outside North America?

You might find an International Driver's Permit useful in case of problems.

See http://www.aaasouth.com/travel_drivers.asp#idp

I can tell you with almost 100% certainty that you are NOT insured outside of N. America. I have looked into this several times and State Farm only covers me in the US and Canada. I think this is standard, but do check it out with your insurance company. If your relative's German insurance will not cover you in case of an accident, you should consider buying travel insurance for this situaion.

That last word s/b "situation." Sorry for the typo, I'm doing this on the sly at work. ;-)

Just take your US driver's license - it's valid in Germany. Don't worry about insurance - your family member wouldn't have offered the use of a car unless you are covered by their insurance. It's normal for a German car insurance policy to cover driving by other people with the owner's permission, or policyholder can easily extend the cover with a small extra premium.

Somtimes the policy may on cover drivers older than 21 years of age. Have them check it, if needed. It only costs a few € more per month.

"your family member wouldn't have offered the use of a car unless you are covered by their insurance."

I would never assume such a thing.. you'd better be sure.

sandi_travenut, assume and insurance. Oh yes, you are correct, never assume anything when it comes to insurance coverage. Right at this moment I am furious as a family member assumed he had medical insurance coverage and doesn't.

wgb1, you need to have your family in Germany verify with their insurance ccompany that you will be covered while driving their care. And the International Driving Permit (obtained throught AAA) is a very good idea.

Thanks all for your responses. I will certainly check with my insurance company and ask my relatives to do the same.

Again, thanks

If you are certain you'll be driving only in Germany, you don't need an International Driving Permit. They don't require it.

But if you think you might possibly have a reason to drive in Austria or some other country that does require it, then I'd go ahead and spend the $10 and 2 passport photos for the IDP.

hi there,
it's not only a cliché, most things in Germany are ruled in every details. So are the car insurances. You can't run a car in Germany without insurance (ok, one can steel a license plate ...;_)) The insurance in Germany means, it is on the car, not on the driver. So everyone can drive (ex. sometime driver younger than 23 or 21, if You are, You have to ask the owner). This insurance pays for all demages on other persons or other persons things. Ask he owner for CDW. This insurance will not pay for You if You are the one that causes the crash.
You license will be ok.
Things to see. Hm, what are You interesstet in? How far You wanna drive? Lake Konstanz is not so far and could be nice in Winter (Meerburg, Lindau, Reichenau, St. Gallen ...). Munich is in reach. Also Ulm is nice. Go along the valley of the Danube, nice trip for a day. Neustadt and Noerdlingen are nice little towns with old houses and so. Near Noerdlingen You find the meteor crater where the NASA did tests for Apollo 11.
Ask for more.
have fun
Gar