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Table of Contents:
Car rental at the airport of Stuttgart
FAQs about car rental in Stuttgart
I have travelled a lot via autobahns in Germany so I can confirm they are pretty much comfortable and it is often the fastest way to get to the desired destination. Plus, you can conveniently and safely move around the southern regions available from Stuttgart as the road connections are developed absolutely excellently. After some research and based on my own experience, I decided to put together information I have previously found out and create a complete guide on how to rent a car in Stuttgart to travel around Germany.
Car rental in Stuttgart
Car rental in Stuttgart is a quite popular option among the travelers, so you can find rental offices in almost all areas of the city, wherever you stay. In addition, a large number of car rental offices can be found at the airport of Stuttgart.
In Stuttgart, you can rent a car of any class, be it a mini, economy, compact, medium, family car, minivan, SUV, cabriolet or premium car. The rental price starts from 25-30 euros per day for a small car. If you plan to travel, using only city roads and high-speed autobahns, then there is no point in renting a SUV. It can come in handy only if you want to explore wild nature.
You can compare the cost and terms of car rental in Stuttgart in advance in all areas of the city, as well as at the railway station and at the airport, using online services:
Discover Cars is a service for searching, comparing and saving on car rental;
Economybookings is a service for finding cheap car rentals around the world.
A useful tip! In order to find the most suitable option in terms of price and quality, you can check the offers on all the listed services for comparison. On the services, you can book the desired class of a car online in advance, which will reduce the time of registration on the spot. I usually check out both services mentioned above to find out the best suitable option for me.
⇒ Why is it better to book a car for renting in advance?
Stuttgart is one of the largest points of attraction for tourist traffic in the southern part of Germany. Car rental services are always in demand here, at any time of the year. That is why it is better to book them in advance.
Without booking in advance, you may encounter a situation where all the cars of the class you need will already be booked, and you will have to take a car in a more expensive segment or at a higher price from another available supplier.
The optimal period for booking a car in advance is at least 2-4 weeks before the dates of the trip. Later, the list of offers may no longer be so profitable in terms of prices. Booking in advance is almost always more profitable. I tried both variants and as a rule when booking online in advance I have more options available.
What about the prices? Based on my research, the cost of renting a car in Stuttgart, on average, starts from 25-30 euros per day. During the Christmas and Easter holidays, as well as during the summer holidays, the price usually increases slightly, by about 20-25%. Additionally, you will have to pay for such services as a navigator, trunk, child seat, second driver, extended insurance (if necessary). In general, the cost of renting a car is influenced by such factors as the class of the selected car, the rental period, mileage and fuel restrictions. Please note that the longer the rental period is, the cheaper the rental price per day will be, that is why, as a rule, it is more profitable to take a car for a longer period.
So, the largest number of car rental offices within the city is located at the Main Railway Station. 6 distributors work here at once and there are more than 200 cars in the car park. The railway station is located at Arnulf-Klett-Platz, 2, and car rental offices can be found nearby, within walking distance from the station. There are offices of such suppliers as Avis, Keddy, Europcar, Sixt, Budget, Buchbinder.
You can also find car rental offices in other neighborhoods of the city. There are some examples which I discovered and put together:
- 13, Ludwigsburger Straße (Keddy, Buchbinder offices);
- 189 B, Hauptstraße (Keddy office);
- 289, Hauptstraße (Buchbinder office);
- 227, Esslingen Am Neckar (Sixt office);
- Heimsheimer Strasse 7 (Sixt office).
Car rental at the airport of Stuttgart
The rental offices at the airport have the largest number of cars for renting in Stuttgart. The cost of renting a car at the airport, on average, is lower than at the city. So, in the area of Stuttgart International Airport there are offices of 10 + more distributors at once: Budget, Buchbinder, Keddy, Europcar, Avis, Sixt, Dollar, Thrifty, Hertz, Enterprise, etc. You can check available options on your own:
Some of the rental offices are located right at the arrival’s terminal (look for the sign “Car Rental Center”), and some are located outside the airport. In the second case, free shuttles go to the rental offices outside the terminal, which is quite convenient.
