🇩🇪 We Bought Our First Car in Germany - ALL IN GERMAN!
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- čas přidán 2. 06. 2024
- You guys have been waiting for our car update; well, here it is! We moved to Germany in February of 2021 with our four kids (and a cat! 🐱) from America, and we spent the first two and a half months without a car. How did we survive? 🤣 Well, watch our video to find out! You'll also see scenes from our visit to Maria Eck, a monastery, chapel, restaurant, and Klostergasthof with panoramic views of Chiemsee and all the way to Munich.
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//CHAPTERS - JUMP TO YOUR FAVORITE PART//
0:00 - See scenes from our daily lives and local travels in our area
1:29 - A little bit about us and our cat
2:56 - How we've survived without a car thus far
5:27 - How we decided on the car that we bought
10:54 - Kevin and Grayson ride their bicycles to go car shopping
16:46 - How we did car insurance
17:57 - We learn so much from your comments - thank you!
19:04 - We paid full sticker price - was that a good idea?!
🌟 Video Editing by Angela Tyler: www.angelatyler.com
I have found that most Germans really appreciate any effort to learn and speak German and will bend over backwards to help you when you try.
Yes! When you show them you care to learn their language, they're almost always so kind in return.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife You guys have such a positive and genuine vibe about you, it simply beats us into submission...
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Germans react this way, because they see that someone is trying to participate in normal cultural life in this country. Such behavior is understood as a great willingness to integrate into the community. And we'll say: "Willkommen". After all, it's already a challenge to learn the very complex language German. So I wish you good success to learn. But I think it's no different in the States. Since I work for a big US company, I also had this experience there...
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I think Kevin did everything right with car and insurance.
yes i would say so too. it is convenient. the vw insurance isnt the cheapest. but hey after 1year he can change to another company.
Yes VW insurance can be pricy but he’ll be able to change to any other Vollkasko insurance:)
2000€ a year would insure him a porsche, also with 500€ deductible, if he has a positive driving record. He needs to go to a comparision website and switch to a cheaper contract.
The VW Sharan has long been known as the ultimate "Großfamilientaxi" - whise decision! Kudos to you.....
VW Sharan, Ford Galaxy, citroen C4 Picasso or Opel Zafira are nearly the same (for the funktionallity) just like the Chevy family cars!
...to actually integrate you'd have to buy a Benz though. /s
@@na3044 They’re in Bavaria, Audi or BMW would be more fitting there … :D
@@pfalzgraf7527 Audi? Really? *scoff*
@@na3044 's a Bavarian brand, that's all.
Kevin should be able to trade his French driver’s license for a German one at the Führerscheinstelle. Since you are living on the countryside you should contact the Landratsamt of the Landkreis you are living.
I don‘t think you have to trade your liscence when it‘s a European one. They are changing all the Papier liscences to credit Card Format though. you have time until 2028 or sth i think
I am Dutch and live in Greece and my Dutch license has been switched to a Greek one because it had expired.But because of EU it is just switching, no tests required. So I assume the same for a French driving license
If you have a France one. Its easier, because they are very precise with it. You have to take a test( Someone of my biblestudy told me that he is also from USA) I think you are living area Ruhpolding/siegsdorf/Traunstein. So i think you have to go to Traunstein for that.
If you want i can recommend a church?
And you can put a strip under the car, Then the kids will not become car sick. it rlly help. its rubber with a small peace of metal. it was design for static, but it thats not rlly necessary anymore for most of the cars. but it helps, for sure in the mountains.
And we have snow again, do you have snow chains?
Fords in Europe are basically German/British. Designed, built and tested in Europe.
Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum neuen Auto!! Ihr seid so eine sympathische Familie 🙂 Macht weiter so
Vielen dank ☺️💖
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Vielen *Dank ;) /smartass mode off :D
Ja finde ich auch! Habe euch soeben entdeckt und bekomme gar nicht genug 😅
You're right: In Germany you say "Deutsche Sprache, schwere Sprache" (German language, difficult language) and therefore each and every foreigner speaking German (or what He/she think German May be) opens Up Our hearts
I'm so happy you didn't land in a big city. I think you might slowly start to understand how good you got it there where you are.
You've got the jackpot, lifesize. No kidding.
LifeWISE ... damn autocorrect!
#metoo!
Maybe Kevin should get a couple of lessons driving on German Autobahn with an Instructor before driving it with the children.
Driving on the Autobahn is way different then driving Highways or Freeways in the US, so I heard. We are driving much faster and there are some rules that had to be followed. I think these few lessons will make Kevin much more secure while driving here in Germany, especially when driving with children, like "How long will we drive?", "I'm hungry, there's a Mac Donalds.", "I need to go to a toilet, NOW." All parents know this, but driving in a new surrounding with a new car (shift sticked) and with other people that don't know you aren't familiar with the way we drive will be more then a major callenge even without the influence of the children.
Maybe you will even apply for a First Aid course, because all drivers here in Germany are commited by law to be able to help if necessary.
I think he has to get a new license anyway after living here for a while.
