Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Driving in Germany

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Driving in Germany

This is really a two-part question. Part 1, how safe and easy is it to drive in Germany (Munich/Frankfurt, possibly via Romantic Road)? My wife hates the idea of being a navigator and "on call" every traveling moment. Can it really be that bad? Part 2, Has anyone done BMW's European Delivery Program and subsequent car travel in Germany?

The Romantic Road is an easy and scenic drive. The road is clearly marked, and no high level navigation is required. The autobahn is also easy to use, although traffic can be heavy and traffic generally moves at quite a clip. I've not done car delivery in Europe, so no help there. If you do buy a BMW while there you'll feel right at home on the autobahn.

German roads are in excellent condition, but many are quite narrow. I have found myself perilously close to trees and other inflexible roadside objects by momentarily craning my neck to read a roadsign or glance at my map, a problem I assure you I don't have much here in California - the roads over there require your undivided attention. You will need your wife more than you imagine. The Romantic Road can be an unromantic parking lot in summer. Overall, I vastly prefer the relaxation of train travel in Germany to the road "Angst" of driving over there and will only drive if I need to - which is almost never since there are over 6000 train stations in Germany. I can drive all I want here at home.

Personally, I had no problems driving in Germany. They drive fast and do not tolerate lingering in the left lane. We chose not to drive in the large cities, but enjoyed having a car to sample the smaller towns.

Very much appreciate the comments. Sounds like driving conditions are simply different, not necessarily worse than driving major U.S. freeways. Meanwhile, am still curious about BMW European Delivery ... I know many people do it, just haven't connected with anyone yet on the joys/travails of breaking in a new car on the roads of Germany. Also still wondering about parking the vehicle ... is public parking relatively easy to find outside the major cities, and do all hotels charge reasonable rates for parking (comparable to American rates)?

Trust me, driving in Germany will be a RELIEF if you've driven in any major city (on on major interstates, for that matter) in the U.S. Yes, they drive fast, but road rules are observed and the common courtesy of moving out of the "fast lane" keeps the traffic flowing safely and smoothly. We drove from Amsterdam to Cologne, then to Heidelberg then to Regensburg via the Autobahn, then to Munich and southward without a hitch. I LOVED driving there. The small roads are not all that treacherous even in higher elevations, and the autobahn is a breeze.

My husband and I looked into the European delivery last summer for our trip last September. We weren't able to do it because there wasn't enough time for the car to be made and we weren't interested in one of the pool cars that were available. I don't remember all of the details exactly, but I believe the cars are already broken in. Your local dealer should know, we went to a dealer in the Chicago area that arranges European deliveries all the time. We rented a BMW from Sixt instead, you have to be very alert when driving on the autobahn but it's safe and easy. The Germans are very good drivers.

Train travel is more relaxing, but doesn't offer the flexibility of a car. This is especially important for small towns such as those along the Romantic Road. The Autobahn is not the least bit intimidating. Just stay in the right lane unless you need to pass a truck caravan or something. I've had more people aggressively zoom up on my rear bumper in the US than on the German Autobahn.

I drove the Romantic Road and the autobahns in Germany by myself last year. Not as easy as having a navigator but the signage is good and roads in excellent condition. The only problem on the Romantic Road is if you're stuck behind a truck or farm machine.

I checked into the BMW program, but you have to arrange it through a dealer in the US and its hard to get info from them. I guess you have already checked out the web page about the program. One of the nice things about buying it in Europe is that they offer a more customized car. Go to the international web site. In Europe, you have many more choices of woods, upholstry, etc. that they don't offer in the US. Regarding driving, my husband and I have driven in Germany several times and never had a problem. The first time we drove in Europe we were on the Romantic Road and had no problems. Don't miss Fussen and Ludwig's castles!

