Renting a Car at Berlin Airport
Last updated: April 2026
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), which opened in 2020 after years of delays, has a well-organized rental car center in the ground-floor area of Terminal 1. Sixt (a German company headquartered in Munich), Europcar, Avis, Hertz, and Enterprise all have desks. BER replaced both Tegel and Schönefeld airports, consolidating Berlin's car rental market in one location.
🎯 Quick Tip
German Autobahn sections near Berlin have NO speed limit. If you're not comfortable driving at 180+ km/h alongside Porsches and BMWs, stay in the right lane and set your own comfortable pace. Renting a powerful car for Autobahn stretches is a uniquely German experience.
Compare Prices at BER
Check these trusted platforms for the best car hire deals at Berlin Airport:
Airport Pickup Tips
From Terminal 1 arrivals, follow signs to 'Mietwagen/Car Rental' on Floor E0 (ground level). The rental center is a 3-minute walk through the terminal. German efficiency means pickup typically takes 10–15 minutes even in summer. Present your passport, EU license or IDP, and credit card. Most German operators also accept Maestro debit cards.
German rental fleets are impeccably maintained — you'll rarely find pre-existing damage. Still, check the car systematically, especially if it's a high-end vehicle (common in German rental fleets). Document any chips on the Autobahn-driven cars, as stone impact damage is frequent on front bumpers and windscreens.
For detailed guidance, see our pre-drive checklist.
Explore Berlin by Car
Berlin itself is flat and well-served by transit, but a car unlocks the surrounding Brandenburg region — the Spreewald biosphere reserve, Potsdam's Sanssouci Palace, and the Baltic Sea coast are all rewarding day drives.
Top drive from Berlin: Potsdam palaces and the Spreewald forest canals
Getting from Berlin Airport to the City
BER is 23 km south of Berlin's center. Take the A113 motorway north to the A100 city ring road — the drive takes 25–40 minutes depending on traffic. For Potsdam, head west on the A115 (30 min). For Dresden, take the A13 south (2 hours). The A10 ring road circles Berlin and connects to all major Autobahn routes.
Buchbinder and Starcar operate from Schönefeld-area offices on Mittelstraße, reachable by a 5-minute free shuttle from BER Terminal 1. These operators offer competitive weekly rates and often include free additional drivers — a perk that major brands charge €10–15/day for.
What to Know Before Driving from BER
Germany drives on the right. City speed limits are 50 km/h (30 km/h in residential zones), rural roads 100 km/h, and Autobahn sections either unlimited or posted at 120–130 km/h. The A10 ring road around Berlin is mostly limited to 120 km/h. Fuel is sold per liter; diesel (Diesel) is cheaper than petrol (Benzin/Super). Parking in Berlin requires a Parkschein ticket from curbside machines.
Most German rentals are manual (Schaltgetriebe). If you need automatic (Automatik), book explicitly — it's a separate category and costs 10–20% more. Before pulling away, locate the Umweltzone (emissions zone) sticker on the windscreen — you'll need this green sticker to drive into Berlin's city center. All rental cars should have one, but verify.
Fuel Stations Near BER
Aral (Germany's largest chain) and Shell stations are on Bundesstraße 96a near BER, 2 km from the terminal. Fuel prices: Super E10 approximately €1.75/L, Diesel €1.65/L. The Aral station on Schönefelder Allee is the closest to BER's rental return area. AdBlue is available at all stations for diesel SUVs.
Local Driving Tip
Berlin has a low-emission zone (Umweltzone) covering everything inside the S-Bahn ring — your rental needs a green emissions sticker, which most agencies include automatically. Verify it's on the windshield before driving off.