Driving Germany's Autobah!

[M-technik-3]

that is not true.

urban legend.


the ring is a normal road. all insurance companies must pay, but if your speeding (which there are speed limits that noone follows on the ring) then you might have a bit of a problem. but it is no different than crashing on the autobahn.

met some young american that had a 7 hour layover in frankfurt and rented a Ford station wagon and ran 2 laps with it a few weeks ago. Sure the rental cars don't like it, and that could very well be in the rental contract that you arent allowed on the ring-- but it is NOT racetrack on open public days.

you can rent a car from one of the companys in Nürburg.

Sixt used to brief that at Rhein Main, so I'm just going off my experience.

[Eric]

that is not true.

urban legend.


the ring is a normal road. all insurance companies must pay, but if your speeding (which there are speed limits that noone follows on the ring) then you might have a bit of a problem. but it is no different than crashing on the autobahn.

met some young american that had a 7 hour layover in frankfurt and rented a Ford station wagon and ran 2 laps with it a few weeks ago. Sure the rental cars don't like it, and that could very well be in the rental contract that you arent allowed on the ring-- but it is NOT racetrack on open public days.

you can rent a car from one of the companys in Nürburg.

As an american, USAA offers renters insurance, but most other companies don't so you have to buy the renters insurance from the renting company. You take their car on the ring and wreck, the rental company will deny your coverage.

When my 3.8L M5 broke a few years back, I rented an a series merc to drive around in. When I turned it in, the rental company said it had "structural damage" from driving on the nurburgring and that I owed a couple thousand euro's.

[mikeedler]

When I turned it in, the rental company said it had "structural damage" from driving on the nurburgring and that I owed a couple thousand euro's.

did you have to pay?
and any damage to a rental car must be paid, just have to pay the deductable, which is usually around 500-1000 euros(depending on what is offered for insurance). maybe the companies around the ring are a bit "harder" about running a car on it, but the end word is, it is not a racetrack- hence why you have to have a normal registration to run your car on the ring, and why the polizei come out to accidents. so unless you sign something saying you will not drive the car on the nordschliefe, you can drive where you want.
rental places around here do not want thier cars to go to the Czech republic (only about an hour away) and most have it in the rental contract.

[Shangsta]

When I went around the ring I took a our audi a4 wagon rental for a couple of laps around the ring the first day i arrived there and was not slapped with any added fees. I am not saying that a rental company wouldnt do what Eric said. I drove the car from frankfurt to the ring so i dont know if that made any difference

[Striker01]

Woops! I clearly neglected reading that site I posted. As you can see, I am in dire need of help :(
ANYWAY, thanks for all the driving tips! I will definitely take note of all these if I ever do get the chance to drive on it...
Unfortunately, I am under 25. So... I'm guessing enterprise won't have any fun cars? Honestly, I just want to be able to floor a sporty car without worrying about any cops. I won't be driving incredibly stupid, but I would like to get up to ~120mph and see how it feels (a sporty car is preferred... taking a Toyota Camry up to 120mph does not sound too exciting.

I think you should rent a VW or BMW diesel wagon, they must be fast because I get passed by more of them than anything on the Autobahns.;)

[kts]

you can rent a car from one of the companys in Nürburg.

^ this, if you want to drive around the ring vs go for a very expensive (but also fun as hell) ride around the ring in the Ring Taxi.

as i previously mentioned these folks were great to deal with when i went to the ring back in '06 and have worked out well for the ~8 or so people i have referred to them since then: http://www.rentracecar.de/index-gb.htm

[idanity]

Woops! I clearly neglected reading that site I posted. As you can see, I am in dire need of help :(
ANYWAY, thanks for all the driving tips! I will definitely take note of all these if I ever do get the chance to drive on it...
Unfortunately, I am under 25. So... I'm guessing enterprise won't have any fun cars? Honestly, I just want to be able to floor a sporty car without worrying .

ever hear of a fake id ?

have fun. be safe and one last word... nurburgring

[Fusion]

You would have to read your rental/insurance contract very very well because some insurance companies do not cover "events". An event can be a closed road strip for legal races, auto-x etc. Doesn"t necessarily have to be private property.
Also, the paperwork at the NRing should state how most insurance companies act in these situations.