My husband and I really enjoyed driving the autobahn and the small little roads. you do have to be very alert to other drivers, especially those little porsch's whizzing by at 120 mph..... If your at all nervous, just stay out of the fast lane. You will still be going ffast (80ish mph) German are some of the best drivers i've seen anywhere. A freind of mine did the car delivery program ans they put them up at a 5star hotel, the car arrived 6wks later, and they had a nice trip good luck

Germnay is probably the best country in Europe for road-tripping. Can also be fun if you have a lead-foot. Romantic Road is scenic in the south, closer to the alps, not much too see north of Augsburg/Munich though, you can stop off at all of the cute little towns via the autobahn. Rothenburg is a pretty neat town along with Nordlingen. Make sure you pay attention and understand the speed-limit signs...Got a speeding ticket in what I think was an 80km zone, was stopped by an unmarked blue Audi. If the speed-limit sign has a circle around the numbers with a diagonal line through it, it's ok to haul butt...Found that out after a 180 dm fine, don't worry, the police accept credit cards on the spot. Don't listen to the people who say you shouldn't drive that fast because you're not accustomed to it, I recommend if you're driving over a sustained speed of 160km/hr that you grip the wheel firmly, no talking to the passenger, pay very close attention to what you're doing, crank up the Polka on the Blaupunkt and rock-n-roll!!! (Yes they do have Polka on the Radio)

Russ, Appreciate your point of view on utilizing the trains. However, I wonder how one gets aroung in the Black Forest. I hear train availability is somewhat limited. Appreciate any insight/suggestions. Ted

You and your navigator should take a few minutes and brush up on your German geography, if you know where your cities are you will never get lost on the roads. You won't find N,S,E &W over here- only city names and KMs til you get there. We always take a look at the map when we road trip and note the cities in that general area so we know when we're getting close or going the wrong direction or already passed it! Driving over here is a pleasure, although inner cities tend to be crunched and "altstadts" are plagued by narrow roads. Watch for speed limit signs, the speed limit can change often(mostly around the construction zones and the long curves in the autobahn). and quickly within a short distance and the cameras are sometimes hidden and will flash you in a heartbeat. Actually getting pulled over by police is rare here.

If you plan to drive in the city or in towns, please acquaint yourself with the traffic signs. For example, the ones which mean "no parking." Otherwise you can end up with a fine or a locked wheel so you can't drive away. Driving on the Autobahn is not difficult as long as you are okay with fast driving, not less than 120 km/hr & normally around 180 km/hr in areas with no speed limits, and if you remember not to stay perm. in the left lane. However, it is helpful to have a navigator either GPS version or live in the passenger seat. have fun!

Ted: for rail service in the Black Forest, check the following link: http://www.rail-and-relax.de/index1.html
 The southwest quadrant of the map comprises the Black Forest. As in most mountainous European areas, not every village has a station, but the best-known towns are generally served - Freudenstadt, Hausach, Titisee, Freiburg, Hinterzarten, Triberg are among these.

We have driven around Germany many times.Have done two long rail trips. The Train trips we used for visiting large cities. Otherwise it is so much better to have a car for flexibility.We leave in two weeks for Ireland (Elderhostal) then Scotland, Germany north of France and Italy. We will pick up car at Hahn. Can't wait.

Driving in Germany is great. As was said above, they obey driving rules to a T. My husband adores driving on the autobahn in a bmw or mercedes. I usually always play navigator, but enjoy it. I think the signage is much better than in the U.S., but as was said before, they do not use north, south, east or west on signs. Get familiar with the major cities that you're headed toward. I've also driven and found it to be pleasurable. I love that no trucks are permitted on the left. To experience small towns you definately need a car - it's fun. Trains are wonderful for long distances such as Venice to Munich(gorgeous scenery-approx. 8 hours)The bar and restaurants are great.

Russ! This debate on car vs train has been thrashed out many times on this board. How do you respond to the contention that train travel severely limits your choice of accommodation and can therefore interfere with your overall enjoyment of the trip? Harzer

I have driven quite a bit in Germany. The roads are at least as good as in the States and the drivers are better. I did BMW European Delivery in June and it was an unbelevable experience. If Mike is still out there (the message was posted in March), e-mail me at the above address and I can tell you whatever you need to know.

