Reporters accompanied BMW owners from Shenzhen and Guangzhou as they personally drove several high-performance beasts in Europe, including the BMW X6 Hybrid, X5 M, 5 Series M, and 5 Series GT, experiencing the local culture of Munich, Germany, admiring the nobility of Neuschwanstein Castle, and encountering the charming towns of Austria, the country of music. Through this journey, reporters further learned that Chinese nationals can actually explore over twenty Schengen countries in Europe using just a Chinese driver’s license.
Renting a Car in Europe: Your Chinese Driver’s License Works Everywhere
Traveling in Europe by car means you must overcome the fear of the unknown outside world and have the courage to explore. If you prefer road trips, renting a car to drive through picturesque Europe is undoubtedly one of the most rewarding and cost-effective experiences.
Our base for this trip was Germany. In fact, whether in Germany or the subsequent destination of Austria, there are numerous car rental companies where foreigners can conveniently rent vehicles at any time. In Europe, you can often rent brand-new cars with only a few thousand kilometers on them. If the car you reserved is rented out in advance, rental companies will usually upgrade you for free to a higher-tier model (such as Mercedes-Benz or BMW). A tip to secure such an upgrade is to select in-demand models like the Volkswagen Golf when searching and booking online. For instance, renting a four-door economy car in Germany for 20 days can be as low as about 500 euros, excluding fuel. Even with fuel and tolls added, the total doesn’t exceed 1,000 euros. In Austria, weekly rentals range between 450 and 650 euros, not including fuel. All in all, self-driving is far more economical and freeing than joining a tour group. You can also purchase various types of insurance for your rental car based on your needs. In Europe, many rental cars come with manual transmissions. As for cross-border driving, it depends on the policies of the rental company. For example, Denzel prohibits taking their cars into certain countries, usually less developed Eastern European nations.
Of course, aside from that, you must carry your passport at all times. Since Switzerland was the last to join the Schengen Area, some border checkpoints still have staff on duty, so it's best to prepare all necessary documents in case you’re asked for inspection.
Tips: Your Chinese driver’s license must first be translated into English and notarized by the notary office in your place of household registration. Its validity period should match that of the original Chinese license, up to a maximum of six years. A notarized Chinese driver’s license with an English translation serves the role of an international driving permit and is recognized by some countries. The notarization fee is roughly around 150 to 300 RMB.
Highway Driving Rules in Europe: No Overtaking on the Right
Most European highways have excellent road conditions, though there are usually only two lanes. Fortunately, drivers adhere closely to traffic regulations. On sections without speed limits, you can fully enjoy the thrill of driving while ensuring safety. Road rules were our biggest takeaway in Europe. A German BMW staff member accompanying us told us that although Europeans drive very fast, they strictly obey traffic rules—for instance, they never stay in the left lane (the passing lane) for long and absolutely never overtake from the right. What made us Chinese feel ashamed was that during the entire road trip, we didn’t see a single vehicle violating lane rules.
In Europe, most highways charge tolls, whereas national roads are mostly toll-free. For example, Germany has over 12,550 kilometers of highways, making it the European country with the highest highway density. What excites car enthusiasts the most is that only parts of Germany’s highways have speed limits—the majority do not. On July 27th, as we drove from downtown Munich to the outskirts’ Neuschwanstein Castle with a group of Chinese BMW owners, we traveled along a roughly 150-kilometer stretch of highway that had no speed limit at all, allowing us to drive to our hearts’ content.
If you choose to drive on the highway, it’s recommended to buy a 7-day highway pass for Schengen countries, which is available at highway rest stops and typically costs no more than 10 euros. If you try to save that small amount, you may face hefty fines if caught by police. However, driving on European national roads is definitely more challenging than highways, but the unexpected rewards are much greater—the scenery along the way is truly stunning. As you pass through town after town and village after village, you’ll be moved by their neat beauty, with every little house uniquely decorated with flowers. If your car breaks down or if you encounter any emergency, just call the car rental company’s club hotline, and help will be dispatched immediately.
In the streets of Austria, you can rent a BMW motorcycle like this for getting around.
On the Road: Our Self-Driving Journey
Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the world’s top 10 most beautiful castles, the place closest to a fairy tale, and the prototype for Disney park castles... Just these accolades are enough to stir your imagination. First-time visitors to Germany are already captivated by the famous Neuschwanstein Castle, and when you add renowned German beer and pork knuckle, your trip will certainly not end in disappointment. On the second day of our arrival in Germany, we had the fortune of driving from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle. The scenery along the way goes without saying. We drove a BMW X5 GT, whose powerful performance allowed us to fully enjoy the thrill of European highways. When we got tired of driving, we could stop by a small town by the roadside, sit for a while, and experience the unique charm of foreign landscapes.
The next day, we set off again from Munich, driving along the only highway leading to Salzburg, Austria, the city of music, covering a distance of 160 kilometers. In Salzburg, Austria, the Mirabell Gardens—filming location of The Sound of Music—are breathtakingly beautiful and unforgettable, and there are also worthwhile sights like Mozart’s residence and the Music Square. One of the advantages of a road trip is that once you're captivated by the scenery, you can simply park your car and explore freely. However, freedom comes at a price. In Europe, parking fees can be quite expensive, and if you park your rental car improperly, there’s always a risk of it being towed away by the police. If your car is towed, the hassle that follows will be quite troublesome.
TIPS: Gas stations are plentiful along the European route, and the vast majority are self-service. Within Austria, gas station machines usually have buttons that let you choose to pay by credit card or inside the store. Since diesel cars are common, diesel prices range between 1.1 and 1.3 euros per liter. Prices vary from station to station—even two adjacent gas stations can differ by more than ten cents.