Hey, congratulations to the new car! Maybe you should think about joining ADAC (basically AAA) at least mid term. They offer assistance all over Europe and it is not that much expensive. About the insurance: You took the most expensive version of the insurance (Vollkaskoversicherung). On the other hand, this covers nearly everything. Nevertheless, for a 2018 model sounds reasonable. Volkswagen Versicherung is normally not the cheapest to go for, anyway also not the most expensive insurance company. Depends on your "Schadenfreiheitsrabatt" / "Schadenfreiheitsklasse" which is basically your no-claims bonus. That is the one big variable in the formula. I doubt, that they calculated this completely in (which they are allowed to as far as i know as you previously had no german insurance). The other thing is: The insurance is also calculated based on the car type, horsepower and so on. I pay for my SUV around 800 Euro per year, also vor the liability and Vollkaskoversicherung. Just to give you an idea. Anyway: I think you did the right thing for a start! The good thing is: You can cancel your insurance on a yearly basis with one month cancellation period if you want to. There are several portals like check24 and so on where you can enter your data and will get a nice overview of insurances and prices. Hope this helps a little. If there are more questions coming up, please let me know. ;) Best Alex
The insurance is way to expensive; 2000€ a year for Vollkasko and a 500€ deductible. VW probably didn‘t take account of his driving record.
I'm hoping to move to Germany next year and your videos are making me so excited! I love how you only use the car once a week, that's awesome! I love how environmentally friendly Germany is and you all seem to being doing a great job integrating!
Sending you the best of luck in accomplishing your move!
I'm so happy that the CZcams algorythm brought you up a few months ago! Greetings from Düsseldorf! Your son's German is so impressive! Most people have big issues pronouncing the "Z"
Yeah that “tsh” sound - still working on it! Düsseldorf is definitely on our list to see! Thanks for watching. 💖
hallo Lina...grüsse aus Düren bei Köln.....war bei mir genauso, mit you tube....war gut so...total interresant und was fürne nette family....bye bye und Stay Safe...
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife I'd be happy to see you come to Düsseldorf, too. :-)
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Think of the "Z" as the "ts" on the end of the word "rats" :)
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife also Here from Düsseldorf 🤩
Don't forget the vignette for Austria ! The toll sticker has been compulsory on Austria's motorways and expressways since 1997. All cars, motorbikes and camper vans up to 3.5 mpw (maximum permissible weight) must properly display a toll sticker or have purchased online in time a digital vignette when they drive onto a motorway or expressway. This avoids a possible toll fine of at least 120 euros. Allzeit gute Fahrt !
You guys are lovely. With or without a car. ❤🤩👍
Thank you 🤗
So now you can start to hit Aldi or Lidl for the weekly shopping. 😉
That’s right! 🤣
Die Leute sind so nett zu Euch, weil IHR so extrem sympathisch seid!!✨💫🙂
Hi from Texas, I really enjoyed your video. Hopefully in 3 to 5 years I will be able to follow your example and move to Germany. I would love to see more of your city and community.
Best of wishes in making your journey here!
Congratulations on the car! With a car like that the whole of Europe is within reach. Imagine, from Munich it's only a 7.5 hour drive to Florence in Italy, and just under 11 hours to Saint-Tropez in France.
Yes! That is the beauty of Europe!
Yep... Sharan... unserer war nagelmeu, hat dann 370.000 km und 17 Jahre überlebt, und ist mit den Blessuren von drei Fahranfängerinnen jetzt vielleicht als Taxi in Afrika untergwes :-)
5:06 Chiemsee = KEEM-ZAY :)
I love your attitude about using German things. CZcams recommended another video by a family who just moved to Germany too. They were in this tiny little supermarket in a Bavarian village and complained about there being only three different kinds of peanut butter. And I was like Thank you, but I don't want to watch that. Whenever I lived abroad immersing myself into the culture and habits of a foreign country was wonderful. Sure, I missed some German things (most importantly bread) but I wanted the whole experience.
Thank you so much! Yes we know we are Germany, it’s not supposed to have American things. What’s the point of moving here if I want to bring my ways and all of my things with me?! Might as well stay home! Kevin and I are addicted to adventure - we want all Germany has to offer.
I saw the video as well I guess ! A family of 3 with a toddler! Right ?
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Ich weiß auch, welches Video gemeint ist. Diese junge amerikanische Familie ist aber grundsätzlich sehr aufgeschlossen für unsere Kultur und unsere Küche und manchmal geradezu enthusiastisch angesichts unserer Architektur und Landschaft.
Die beiden ahnten wohl nicht, dass Erdnussbutter in Deutschland keine große Sache und nicht sehr verbreitet ist.
The kids have only asked for peanut butter once or twice. Ella's new favorite is Nutella on a banana. Ha!
@@SABRINA.ARMY.BTS." our story to tell" but they've made some videos where they tried German food.
Sarah, if you have to take the test again, definitely find a good driving school in your area and take a couple of lessons. I remember talking to my former driving instructor in Germany and he said most foreigners fail the test, if they didn’t take any lessons beforehand. The test really isn’t bad, but they are quite strict and often ask a lot of you. Technical questions too sometimes.
Okay good to know, thank you!