Adam, I'm a different Mike. I picked up my 525i in Munich on 17 June of this year and drove 1700 miles around Germany & France. Had a wonderful time. Just picked it up at the dealership on 2 August, and my wife loves her new car. I'm going back to Germany in 3 years to get mine.

Hiya, Harzer!! "How do you respond to the contention that train travel severely limits your choice of accommodation and can therefore interfere with your overall enjoyment of the trip?" I think I've also responded to that question before. Although many travelers just taxi to wherever they have booked, I make it my policy not to do so, and train travel indeed confines my accommodations to an area within walking distance of the station (or compels me to use other public transport.) But I don't see this limitation as "severe", nor do I believe it compromises my enjoyment. I usually prefer to stay in or near the center of whatever town I’m in, where I don’t have to transport myself just to get a bite to eat or to do something interesting for an afternoon. Although in the US, centrally-located digs can often cost you dearly, in Europe, I have always found it easy to get reasonably priced accommodations that are also central. In larger cities, where fewer such places exist centrally, I always book in advance and check out the location carefully. Occasionally, I’ve stayed in suburbs and trammed into town as needed. And who wants a car in Berlin or Paris anyway? In small towns, it’s usually a non-issue. I subscribe to the Rick Steves packing philosophy, so everything I (and my other family members) take is in one carry-on sized pack that I can tote around at will. Now, if you’re married to someone like Zsa Zsa Gabor, you clearly can’t travel this way. But as a 50-year-old in good health, getting my luggage to the platform and walking to my centrally-located B&B is about as troublesome as brushing my teeth. What really mucks up my trip is driving - getting stuck in Autobahn Stau, taking the wrong turn somewhere, worrying about whether my parked car will be towed if I stay someplace too long, that sort of thing. For some, driving is playtime. For me, driving is work, and I don’t go on vacation to work. That said, I do think there are occasions when a car makes good sense. It’s great to have one for a day if there is some sight you want to see somewhere that isn’t served by train and is awkward to get to by bus. It’s great to have one if you’re visiting a region underserved by train, like Normandy, Germany’s Eifel, or the Belgian Ardennes. I in fact rented this spring for a few days so that I could get to the American Cemetry (Henri Chapelle) in eastern Belgium and to Monschau in Germany. It's great to have one if you want to do a farmstay. But Germany alone has 6,000 train stations, and it’s fairly unusual that one can’t get to a given destination conveniently by train. Planning an entire trip using an auto, a trip that includes common places that are well-served by train, is for me a bad use of my time. I’d much rather just relax and watch the scenery pass than jockey for position on the Autobahn. I enjoy getting a cup of coffee (and using the rest room without stopping!) and knowing that I’ll arrive at my destination on time and worry-free. It’s generally my contention that travelers who prefer the car over the train in a country as heavily train-tracked as Germany have never really done both for very long (or they can’t lose the feeling that they’d be stuck on something like Amtrak!) A good question would be, “Why do so many Germans travel by train instead of car?”

Off and on I have spent about a year in Germany and I rented a car almost every weekend. The autobahn is wonderful. The only time I had a problem was when I passed a policeman doing 180KPH and, being an American, slammed on the brakes. The one thing you must learn to do if you are going to drive in Germany in the fast lanes, it to keep one eye on the rear view mirror. If a car behind you blinks its lights they mean for you to move to a slower lane and they mean NOW! It is my understanding that if you fail to pull over, they can take your tag number and give it to the police. Twice I have seen wrecks in the other direction on the autobahn and the backup was well over 10 miles. All in all, I love driving in Germany and seeing the beautiful countryside.

Travel and Leisure magazine did an article about picking up a car in Europe a couple of months ago. I believe the focus of the article was Saab or Volvo, but the last page did have a bit of info about getting cars by other makers as well. Sorry I can't remember the month of the issue - possibly May or June - but you might check it out at your library if you get a chance.