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Good to know
- Nearest airport
- Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)
- To city centre
- 19 km
- Parking in the centre
- Paid zones
- Centre access
- Low-emission zone · Umweltzone
- Main roads
- A 10 (Berliner Ring), A 100, A 2, A 13, A 24
- Region
- State of Berlin
- Population
- 3,782,202
- City IATA code
- BER
- Time zone
- Europe/Berlin
- Currency
- EUR
- Driving side
- Right-hand traffic
- Rental offices
- 72
- Rental companies
- 7
Compare car rental in Berlin
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Where to pick up a car in Berlin
Rental desks by area, with the distance from the city centre.
Train stations
Offices 6Berlin Friedrichstraße
Berlin Ostbahnhof
Berlin Hauptbahnhof
Berlin Zoologischer Garten
Berlin-Lichtenberg
City centre
Offices 3Further from the centre
Offices 63Luisenstadt
Europacity
Mediaspree
Gründerviertel
Moabiter Werder
Fennpfuhl
Stephankiez
Tiergarten
Nollendorfkiez
Heinersdorf
Afrikanisches Viertel
Fasanenkiez
Lichtenberg
Huttenkiez
Körnerkiez
Weiße Siedlung
Friedrich-Ebert-Siedlung
Charlottenburg
Springpfuhl
Bärensiedlung
Witzleben
Mariendorf
Paul-Hertz-Siedlung
Halensee
Berlin by car
Berlin spreads over flat glacial plain threaded by the Spree and a chain of lakes, and its boroughs lie far apart. Much of what visitors come for waits in Brandenburg beyond the ring, where pine forest and sandy shore replace the dense blocks.
Driving in Berlin
Berlin is reached by A 10 (Berliner Ring), A 100, A 2, A 13 and A 24. Berlin has a low-emission zone, Umweltzone: check the sticker rules before driving into the centre. Parking in the centre is paid and marked by zone.
Arriving by road
Four spur motorways lead from the Berliner Ring into the city: A111 from the northwest via Kreuz Oranienburg, A114 from the north via Dreieck Pankow, A113 from the southeast via Schönefelder Kreuz and A115 from the southwest via Dreieck Nuthetal. Inside, the congested A100 loops round the north, west and south but leaves a gap in the northeast, and protests occasionally close it.
From the airport without a car
BER Airport station sits under Terminal 1, a short walk from Terminal 2, and its trains need an ABC ticket because the airport lies in fare zone C. The FEX and RE20 regional trains are the quick way into the centre, the FEX running through to Berlin Hauptbahnhof, while RB24 and RB32 reach Ostkreuz without entering the centre. Bus X7 only links the airport with Rudow.
Popular searches in Berlin
One click to the results with the filter already set.
Day trips from Berlin
- Potsdam27 km
- Leipzig150 km
- Dresden165 km
Rules of the road in Germany
- Speed limits
- 50 / 100 / 130 km/h
- Alcohol limit
- 0.5 ‰
- Motorway tolls
- no motorway tolls
- Must carry
- a reflective vest and a warning triangle
- Emergency number
- 112
What kind of car do you need?
Typical capacity for the category — the exact model is confirmed by the rental company at booking.
Frequently asked questions
Germany: which side of the road do they drive on?
On the right. Speed limits are posted at the roadside and differ between towns, open roads and motorways.
Which currency will I be charged in?
Prices are usually set in EUR. The rental company sets both the price and the deposit, and shows them before you book.
Can I drive the car into another country?
Often yes within the EU, but never assume it. Crossing a border has to be allowed by the rental company and usually costs extra, so check the terms before you book.
Is there a low-emission zone in Berlin?
Yes. Berlin has a low-emission zone covering the centre, and cars have to meet its emission rules to drive in. The zone is called Umweltzone.
Where do I park in the centre of Berlin?
Parking in the centre is paid and marked by zone.
Do I need an International Driving Permit?
An EU or EEA licence is enough.
What are the speed limits in Germany?
50 km/h in towns, 100 km/h on open roads, 130 km/h on motorways.
Are the motorways tolled?
Motorways are free.
Where can I pick up a rental car in Berlin?
At Berlin Friedrichstraße: an independent office. At Berlin Ostbahnhof: Europcar. At Berlin Hauptbahnhof: Europcar and Sixt. At Berlin Zoologischer Garten: Enterprise. At Berlin-Lichtenberg: an independent office. In the city centre: Europcar, Sixt and an independent office. In Luisenstadt: 2 independent offices. In Friedrichstadt: Avis, Enterprise, Hertz, Sixt and 2 independent offices. In Europacity: Avis. Elsewhere in the city: Europcar, Sixt, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, 4 other companies and 21 independent offices. More rental desks are at Berlin Brandenburg Airport.