 Poster: A snowHead
|
Hello,
As the title suggests when you hire a car (Germany/Austria) do you bother to pay for chains? If we don't pay for them now will they make us pay for them at the airport? All the hire companies have them as an extra (about £40 for 7 days) and we have hired cars before in Austria but I can't remember what we did. I believe it is not compulsorary in Germany and Austria but, understanably you would get into bother if they were needed and you didn't have them!
Any thoughts? J
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
jablonka, don't know about Austria/Germany, but if looking at that question in a French context I'd be ready to buy some (a lot less than £40 for cheap ones, which is all they'll probably give you) in a supermarket if necessary.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
Presumably the car would have winter tyres as standard?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Yes winter tyres as included.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
jablonka, then if I were you I'd keep a close eye on the forecast and keep the £40 in my pocket. Bearing in mind that chains in resort will cost more than in a supermarket, should weather close in unexpectedly when you have to leave. It's not that often you need chains on a car with good winter tyres.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
jablonka, Where are you hiring from? In Austria winter tyres are a legal requirement (so-called O bis O time period - October to Easter), so between that period the car hire companies have to have them on. BUT it is your duty as the driver to check before accepting the car. I found out the hard way NOT to assume the hire car is safe to drive.
In Germany it is not compulsory in the same way, BUT if you are involved in an accident and do not have suitable tyres for the conditions, your insurance is void and you could also be charged for causing the accident. It is a weird ruling, so again check at the care hire before you accept the vehicle. Car hire companies here in Germany have tried to earn extra cash by charging for winterization fo the vehicle, but that was being investigated the last I heard.
Chains are compulsory equipment in the mountains and you could be turned away if you do not have them when asked to show them. However I would not bother hiring them for that money as in most motor shops DIY shops you can pick them up for way less. I picked up a pair for 15 Euros this summer in the Baumarkt shop in Bischofshofen.
Far better to make sure you have excellent winter tyres to be honest. I've lived permanently in the mountains now for nearly 15 years and never had to use mine. Even before that when I was out here seasonally I only had to use them when I had standard all-weather tyres on my car on a couple of occasions when it really did dump down so much that the snow clearers could not cope.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
If the car hire firm name stars with "Easy" or their logo is orange then you will probably have to pay for them 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