Many people in Germany do not have a car, especially those living in larger cities where public transport works well.
However, sometimes you might need one, whether it is to transport something or maybe to go on a trip through the country.
Fortunately, even if you do not own a car yourself, you can still drive someone else’s vehicle, whether it belongs to a relative, friend, or maybe a neighbour. You can obviously also rent one from a rental agency or through carsharing.
Valid licence and approval from owner
In Germany, motor vehicle liability insurance - or Kfz-Haftpflichtversicherung - is linked to the vehicle and not to the driver. This means that the owner’s insurance normally covers anyone who drives the car - as long as they have permission and the insurance policy allows it.
Therefore, in principle, you can drive someone else's car if you have the owner's permission and, of course, a valid driver’s license.
However, you still need to read the fine print on the car’s insurance policy to make sure it doesn't have any particular restrictions on additional drivers, as some policies might specify who is allowed to drive. Some policies will only allow one person to drive: the policyholder. If the policy allows additional drivers, you're typically good to go.
This is also important if you rent a car in Germany. If you do, you'll need to declare every driver who may potentially drive it and provide their licence information. If you plan on driving the car outside Germany, you'll need to declare where. This typically increases the cost of the rental. If you use a carsharing service, only you can typically drive the car you're renting.
While borrowing someone's car, you should also have the vehicle’s registration documents and proof of insurance. If you forget the documents, you might need to pay a fine or face complications in the case of an accident or a ticket.
If an accident occurs, you need to contact the car owner. The owner's insurance company will handle claims or damages.
READ ALSO: EU countries to extend range of offences foreign drivers can be fined for
Valid licence in Germany
To drive someone else's - or indeed anyone's - car in Germany, you need to have a valid licence.
If you have a valid German or another EU licence, this is straightforward.
If you have a non-EU licence, you can typically drive on it in Germany for the first six months you're here.
After six months of legal residence in Germany, you won't be able to drive on your non-EU licence. You will need to convert your non-EU licence to a German one. You can check out The Local's guide for how this is done.
READ ALSO: How do I convert my foreign driver's licence into a German one?
Car insurance in Germany
If you own a vehicle in Germany, you're required to have insurance on it.
The cost of your car insurance is based on a wide range of factors, such as driving experience, car engine size, and location.
Inexperienced drivers, high-powered cars, and drivers living in urban areas typically face higher insurance premiums.
Maintaining a no-claim driving record will lead to a lower fee, as it often leads to lower insurance premiums with your next insurer.
Car insurance premiums can vary quite widely in Germany.
You might be able to get some premiums for €400 a year or even lower. But again, this depends on the make and model of your car, its current estimated value, how old it is, how much experience you have driving and a host of other factors - including whether you allow additional drivers on it.
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