At the airport rental offices, you can find cars of any desired class, be it small cars, medium cars, large cars, premium cars, minivans, SUVs, etc.
If you wish, you can also choose a car with or without air conditioning, with manual or automatic transmission, with unlimited or limited mileage. Remember, you must return the car with a full tank of fuel, unless otherwise agreed.
If you book a car via online services, various additional options are usually also provided, for example, free cancellation or changes to the order up to 48 hours before the start of renting, theft coverage, accident coverage, etc.
My step-by-step guide on how to book a car in advance using online services:
For those who decide to book car rental services in advance for the first time, step-by-step instructions on how to use these services will be relevant.
1.First you need to fill the input data on the main page, including the place of picking up and returning of the car, suitable date and time. Please, note, that you may choose different pick up and drop off locations if your travel itinerary is not circular.
2.Next, the search system will give you all available options for your dates. The default list is filtered by price from lowest to highest. Here you can also set individual filters by ticking them. These may be specific companies that you are considering for booking, one or more car classes, mileage restrictions, fuel restrictions, type of transmission, additional options, etc.
3.Each offer is provided with a “Terms of Renting” tab. After reading terms and conditions, you will know what documents you need for registration, what is the cost of the deposit, what are the conditions for insurance, mileage, fuel and payment. Having chosen the best option for you, go to the booking page by clicking the “Book” button.
4.On the checkout page, you need to provide your personal information, including the last name, the first name, the phone number, the email address, the time of your arrival (if you book a car at the airport). Next, payment is made by bank card. Payment can be full or partial, depending on the terms of renting.
5.After payment, a voucher will be sent to the specified email address. It needs to be printed and shown at the rental office. In the office you will be offered to sign the documents, to take insurance, and then you will receive the keys. In general, booking services in advance via online services can significantly reduce the time for registration on the spot.
Renting rules in Stuttgart
Stuttgart is one of the major cities in the country. Despite the fact that public transport in Stuttgart operates daily, in case you plan to travel a lot, and also travel outside of Stuttgart, it is wise to rent a car.
In order to rent a car in Stuttgart, it is enough to have an international driver’s license, passport and a bank card for payment. The bank card is also needed for the so-called deposit, which is blocked for the period of renting a car in case of unforeseen circumstances (accidents, fines, non-compliance with the terms of the agreement). The deposit, subject to all agreements, is returned to your card within 2 weeks or a month after returning the car.
Renting a car in Stuttgart is an option that is quite popular. You only need to choose a car of the required class, inspect it for visible damage (and, if any, specify them in the agreement), sign the documents and arrange a car insurance. It usually takes no more than 20 minutes (if booked in advance).
Briefly about the deposit, franchise, insurance: If the price of the car rental is not high, then the amount of the deposit is usually quite large. This deposit will be blocked on the card in case of damage to the car. You can avoid this by taking out full insurance; Standard insurance covers your expenses in case of an accident, but only over the franchise amount. You will have to pay the franchise amount. The franchise amount in case of an accident is prescribed in the agreement, so pay attention to it; Full insurance usually covers both the franchise and the deposit, and also covers damage to windows, mirrors, tires, wheels, etc. (more specifically, the terms and conditions can be found in the agreement). Traffic violations (issued fines) are NOT covered by full insurance! The cost of full insurance is daily and depends on the number of rental days.
Parking system & Petrol Stations in Stuttgart
Take a note that the parking system in Germany significantly differs. There are quite a lot of paid parking lots; they can be both ground and underground; you can leave your car there for a few hours or for a day. However, if you want to park your car in a free parking area, then you should pay attention that often free parking is allowed only for a limited time (most often, no more than 2 hours). How can it be checked? A special time indicator is placed on the car.
Also keep in mind that finding free parking in the city center is quite difficult. The best option would be to leave the car outside the city center. So, you can also save on the environmental fee (to enter the center of the many cities in Germany by car, you must have a sticker on the level of exhaust gases; such a sticker costs about 15 euros).
