Car or public transport: destination by destination
| Destination | Car or public transport? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Central Berlin | Public transport | S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams and buses cover the whole city; parking is paid and the Umweltzone applies |
| Potsdam | Public transport | Direct train or S-Bahn; see Potsdam from Berlin |
| Spreewald | Car if you want freedom | The RE2 train serves Lübbenau, but a car lets you see several villages |
| Baltic coast (Rostock, Warnemünde, Usedom) | Car for a trip of several days | More than 200 km: allow hours on the road or compare with the train |
| Brandenburg palaces and lakes | Car | Scattered sites, poorly linked to each other |
| BER airport ↔ centre | Public transport | FEX in 23 minutes to Hauptbahnhof, see BER airport |
Rental desks at BER
The airport's official website lists five rental companies: Avis/Budget, Hertz, Sixt, Europcar and Enterprise. Their desks are in Terminal 1, near arrivals area 2, on level E0. After collecting your key at the desk, your car is waiting in car park P2, a few minutes' walk from the terminal. Desk closing times given by the airport: 11 pm for Avis/Budget, Hertz and Enterprise, 11:30 pm for Europcar, midnight for Sixt. If your flight lands late, check the closing time before booking.
When returning the car, follow the "Mietwagen – Car rental" signs, drive through the archway and park in a marked lane; staff take over the vehicle. At night, lock the car and leave the key in your rental company's key safe in front of the escalator. A TotalEnergies station is on the airport grounds (Elly-Beinhorn-Ring 2a, Schönefeld) for refuelling before you return the car.
Compare and book
To compare companies and deals on one page, see the car rental offers at BER airport on Booking.com. Prices vary a lot with the date, car category and length of hire: we quote none, so open the page with your dates. Look above all at what is included (insurance, mileage, fuel, extra driver) and the cancellation policy.
Licence, age, deposit and insurance
These conditions depend on each company and car category: minimum age, how long you have held your licence, "young driver" surcharge, deposit amount (usually blocked on a credit card in the driver's name) and insurance excess. Read the terms of the company you choose before paying, and bring your licence and a photo ID. If your licence was issued outside the European Union or is not in Latin characters, ask the company whether it requires an international driving permit.
The Umweltzone: the green sticker
A large part of Berlin, the area inside the S-Bahn Ring, is an environmental zone. Only vehicles with a green sticker (Umweltplakette) behind the windscreen, or exempt ones (electric cars with an E plate, for example), may drive there. The official Berlin state website (berlin.de) gives a fine of about €100 for driving or parking in the zone without a sticker; an older page said €80, so check the current amount. Rental cars registered in Germany normally have the sticker: just check the windscreen when you collect the car. If you arrive in your own car, check berlin.de before you leave to find out how to get a sticker.
Driving in Germany: the essentials
- Speed: 50 km/h in built-up areas, 100 km/h on country roads. On the Autobahn the recommended speed is 130 km/h, but many sections have a posted limit: always follow the signs.
- Motorways: no tolls for private cars.
- Alcohol: general limit of 0.5 ‰, and 0.0 ‰ for drivers under 21 or newly licensed.
- Parking: in the city centre it is paid and regulated; read the signs and meters, as checks are frequent.
- Winter: in snow or ice, tyres must be suitable; check the car's equipment when you collect it.
When to rent, when not to
- Rent for the Spreewald if you want to visit several villages, for the Baltic coast, for the lakes around Berlin or to see several palaces in a row. Our guide to day trips from Berlin compares the train journeys.
- Don't rent to see Berlin itself: see our advice on getting around Berlin and, for a cheap way to get about, Berlin by bike.
- Potsdam: the train is simpler, see Potsdam from Berlin: which trip?.
- Budget tip: rent only for the days you leave Berlin, not for the whole stay. See the cost of a trip to Berlin. To reach the centre without a car, also compare a private airport transfer.
If you have an accident
On the spot: get to safety, switch on the hazard lights, check for injuries and call emergency services (110 (police), 112 (emergencies)). Fill in the European accident statement with the other driver; call the police if anyone is hurt, if you disagree, if the other driver leaves, or if your rental contract requires it. Photograph the vehicles, the plate, the road and the damage, note the other driver's details, and call the rental company before any repair.
Who pays what: damage to the car is covered by the rental company's protection (CDW), subject to its excess (deductible), or by an excess cover bought with the rental; injuries and medical costs fall under your travel insurance. Travel insurance does not pay for the rental car or for damage to third parties.
SafetyWing covers medical costs after an accident abroad; check the policy's conditions for driving (a licence valid in the country, a helmet on a scooter).
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a rental car in Berlin? Not to see the city: public transport is faster and parking is awkward. Yes for some trips outside Berlin.
Where are the rental desks at BER? In Terminal 1, near arrivals area 2, level E0. Cars are collected in car park P2.
Do you need a sticker to drive in Berlin? A green sticker is required in the Umweltzone, inside the S-Bahn Ring.
Can you pick up a car on a late-night arrival? Desks close between 11 pm and midnight depending on the company: check before booking.
La rédaction Berlin Authority
