Car hire any tips

sheesh

Hi all
hoping to hire a car this year to get to the skiing in soll

do any of you think I need to hire extre stuff like snow tyres, snow chains or ski rack There will be 4 of us possibly a passat

re ski rack will we get away with just bringing the skis into the car with us?

thanks

oh where did you get your car / insurance

nialo

Yes you could take the skis in the car. not going to be a pleasent trip thought. they will be difficult to manage and take up alot of space and visibility out the back. unless you get a very big car. might be safer just to get the ski rack. as for chains, the roads should be fine. and if they arent you can double check at the rental desk before you leave. wouldnt book them in advance. been skiing a good few year in the alps and i havent needed chains yet.

loobylou

I hired a campervan in Munich once. They supplied chains (new, in box) as I think it was a legal requirement to carry them in certain mountainous areas of Austria.
They only charged for the rental of the chains on return if they had been used.

olaola

The hole into the boot from the back seat is the 'ski hatch' so you poke them through there. You don't need snow tyres/chains etc. As the roads (most likely!) will be clear. If not, buy a set in a garage on the way. They're only about €20. You are NOT allowed to use the chains unless the conditions dictate. If you're travelling on a Sat - they'll make sure all the roads are clear unless it's really pouring down and it's covering the roads as soon as they can clear the snow.

For car rental - try www.easycar.com , www.autoeurope.com and www.travelsupermarket.com - I've got some great deals on each of these. Insurance is included in the prices. You can get extra at the desk when you pick the car up. Munich is especially efficient when renting a car. Remember to fill the car up before you drop the car back. There will be a large station (Agip) on your RHS as you're nearing the airport. And also note - you will be renting 'A Passat or similar', so you've no guarantee what you'll get. But, being Germany you'll more than likely get a Passat.

Fattes

shees, Most rentals come with snow tyres as standard and as said above the Austrians do a great job of keeping the roads clear into resorts especially at the weekend.

Seen two guys drive from Germany to Switzerland in an A class Merc witht he skies inside.

The drive is short so if it is only 2 pairs stick them in a double ski back and
throw them down the middle.

It is actaully a legal requirment to have snow chains in parts of Austria so check before you go.

Also the Austrian's require you to have a Vinegarete for driving on their roads you can pick them up at most petrol stations if you are caught without one the fine is fairly heavy.
Enjoy the trip.

robinph

Fattes wrote: »

Also the Austrian's require you to have a Vinegarete for driving on their roads you can pick them up at most petrol stations if you are caught without one the fine is fairly heavy.

Erm, something must be getting lost in the translation here?

Static M.e.

Make sure you learn and practice at least once, how to put on Snow chains.. Half way up a mountain on a road of ice is not the time to read the manual

olaola

You only need a vignette if you're using the autobahn.
http://www.tolltickets.com/country/austria/vignette.aspx?lang=en-GB

And I don't think you will be using any of them.

flikflak

Winter tyres are mandatory in Austria so if hiring from Germany then make sure your car has them. You usually can pay at the desk for them. The Austrian cops will stop German registered cars to check and they will fine you if you dont have winter tyres.

We had a large estate and could fit the skis in no problem.

Coming down from Munich to Soll you can get most of the way down on the German motorways and get off just before entering Austria if you dont want to buy a vignette. They are only about €10 for the week anyway so might be better to just get one.

Fattes

Olaola, Yep very little motorway but there is always a chance of going wrong & ending up on one for the sake of €10 you avoid a €200 fine if caught.

Dam these Europeans and there efficency:D

olaola

flikflak wrote: »

Winter tyres are mandatory in Austria so if hiring from Germany then make sure your car has them. You usually can pay at the desk for them. The Austrian cops will stop German registered cars to check and they will fine you if you dont have winter tyres.

http://www.oeamtc.at/index.php?type=article&id=1127991&menu_active=0194

"2. Summer tires with snow chains
As an alternative to winter tire chains can be mounted on at least two drive wheels. This is only allowed if the road or almost uniformly consistent with snow or ice covered. If you have summer tires on the car, should carry on long journeys, in any case chains in the trunk."

sheesh

wow loads of great info there, thanks everyone ! anyone else with more please keep it coming.

the question of the ski rack only comes into play when we are there and moving between towns so we should be alright there.

thanks for the links for the car rental I had not seen some of those and car toll thing might be a good thing just in case we end up on an auto bahn.

I'll have to investigate the requirement for snow tyres.

Again thanks.

olaola

sheesh wrote: »

I'll have to investigate the requirement for snow tyres.

The last link I posted is taken from Austrian law on snow tyres. That site is their equivalent to the AA.

k123456

If you are a memeber of the AA, 10% discount with Hertz

Ryanair and/or Aer Lingus sometimes have deals on car hire

Keep an old towel in boot and use it to brush snow off your skis, wet skis in the a hire car are not a good idea

Bring/Borrow a Sat Nav

Keep a windscreen scraper handy, 1st thing in morning, there may be a frost/ice on windscreen which can be difficult to clear

Without chains, driving uphill isnt dangerous as such, you just grind to a halt. Driving downhill is the dangerous part