Car rental in Munich

When you commit minor traffic offences, police officers may impose an on-the-spot fine. You can pay the fine in cash or by credit card. If you refuse to pay the fine, your vehicle may be confiscated and the amount increased significantly if the case is referred to court.

Below are the common speed limits for all vehicles in Germany.

• 50 km/h in built-up areas;
• 30 km/h in special quiet zones (near schools, pedestrian zones, etc.);
• 100 km/h outside built-up areas;
• for expressways, the minimum speed is 60 km/h, there are no maximum speed limits; the recommended maximum speed is 130 km/h;

On motorways in and around Munich, you must normally keep to the right-hand lane. Overtaking is only permitted on the left. Overtaking on the right is prohibited.

Having hired a vehicle in Munich, you cannot park that vehicle just anywhere on the street. Parking against the direction of traffic or in a prohibited area incurs a penalty. Some parking spaces are only for locals (Anliegerfrei and Anwohnerparken). At the entrance to a car park, you will need to take a ticket or token. Payment is made at a machine when leaving the car park. To park your vehicle in a paid zone on the street, you need to buy a parking disc (Parkscheibe) at a petrol station and place it on the windscreen.

The maximum permissible level of alcohol in the blood is 0.3 ‰ for drivers with more than 2 years of driving experience and 0.00 ‰ for drivers with less than 2 years of driving experience or who are under the age of 21. Exceeding these levels incurs severe penalties, which may include a driving ban and imprisonment.

In Germany, there are many petrol stations selling unleaded petrol (98 and 95) and diesel fuel. Leaded fuel is not sold. There are many petrol stations around. The most popular fuel is E10 containing 10% ethanol, but it is not suitable for all cars. When renting a car in Munich, check with the rental company whether the car can use E10. It is permitted to carry fuel in cans.

There are no urban or suburban toll roads. You only pay for entry into the centre of Munich – the low-emission zone (Umweltzone), created in order to reduce air pollution by fine dust. This zone is indicated by road signs and additional signs. Entry requires a special sticker, which you can buy at vehicle inspection centres or authorised garages, and stick to the inside of the windscreen. The cost ranges from €5 to €15. When renting a car in Munich, keep in mind that this sticker will be valid in all environmental zones across Germany.