[nwe30]

Guten tag! Thanks for all the tips guys. It's been 6 days since I've been here in Germany and it is awesome! I am planning a trip from Freiburg to Munich in a couple of weeks and I am going to rent a 335i from BMW on Demand. It's the fastest bimmer I can rent because for m3's you have to be 25+. I am only 19, but my friend from Cali is 21. Wish me luck, fun, and most important of all, safety.

[WERDNA75]

Autobahn

I did it in 2007, and had a 320d 6-speed waiting for me at the airport in Munich. Within about 20min. of landing we were in the car and on the Autobahn. It is cool,but quite a bit of it is limited unless you are between large citys. The Nurburgring is something def. to not be missed. I did 4 laps in the Wagon 320d that we had with winter tires on it. It was a little greasy with those tires. Driving across Germany in that car on the Autobahn was really fun too. Went from the Nurburgring back to Munich very quickly. A 320d manual WILL in fact do 240km (150mph).

[DaButt]

I am planning a trip from Freiburg to Munich in a couple of weeks and I am going to rent a 335i from BMW on Demand.

Take the B roads east until you hit the A96 in Memmingen, B roads are where you thank god for BMW- the twisties- more fun.

When you get to Munich- (not sure if you have accommodations) We always really enjoyed Motel One- there's one about a block from the Ostbahnhof. They have parking. There's also a very highly rated Hostel right next to the Hauptbahnhof- EuroYouthHotel

Go to BMW WELT! And the Museum! Trust me.

Drink at Hofbrauhaus until it gets too crowded, then go across (caddy-corner) the street to the Augustiner Brauhaus. The second best beer I had in Europe, second only to the Brugse Zot, was in the Augustiner Haus.

If you're into clubs- go to Kunstpark- it's a collection of 20+ clubs that you pay ONE cover for (as of 2010), and they party until 5 am most nights. Go into the Russian club- you can't miss it, it's got a 20 ft bust of Lenin's head in front. Hilarious. I've been in there several times and I've always seen a half naked Russian lesbian couple dry humping on the dance floor. Viel Spass.

If at all possible, go to a Bierfest (or any fest)- just because you're there in August doesn't mean there aren't any fests. in fact, some of the most fun I had was at Sommerfests.

Driving will be very easy- autobahn = highway- not that cool. The fastest cars will be Audi or VW wagons, no shit, few Mercs thrown in. Just be safe, it'll stack up very logically. And if you don't have GPS, you have to know which direction you're heading- ie instead of A96 East it will say A96 towards Munchen, which is East. This will make sense once you see it.

Pretty jelly you're in the Deutschland- have fun.

[nwe30]

Take the B roads east until you hit the A96 in Memmingen, B roads are where you thank god for BMW- the twisties- more fun.

When you get to Munich- (not sure if you have accommodations) We always really enjoyed Motel One- there's one about a block from the Ostbahnhof. They have parking. There's also a very highly rated Hostel right next to the Hauptbahnhof- EuroYouthHotel

Go to BMW WELT! And the Museum! Trust me.

Drink at Hofbrauhaus until it gets too crowded, then go across (caddy-corner) the street to the Augustiner Brauhaus. The second best beer I had in Europe, second only to the Brugse Zot, was in the Augustiner Haus.

If you're into clubs- go to Kunstpark- it's a collection of 20+ clubs that you pay ONE cover for (as of 2010), and they party until 5 am most nights. Go into the Russian club- you can't miss it, it's got a 20 ft bust of Lenin's head in front. Hilarious. I've been in there several times and I've always seen a half naked Russian lesbian couple dry humping on the dance floor. Viel Spass.

If at all possible, go to a Bierfest (or any fest)- just because you're there in August doesn't mean there aren't any fests. in fact, some of the most fun I had was at Sommerfests.

Driving will be very easy- autobahn = highway- not that cool. The fastest cars will be Audi or VW wagons, no shit, few Mercs thrown in. Just be safe, it'll stack up very logically. And if you don't have GPS, you have to know which direction you're heading- ie instead of A96 East it will say A96 towards Munchen, which is East. This will make sense once you see it.

Pretty jelly you're in the Deutschland- have fun.

Wow, great bulk of information here. Danke!