Car Rental in Stuttgart

Why rent a car in Stuttgart?

Stuttgart is a classy place to visit. A primarily industrial city that is home to famous carmakers like Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, there’s also a touch of history and sophistication about it, from many well-preserved buildings to great museums and galleries. With a rental car, you can also travel to the nearby Black Forest area and cities like Heidelberg and Freiburg. Frequently voted as one of the nicest places to live in Germany, Stuttgart is just as fun to visit.

Top ways to enter Stuttgart

• Stuttgart Airport: One of the largest in Southern Germany, Stuttgart Airport served 11.8 million travelers in 2018. The airport consists of four terminals, although Terminal 4 is under construction as of July 2019. The airport is 14km (8.7 miles) south of the city center and can be reached in about 20 minutes.
• Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport. Small, but reasonably busy, this airport serves the larger city of Karlsruhe and the famous spa town of Baden–Baden. As of 2024, it has scheduled flights by eight different airlines, including low-cost carriers Ryanair, Wizz Air, and Eurowings. The drive to Stuttgart takes only about 90 minutes.
• Mannheim City Airport: A small, regional airport, Mannheim City Airport only serves domestic flights as of July 2019 connecting Mannheim to Germany’s two largest cities, Berlin and Hamburg. Located 130km (81 miles) northwest of Stuttgart, it can be reached in about 90 minutes.
• Frankfurt Airport: The largest in Germany and one of the busiest in Europe, Frankfurt Airport served a record 69.5 million passengers in 2018. The airport is a hub for Lufthansa and is also served by a large number of other airlines offering flights to all continents of the world. The airport is located 195km (121 miles) north of Stuttgart and the distance between the two can be traveled in about two hours.
• Memmingen Airport: Sometimes also referred to as Allgäu-Memmingen Airport or Munich-West, this airport is popular with low-cost carriers and can often be a cheaper way to reach Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Located 150km (93 miles) southeast of Stuttgart, it can be reached in about two hours.
• Munich Airport: Serving Germany’s third-largest city, it is the second-busiest airport in the country. The airport hosts countless flights to and from destinations in Europe and also connects Germany to Africa, the Middle East, South and East Asia, and the Americas. Located 240km (149 miles) east of Stuttgart, the airport can be reached in about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
• By rail: If you arrive in Stuttgart by train, you can conveniently pick up a rental car at Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof Railway Station.

City facts

• Although not located on the coast, Stuttgart has an oceanic climate. Its summers are warm and relatively humid while its winters are cool and dry. The average high temperature is 26°C  (79°F) in July, the warmest month, and 4°C  (39°F) in January.
• Stuttgart is home to many famous and high-quality museums. Car lovers will know about the Mercedes-Benz Museum and the Porsche Museum, but there are also the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart or the State Gallery, the Kunstmuseum or Modern Art Museum, the Linden Ethnological Museum, Natural History Museum, and many others.
• Stuttgart is famous for its high quality of life. The city is constantly mentioned as one of the best places to live in Germany and even in Europe as a whole. Factors like high levels of income, having many cultural institutions, vast and accessible green spaces, and low unemployment and crime rates contribute to this status.

Top sights and activities

• New Palace. Known as Neues Schloss in German, it is one of the symbols of Stuttgart. Built in the 18th century by the Duke of Württemberg, the baroque building was almost completely demolished during World War Two but was carefully and skillfully renovated in the post-war years. Nowadays, the palace houses the State Ministries of Finance and Economy but is also open for tours. 
• Bohnenviertel. Literally meaning “bean quarter” in German, it is one of the few parts of medieval Stuttgart that have survived to the present day. Primarily made up of two- and three-story buildings, most of which have been renovated, the area was for centuries inhabited by Stuttgart’s poorest craftsmen for whom beans was the staple food of their diet. Nowadays, Bohnenviertel is one of the nicest parts of the town with many small galleries, creative restaurants, and a special atmosphere.
• The City Library. Stuttgart’s cube-shaped library is one of the most innovative buildings in Germany. Opened in 2011, it houses not only works of literature, but also of music, video, and visual arts. As minimalistic and futuristic from inside as it is from the outside, it is a place that is definitely worth a visit even if you don’t want to borrow a book. 
• Stuttgart Computer Museum. Owned by the neighboring University of Stuttgart, this small and quirky museum is dedicated to the beginnings of computer science, with some of the earliest German computers on display here. Despite their honorable age, many of the devices are still in working condition and can be tested by visitors. The museum is in the southern outskirts of the city with the drive from the center taking about 20 minutes. 
• Carl Zeiss Planetarium. Stuttgart is nothing if not tech-savvy, so naturally many of its landmarks are related to science and discovery. First built in the 1920s, it has been significantly modernized several times; nowadays, topical shows and presentations frequently take place here. Visitors of the Planetarium will also enjoy the Swabian Observatory, a center of cosmic research that is open for visitors. 

