Pick up your vehicle at BER Terminal 1 or 2 and drive straight to Berlin or beyond.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport sits in Schonefeld, 30 km south-east of the city centre. Terminal 1 handles most scheduled flights, Terminal 2 serves low-cost carriers, and rental counters wait in the arrivals hall. From the terminal forecourt you exit onto Waltersdorfer Chaussee, merge onto the A113 autobahn north toward the Berlin ring A10 and Stadtring A100, then reach central districts in 35 to 50 minutes depending on traffic. Southbound routes on the A13 lead to Dresden, the A12 connects to Frankfurt Oder and Poland.
This page covers airport pickup: meeting your driver or collecting keys at a counter after you land, paperwork at the terminal, and routes away from BER. If you plan to explore Berlin itself - Mitte, Kreuzberg, Museum Island - that city page explains parking zones, the environmental sticker requirement, and neighbourhood routing. Here we focus on the arrivals process, terminal logistics, and the autobahn network radiating from Schonefeld.
We work with local rental companies stationed at BER. Each firm sets its own deposit rules and payment requirements, so the search widget below flags which cars accept a debit card or cash and which waive the holding deposit. Booking advance goes online by card; the balance and any security arrangement happen when you sign the rental agreement in the arrivals hall or meet a representative outside the terminal.
Four steps separate your flight from the driver's seat.
Clear customs, grab your bags, and walk into the arrivals hall. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 both have clearly signed rental zones near the exit doors.
Your voucher names the company and desk location. Some operators hand keys at a counter; others send a driver to meet you with a name board outside the terminal doors.
Present your driving licence, confirm payment for the balance, and walk through the vehicle condition report. Existing scratches or dents go into the contract so you are not charged later.
Follow signs for Waltersdorfer Chaussee, join the A113 slip road, and choose your direction - north into Berlin or south toward Dresden and the motorway network.
In the search widget at the top of this page, tick "Specify location" and type "Berlin Brandenburg Airport" or "BER" to see only cars available for terminal pickup. Flight-number entry during booking protects you if your plane is delayed; the company monitors arrivals and adjusts the meet time automatically.
Five common routes show why an airport pickup saves backtracking through the city.
A113 north to Stadtring A100, exit at Grenzallee or Neukolln, 30 km in 35-50 minutes. A compact such as the Volkswagen Polo or Opel Corsa suits narrow streets and parallel parking in Mitte or Prenzlauer Berg.
A113 south to A13, continue 160 km to Dresden city limits, total journey 190 km in two hours. A mid-size saloon like the BMW 318i offers motorway comfort and a large boot for luggage.
A113 to A10 ring west, join A24 at Neuruppin, 290 km in under three hours on unrestricted autobahn sections. The BMW 520i or SEAT Leon balances fuel economy with higher cruising speeds.
A113 south to A12 east, 80 km to the border crossing near Slubice. Check your voucher for written permission to cross into Poland; most companies allow EU neighbours with advance notice.
A113 to A10 ring west, exit at Potsdam-Sud, 50 km in 40 minutes. A crossover such as the Volkswagen T-Cross or Renault Captur handles cobbled palace courtyards and gravel car parks around the park.
Local companies station a range of models at BER; this table shows typical examples and their roles.
