Hiring cars in Germany

[Dr_Weasel]

I'm off to Germany for a week in August for a holiday and am wanting to hire a car at the airport. The only times I've ever had a hire car abroad before is when work have sorted me out on trips to the US and I haven't had to do anything myself.

What's the score about hire cars in Europe? Does anyone know? I have a full, clean, UK drivers license, presumably this is good to go, or do I have to get some international drivers licensee shenanigans? What happens about insurance too? Do I have to take it out with the hire company at the time I get the car, or do I sort that in the UK first?

I much prefer secretaries sorting this kind of thing out for me....

 

[old.[MPZ]Padwah]

Your drivers license will be good to go and you'll sort out the insurance with the hire company when you get there so no worries on that front. erm that's it isn't it?

 

[Dr_Weasel]

Errrm, yeah, ta

I got worried as I had some dim and distant recollection about international drivers licenses..... perhaps I drempt that.

Presumably I also need to take both halves of the photo license that Ive got?

 

[old.[MPZ]Padwah]

aye, seeing as the plastic bit is a tad useless

 

[Dr_Weasel]

I wouldnt call it useless..... not if you were a government minister that was trying to shoe-horn a national ID card policy through anyrate...

Thanks for your help. I think that all that is left is for me to learn the german for "Give me your cheapest car and dont you dare try to fleece me!"

 

[~Lazarus~]

why dont you get the secretary to do the booking for you?

 

[Dr_Weasel]

Because its a personal holiday and they are obviously far too busy nattering to do me a favour and help me out.

 

[old.[MPZ]Padwah]

Geben Sie mir Ihr preiswertestes Auto und nicht Sie der trauen Versuch, der von mir gestohlen wird

 

[Testin da Cable]

don't forget to drive on the proper side of the road mate

 

[Uncle Sick(tm)]

http://www.e-sixt.co.uk/main.php3
-> Worldwide

Sixt is one of Germany's biggest (and affordable) car rental place.
Just in case you are still looking for a good deal.

Mother in law rented a Mercedes CLK (yum) for a whole week for 100.- Euros something.
Insurance etc. included.

Have fun in Germany

und nicht Sie der trauen Versuch, der von mir gestohlen wird

... and that's just gibberish.

 

[Dr_Weasel]

Cheers, Ill check that site out.

And this is what bablefish makes of that German

"Give to me your most inexpensive car and not you trust attempt, which is stolen by me"

Sounds like my kind of German, Ill give it a go. And to think I did well in GCSE German 12 years ago... All I can remember now is how to ask for a cup of tea.

 

[Tom]

Just drivers license and passport, they dont normally ask for the paper bit but take it anyway.

Oh, and make sure you're old enough young man!

 

[Dr_Weasel]

Not so young anymore... 2 weeks away from being 28 and 2 years away from officially being over the hill.

 

[old.[MPZ]Padwah]

Originally posted by Dr_Weasel
And this is what bablefish makes of that German...

Guess where I got it from in the first place

 

[old.[MPZ]Padwah]

Just consulted the font of all Swiss-German knowledge that is my mother and cam up with this:

"Geben sie mir bitte das billigste mietauto. Versuchen sie bitte nicht zuviel zu verlangen."

Though stick it in babelfish and you still get a load of gibberish

 

[Uncle Sick(tm)]

Originally posted by old.[MPZ]Padwah
Just consulted the font of all Swiss-German knowledge that is my mother and cam up with this:

"Geben sie mir bitte das billigste mietauto. Versuchen sie bitte nicht zuviel zu verlangen."

Though stick it in babelfish and you still get a load of gibberish

Not bad - but there are teh finer details of zer German language.

If you ask for something cheap (das billigste) you will get something very cheap - like a shyte car.

"Ich würde gerne ein Auto mieten. Machen Sie mir bitte ein Angebot."
(I would like to rent a car. Please make an offer.)

That's where you get a German sales person by the nuts.
If you ask them to make you an offer, you will get something better and more affordable than if you ask for something cheap.

If you ask for something cheap, they will just think that you don't have money and try to get rid of you asap.

Ahhh... the mentality.

 

[old.[MPZ]Padwah]

too true, but then I did only ask her to translate "Give me your cheapest car and dont you dare try to fleece me!" so it's not bad, obviously I (or should that be my Mum) we had to a be a bit loose in the translation of fleece me, cause I don't know how much wool you can get off of a weasel

 

[Uncle Sick(tm)]

No offense meant towards the Swiss miss.