Luxury car rental in Germany starts at the Mercedes E-Class, the BMW-5 Series, and the Audi A-6 level. Since bookings are made by category, not make or model, you can't guarantee what car you'll actually wind up driving but it's relatively certain it will be one of these three. All are automatics and all come with GPS in the price. With tax, these cars are currently in the $650 to $680 per week range, including tax. Make sure your credit card will cover CDW and theft on these vehicles. If not, investigate Amex's Premium Car Rental Protection ($18-$25 per rental, depending on your state of residence). The policy provides primary coverage; in other words it pays regardless of whether you have other insurance. There are a few other perks, as well. Unfortunately, because of state insurance regulations, Amex is forbidden from selling this policy in Georgia, New Hampshire, Idaho, Pennsylvania, Iowa and Oklahoma.

Those who really want to go in style can move up to the Audi A8, Mercedes S-Class and the BMW 7-Series. These cars are almost certainly excluded from collision and theft insurance by Visa and MasterCard, so look to the Amex Premium plan for coverage. Figure on paying more than $1000 per week with tax, and having to display two major credit cards at the time of rental...one of which must be Gold or higher.

Fast car buffs who want to go 150 mph on the Autobahn can do so in a Porsche Panamera for just under $3,000 per week including tax. There is a limit of 200 kilometers per day, with a €1/km fee after that.

Don't even think about driving any of these cars into former eastern bloc countries (Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, etc.) or Italy. The Porsche can only be driven into Austria and Switzerland, but remember there are speed limits on the Autobahn in those countries.

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