Traffic and parking

• Unless specifically indicated otherwise, the speed limit is 50km/h (31mph) in populated or built-up areas. There is no national speed limit on the autobahns (highways) and many of them don’t have a set speed limit. However, contrary to what is sometimes stated, about 50% of the autobahns have their own individual speed limits, so carefully follow the speed limit signs on each road that you drive on.
• Where speed limits are enforced, the tolerance for speeding is low. Driving just 3km/h (2mph) above the speed limit can, and often will, lead to a fine. Many roads that do have speed limits have radars in place.
• Some autobahns have a minimum speed limit that applies to specific lanes, for example, a minimum speed of 110km/h (68mph) for the left and 90km/h (56mph) for the center lane. 
• Because of the very high speeds used by some on the German autobahns, be extra careful before switching lanes.
• It is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving. This is strictly enforced and the fines are high.
• Children under the age of 12 have to use a child safety seat.
• The legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for experienced drivers and 0.00% for novice drivers. Exceeding these limits can lead to high fines and a license ban. 
• Proof of insurance and the car’s documentation need to be in it whenever you’re driving.
• When you are driving, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
• The general emergency number, like elsewhere in the EU, is 112.

Toll roads

Although Germany has a large number of high-speed motorways, only vehicles that weigh more than 7,5 tons need to pay a toll. This excludes practically all types of rental cars.

There are two tolled tunnels in Germany, the Herren Tunnel in Schleswig-Holstein and the Warnow Tunnel in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Neither of them is near Stuttgart.

Find out more about the toll roads in Germany on the European toll road website.

Ideas for day trips

• Mercedes-Benz Museum. The most famous museum in the city tells the story of the legendary Stuttgart-based car maker. Visitors are shown the finest vehicles of different eras as well as interactive exhibits on the company’s beginnings, inside workings, and future vision. If you like visiting there, you’re also likely to enjoy the Porsche Museum (the drive between the two takes about 30 minutes).
• Bad Cannstatt. After visiting the Mercedes-Benz Museum, it is worth sticking around the northeastern neighborhood of Stuttgart where it is located. Sitting on the Neckar River and inhabited before Stuttgart was, Bad Cannstatt is characterized by narrow streets, medieval churches, and an old, impressive market square.
• The Black Forest. A large mountain range covered with thick woodland, Schwarzwald is one of the most atmospheric natural areas in Western Europe. Made up of many rivers and lakes, wooden farmhouses, and quiet hiking paths, it looks like a place straight out of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale. The forest is about 130km (81 miles) southwest of Stuttgart and can be reached in 1 hour and 40 minutes.
• Heidelberg. Known for its towering castle, well-preserved historical center, and narrow side streets, Heidelberg is one of the most scenic and atmospheric cities in Southern Germany. A famous university town, it is also home to a number of high-quality museums and research centers. The surrounding Neckar River Valley is as interesting to explore as the city itself. A car drive from Stuttgart to Heidelberg will take about two hours.
• Mannheim. If you’ve made your way to Heidelberg, you might also consider exploring its larger and more modern twin of Mannheim, one of the most important cities in southwest Germany. A planned city (something very rare in Germany), what it relatively lacks in history it more than makes up for with its varied cuisine, lively arts scene, vast parks, and great theaters. Mannheim is just to the northwest of Heidelberg and can be reached by car in less than 30 minutes.

Most popular cars

The most popular rental car type in Stuttgart is a mini, followed by economy and compact. The most popular rental cars in Stuttgart are the VW Up, the Toyota Aygo, and the VW Polo. 

Further destinations

• Frankfurt. Much more than just the financial capital of Europe, Frankfurt is also a thriving hub of architecture, arts, and innovation. Travelers love it for its well-preserved historic center and impressive skyline with many skyscrapers. Just 210km (130 miles) north of Stuttgart, Frankfurt can be reached in 2 hours and 20 minutes.
• Saarbrucken. Something of a hidden gem, the capital of the Saarland region is a place of contrasts. Inhabited since the Ancient Roman times and home to a number of medieval and Renaissance buildings, it also honors its more recent industrial past with the nearby Völklingen Ironworks turned into a museum and having received the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located 220km (136  miles) west of Stuttgart, Saarbrucken can be reached in 2 hours and 20 minutes.
• Freiburg im Breisgau. Located on the western edge of the previously mentioned Black Forest, Freiburg is one of the most charming cities in all of Germany. Known for its pleasant weather and well-preserved architecture, it is also a lively university town with a busy cultural scene – and a proximity to some stunning natural sites. Freiburg can also serve as a gateway to the city of Strasbourg and the French region of Alsace (just across the border to the west), Switzerland (to the south), and Lake Konstanz (to the southeast). The drive from Freiburg to Stuttgart takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
• Berlin. Although the German capital has many timeless landmarks, such as the Brandenburg Gate, Unter den Linden boulevard, and the remaining parts of the Berlin Wall, the number one characteristic of this city is that it is always changing. A metropolis of arts and culture and home world’s most unique neighborhoods, it remains one of the top tourism destinations in Europe. Berlin is 630km (391 miles) northeast of Stuttgart and can be reached in about six hours.

Car rental prices in Stuttgart

• Small cars - from $28 per day
• Medium cars - from $31 per day
• Station wagons - from $31 per day
• SUVs - from $32 per day
• Premium cars - from $56 per day
• Large cars - from $33 per day
• Vans - from $52 per day
• Convertibles - from $47 per day

Money-saving and other tips

Try to land a great rental car in Stuttgart by following these tips:

• Compare the rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Stuttgart is the cheapest in December when renting a car is about 41% cheaper than the yearly average. Come to Stuttgart for your Christmas vacation!