You can refuel in Stuttgart and other German cities at numerous self-service petrol stations. 95th gasoline corresponds to the “super”, and 98th is “super plus” (words are used instead of numbers).
Where to go from Stuttgart
There are a lot of options where to go from Stuttgart by car for one day or for a longer trip.
✓ Idea #1 is Ludwigsburg (12 km). In Ludwigsburg, the main tourist places are the Ludwigsburg Residence, the Favorite Palace and the Mon Repos Palace. All three palaces are baroque in style and attract attention with their fantastically decorated facades and well-preserved interiors. All three palaces are open for viewing by visitors. Stuttgart and Ludwigsburg are connected with #B27 motorway (see on the map);
✓ Idea #2 is Hohenzollern Castle (50 km). The castle, which belonged to the Hohenzollern dynasty, is, without exaggeration, an architectural gem of the region. The huge castle complex stands alone above the surroundings and makes a great impression with its majestic Gothic cones. You can wander around the castle complex all day, so it is recommended to arrange a whole day to visit Hohenzollern Castle. Stuttgart and Hohenzollern castle are connected with #B27 or A81 motorways (see on the map);
✓ Idea #3 is Karlsruhe (80 km). The Central Palace of Karlsruhe is a significant, but not the only one interesting attraction in the city; the Grand Ducal Palace and the Gottesaue Palace also deserve your attention. If you stay longer in Karlsruhe, you can also explore its surroundings, taking the funicular up the Turmberg Mountain and watching the ruins of Hohenberg Castle. Stuttgart and Karlsruhe are connected with #A8 motorway (see on the map);
✓ Idea #4 is Baden-Baden resort (110 km). Baden-Baden is a well-known thermal spa resort in southwestern Germany. Tourists come here to try numerous mineral springs; healing forest air also contributes to the health recovery. The resort is surrounded by forests and mountains of the Black Forest National Park. But even if you do not plan to take mineral water treatment, then take a simple walk along this beautiful resort town, and you will feel full of strength and energy. The other attractions of Baden-Baden include the Lichtenthaler alley and the Lichtental monastery, the ruins of Roman baths, the botanical rose garden, several museums, the city theater and much more. In the countryside of Baden-Baden, you can also see the old and new castles and take the funicular up the Merkur Mountain. Stuttgart and Baden-Baden are connected with #A8 and A5 motorways (see on the map);
✓ Idea #5 is Heidelberg (120 km). Heidelberg is one of the most beautiful cities in the region, which did not suffer from bombing during the Second World War. Its historical part is fully included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The old town is now a pedestrian area, open for walking and sightseeing. A Castle, a bridge, a university, a town hall and various churches attract a huge number of tourists every year. If you stay in Heidelberg for a few days, you can also explore its natural surroundings, in particular, you can take a funicular up to the mountains and watch the Neckar Valley. Stuttgart and Heidelberg are connected with #B35 or A8 motorways (see on the map).
There are also other options to travel from Stuttgart by car:
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FAQs about car rental in Stuttgart
✓ Can foreigners rent a car in Stuttgart?
Yes, they can. In that case you may need an International Drivers Permit. You can get it at your local automobile association before the trip.
✓ What license do I need to rent a car in Stuttgart?
You must present a valid non-expired driver’s license. If you hold a license issued in a Non-Latin-Letter Alphabet, you must also present a valid International Driver’s Permit (see information above). You also require a passport as well.
✓ Can I go to other countries when renting a car in Stuttgart?
Generally, you can, but you must notify the car rental company when you register a car for renting. You may be offered cross-border insurance in that case.
Car rental in Stuttgart is a popular tourist service, which is relevant for getting around the closest countryside and over longer distances to discover the castles, beautiful nature landscapes, “ginger-bread” towns, Black Forest National Park and much more. I have travelled by car a lot along sites mentioned above and I can definitely recommend travelling by car from Stuttgart.
Take a note! When going on a trip to Germany, do not forget to take out travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerging medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: Giuseppe Milo
Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…
This is very helpful information!