Germany campervan hire: quick facts
| Typical hire price | About €55 to €180 a night, €400 to €1,250 a week; highest in July and August |
|---|---|
| Best months | May to September; the Christmas markets make December popular, but expect winter conditions |
| Drive on the | Right |
| Licence | A UK photocard licence covers vans up to 3,500 kg, and an International Driving Permit is not needed for a visit of up to six months |
| Tolls | No toll for cars or campervans on the Autobahn; the HGV toll does not apply to motorhomes |
| Low-emission zones | Umweltzonen in a number of cities; a green Umweltplakette sticker is needed |
| Overnight rules | Campsites and Stellplätze; outside them, one night to rest is tolerated, but camping behaviour is not |
Where you can stay overnight
Campsites and Stellplätze
Germany has two main types of place to stop. Campsites (Campingplätze) are the familiar kind, with pitches, showers and a shop. Stellplätze, also called Wohnmobilstellplätze, are parking areas designed for motorhomes. They are usually simpler and cheaper than a campsite, often on the edge of a town, by a lake or at a vineyard, and many offer fresh water, waste disposal and electricity for a fee. Facilities and rules differ from one to the next, so check whether awnings, chairs and barbecues are allowed before you set up.
In peak summer the popular Stellplätze near the Rhine, Mosel and Bavarian lakes fill by mid-afternoon, so arrive early or have a campsite as a back-up.
Wild camping in Germany
Wild camping is not legal in Germany in the sense of setting up camp wherever you like. What the rules allow is parking to restore your fitness to drive (the Wiederherstellung der Fahrtüchtigkeit). In practice, you can park a motorhome in a place where parking is permitted, sleep one night, and carry on. The ADAC, Germany's motoring club, states that it is generally allowed to park outside a campsite to restore fitness to drive. The ADAC describes this as one night on a car park, with no camping-style activity; there is no fixed number of hours in law.
What you cannot do is behave as if you were camping. An awning, table and chairs, a barbecue, levelling blocks or an extended step turn a rest stop into camping, which local rules can fine. Fines vary by state and municipality, and nature reserves, many forests and national parks are off limits for overnight parking regardless of the rest-stop rule. Signs prohibiting overnight stays or banning motorhomes at a car park take priority. A hire van is not a licence to ignore them.
Driving a campervan in Germany
Tolls
There is no general toll on the German Autobahn network for cars or campervans, according to the ADAC. The HGV toll (Lkw-Maut) used to apply from 7.5 tonnes and was extended on 1 July 2024 to goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes. Motorhomes are not caught by it. According to the ADAC, motorhomes permanently fitted with living equipment (such as beds, a kitchen or a toilet) and used only to carry people, not goods, are not affected. The toll itself is aimed at vehicles built or used for carrying goods. A typical hire campervan is 3.5 tonnes or less in any case. Read the details on the BALM toll FAQ if you are hiring something unusually large.
Umweltzonen and the green sticker
About 35 German cities and areas still have an Umweltzone, a low-emission zone you can enter only with an Umweltplakette. The sticker applies to German and foreign vehicles alike. In practice only the green sticker is needed, since the red and yellow grades are no longer accepted. Driving into a zone without a sticker or an exemption is a €100 fine. The Federal Environment Agency lists the zones, and notes that some cities have been ending theirs as vehicle fleets have got cleaner. Check the Umweltbundesamt page on Umweltzonen for your route.
A van hired in Germany should already carry the sticker in the windscreen, so confirm that when you pick up. If you bring in a vehicle registered abroad, stickers cost about €5 to €20 and can be bought from inspection bodies such as TÜV and DEKRA, or from the ADAC.
Speed limits
For vehicles up to 3,500 kg the limit is 50 km/h in towns and 100 km/h on country roads. The Autobahn has no general limit, but 130 km/h is the advised speed, and many stretches have signed limits that apply. The rules change for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes. The road traffic regulation (StVO) sets 80 km/h outside built-up areas for vehicles from 3.5 to 7.5 tonnes (other than cars) and 60 km/h above 7.5 tonnes, so a heavy motorhome is not treated like a car. On the Autobahn the ADAC gives 100 km/h for a motorhome of 3.5 to 7.5 tonnes registered as a motorhome (Wohnmobil), and 80 km/h otherwise and above 7.5 tonnes. Towing a trailer also brings an 80 km/h limit. Most hire campervans are under 3.5 tonnes, but check the plated weight of a large motorhome. The wording is in section 3 of the StVO.
Winter tyres
Germany has no calendar date for winter tyres. The rule is situational: if the roads are covered in snow, slush, ice or frost, the vehicle needs tyres carrying the Alpine symbol, a mountain with a snowflake. Tyres marked only M+S have not counted since 1 October 2024. Driving with the wrong tyres on wintry roads costs at least €60 and a point on the German licence, with more if you hold up traffic. If you hire between October and April, ask which tyres are fitted. The rule applies to motorhomes as to cars.
Kit and licence
German-registered vehicles must carry a warning triangle, a first-aid kit and at least one hi-vis vest, and vehicles over 3.5 tonnes also need a warning lamp; check them at pick-up. If the vehicle's maximum weight is over 3,500 kg, you may need a C1 entitlement. See do I need a special licence to drive a campervan for the UK rules, and what documents you need.
Route ideas
- Romantic Road and Bavaria (7 to 10 days). From Würzburg south to Füssen and the castles, with Munich and the Alpine lakes at the end.
- Rhine and Mosel valleys (5 to 7 days). Vineyard Stellplätze and river towns between Koblenz, Bernkastel-Kues and Trier.
- Baltic coast and Rügen (7 days). Flat, cycle-friendly and good for families, running from Lübeck towards the chalk cliffs of Rügen.
- Black Forest and Lake Constance (7 to 10 days). Hill roads, lakes and forest villages; allow time for the narrow climbs.
When to go and booking tips
July and August are the dearest and busiest months. Late May, June and September are cheaper, and most sites are open. Book the van early for peak weeks and for one-way trips, and check the mileage allowance, as a long route adds up. For a first campervan trip, see how to drive a campervan for the first time and what insurance you need. Insurance and payment protection come with every booking, and 24/7 roadside assistance is optional.
Where to pick up
The main pick-up points are around Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Berlin and Düsseldorf, plus smaller towns, since vans are listed by private owners and local hire businesses. Search by your dates to see what is available near each airport. For neighbouring trips, see Italy and the Europe hub.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay a toll to drive a campervan on the Autobahn?
No. There is no car toll on the Autobahn, and motorhomes are not liable for the HGV toll, which now starts at 3.5 tonnes. A few tunnels and bridges have local charges.
Do I need a green sticker for German cities?
Yes, for any Umweltzone. The fine for entering without one is €100. Ask the owner to confirm the sticker is on the windscreen.
Can I sleep in a motorhome at an Autobahn rest stop?
You can rest where parking is allowed, for one night, to restore fitness to drive. Do not set out chairs or an awning, and do not use spaces reserved for lorries.
Do I need winter tyres in Germany?
Only when roads are wintry, and then they must carry the Alpine symbol. M+S alone is not enough.
Can I drive a campervan in Germany on a UK licence?
Yes, a UK photocard licence covers vans up to 3,500 kg, and no International Driving Permit is needed for a stay of up to six months. See the GOV.UK guide to IDPs.
Use the search box at the top of this page to see vans available in Germany for your dates.