| Model | Category | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Polo | Economy | Solo travellers, city parking, short airport-to-hotel transfers |
| Opel Corsa | Economy | Budget-conscious pairs, tight Berlin streets, easy manoeuvring |
| Toyota Corolla | Compact | Reliable motorway cruising, medium luggage, efficient fuel use |
| Volkswagen Golf | Compact | Balanced comfort and boot space, week-long trips across Germany |
| SEAT Leon | Compact | Sporty handling, autobahn overtaking, young professionals |
| BMW 318i | Mid-size | Business travel, premium cabin, Dresden or Hamburg routes |
| BMW 520i | Full-size | Executive comfort, long autobahn legs, four passengers with full luggage |
| Opel Mokka | Crossover | Raised seating, light gravel tracks, family daytrips |
| Volkswagen T-Cross | Crossover | Compact footprint with tall cabin, cobbled old-town centres |
| Volkswagen Taigo | Crossover | Coupe-style crossover, motorway stability, weekend escapes |
| Renault Captur | Crossover | Affordable raised stance, family-friendly interior, moderate luggage |
| Peugeot 3008 | SUV | Five adults, large boot, tours to Saxon Switzerland or Harz mountains |
| BMW 218i | MPV | Active Tourer compact MPV, extra headroom, child-seat installation |
| BMW 220i | MPV | Gran Tourer seven-seater, extended families, airport group transfers |
| BMW 120i | Compact | Premium hatch, spirited driving, blend of performance and practicality |
These models appear regularly at BER but availability changes daily. Use the widget above to see real-time inventory, compare specifications, and filter by transmission or fuel type. The actual car you collect will match the category booked; the rental company assigns the specific vehicle on the day.
Six practical points smooth the process at BER.
Selected cars at BER waive the holding deposit or accept debit cards and cash for the balance; each vehicle sets its own terms.
In the search results each listing displays payment badges. A "No Deposit" tag means the local company will not block funds on your card as security. A "Debit Card Accepted" or "Cash Accepted" badge tells you the balance can be paid without a credit card. These conditions vary by model and supplier, not by category, so compare individual results rather than filtering by class alone.
If a car requires a credit card and you only have a debit card, consider asking your bank to raise your daily limit temporarily. The holding amount typically equals the excess stated in the agreement, and most banks release the block within seven to fourteen days after you return the vehicle undamaged.
When you complete a booking on this site you pay a booking advance by card online; that portion secures your reservation and appears on your confirmation email. The remaining balance is settled when you sign the rental agreement at BER - either at the counter in the arrivals hall or with the representative who meets you outside. Your voucher and the search-result detail page specify whether the balance can be paid by debit card, cash, or credit card only.
The deposit - if required - is a separate hold the rental company places on a card to cover potential damage or traffic fines. It is not a payment; the funds remain in your account and are released after the car is returned and inspected. No-deposit cars skip this hold entirely, which helps if your card limit is modest.
For a full explanation of how the advance, balance, and deposit work together visit our payment methods page.
Common queries about collecting a car at BER.
Yes. Many cars at BER accept a debit card or cash for the balance payment. Search results show a badge when a vehicle allows debit-card or cash settlement. The online booking advance is always paid by card, but the remaining amount at pickup follows the rules shown on each listing.
Most rental desks occupy the arrivals hall in Terminal 1. If you land at Terminal 2, a covered walkway connects to Terminal 1 in under five minutes. Your voucher specifies the exact counter location or meet point; some companies prefer to meet clients outside the terminal doors rather than maintain a permanent desk.
The airport lies 30 km south-east of the city centre. Follow Waltersdorfer Chaussee to the A113, then merge onto the Stadtring A100. Journey time ranges from 35 minutes in light traffic to 50 minutes during morning or evening peaks. Exit at Grenzallee for Neukolln or continue to Prenzlauer Berg and Mitte.
Yes. Berlin enforces a low-emission zone covering the Stadtring and inner districts. The green Umweltplakette should already be attached to the windscreen of your rental car. Check during the initial inspection; if it is missing, ask the rental company to provide one before you drive into the city.
Enter your flight number when you book. The rental company monitors arrivals in real time and adjusts the pickup appointment automatically. If you land two hours late the car remains reserved and the counter or meet service waits without charging a no-show penalty.
One-way rentals depend on the supplier and route. The search widget lets you enter different pickup and drop-off locations; if a company offers the combination you will see results and any one-way fee. Popular corridors such as BER to Hamburg or BER to Dresden often permit one-way returns; less common routes may require you to return to Berlin.
Use the search tool above to compare real-time availability, filter by no-deposit and debit-card options, and book in two minutes. Your voucher arrives by email with terminal instructions, the company contact, and your flight-delay protection confirmation.