For a full training (as a teenager) expect to pay a few thousand euros. Not sure how it works for foreign adult drivers. Teenagers in any case will have to take a few lessons in darkness and on the Autobahn.
@@ThePixel1983 adults aren’t required to take any, if they already have a license. But it’s recommended they at least take a couple before taking the test.....according to my husband who had to get a German license. Though I am unable to assume liability, I don’t really remember it 😂
Probably cheapest insurance is HUK which I can recommend.
One day my husband and I will come to Germany for a vacation at least I would love to mover there
Your kids will learn german even faster if they join a "Sportverein" (sportclub). In our Fussballclub we work with refugees. The kids learn really quick if they do things they enjoy. Nice car, by the way.
Yes we are excited to join them when they open back up!
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife i don´t know how the corona situation in your "landkreis" is rigth know, but the organised outdoor sport by Vereine is allowed, so maybe your local soccer club or Sportverein have some attractive offers.
No worries, Sarah: I also made my licence in the US (MI). I (as a German) had to go through the exact same process. I did take like four lessons at a Fahrschule to prepare myself for the German test - it was needed. If you need help finding an English speaking instructor in your area just let me know, I can make some calls.
Car salesmen: Same stereotype in Germany, but there are good ones! I think Kevin did everything right by going to an official VW dealer. There's always a better deal out there if you're willing to spend lots of time (for the insurance as well), but I am confident they did not completely overcharge you, and it is a benefit to have it all done by one expert. I'm pretty sure Kevin has a good natural instinct and should continue to trust that.
Service: I am pleased to see an American actually praising German customer service (applies to the Behörden as well), that is rare (we are just not good at it compared to the US, very generally speaking). But it makes me happy to watch you having such a positive experience.
Parking garage (Parkhaus): No worries, your VW will fit into EVERY parking garage in Germany and even the EU. They are standardized for PKW (passenger cars).
Pronounciation: Chiemsee: KEEM-SEE (dict.leo.org/german-english/see, click play for sound); Aschau: USH-OW
Take care guys, if your travels take you to the Frankfurt area, don't be a stranger!
Parking space is not standardized eu-wide (harmonized). But i guess most country will have their own standard set. The problem with ours is, it's from the 1970s and not updated, so sometimes even new parking lots can get really thight.
The old question that we Germans just cannot agree on: Chiemsee oder Kiemsee? Chemiker oder Kemiker? :D (I'll forever stick with CH!)
@@carinab.1923 well, since Chiemsee is in Bavaria and in Bavaria the "ch" is pronounced "k", I'd say there's no debate there... But as long as you don't pronounce it " Schiemsee", I think I can deal 😅😅😅
You should be alright with Parkhäuser, just be aware of the height. I don't know what is the height of a Sharan, but some Parkhäuser especially in bigger cities, just have a maximum height of 1,8m. I think most are even 2m, but please be aware of it 😊
@@acr17 Height Sharan: 1.740 mm
I have never encountered a parking garage that is lower.
It‘s quite exciting to see/hear people learn a foreign language and talk it, so maybe in one of the next videos you can have everyone of your family who likes to show her/his German skills and impress us viewers.
Yes we need to do that as long as we don’t get laughed at for our baby German skills 😜😉😉
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife we'll be laughing WITH you, not AT you 😉😅
But in all seriousness, every German knows how difficult the German language is. I even find myself looking up what article a noun has from time to time and I was born and raised here, so don't stress about it too much 😉
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife I'm sure that most people won't laugh AT you, but they will be happy FOR you..
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife I was reading your comment as I was listening to exactly this part of the video -16:25 - and I must say not only Grayson seems to have impressive German skills, I would say that there is no American accent in the pronunciation and that's even more impressive because the German 'ch' sound is incredibly hard to master for English-Natives!
@@CHarlotte-ro4yi the "ch" sound might be equally hard for english natives as the "th" for german natives ;-)
But Germans and Austrians get better at it. In earlier years it was frustrating to hear politicians say "I sink sat it is importanz to do it sis or sat way"...
Congratulations to your new car! So if you need more place for luggage think about a „Dachbox“. It’s often used bei bigger familys to transport all their stuff on the roof and somtimes you can rent it or share it with friends or neighbours. Have a good time and nice roadtrips 🤗👍⭐️⭐️⭐️💙
Yes! A dachbox. Good thing the car already has roof rails. There is also a towing hitch too if we need it.
There's also luggage boxes you can put on the tow hitch. A tow hitch is always good to have, renting a trailer is much cheaper than renting a van, if you have to haul something extra.
You did a great job! Here in Germany you can switch to another car insurance every November. So you have got enough time to do your research.
Vollkasko...well done,Kevin! With a new car like that it's the best thing you could've done. Nice car, btw...have fun going to Italy and Austria and Czeck Republik! Im sure you'll love it
Fords in Germany are built in Germany or Belgium mainly - they are different than fords in America
A couple basics to keep in mind with driving: never overtake on the right and always keep to the right when there's room (especially on the Autobahn). Also there's no turning right at a red light and you use the indicator before coming out of a roundabout to alert waiting cars/bikes/pedestrians that they can't cross/can drive into the roundabout. Have fun exploring your surroundings more 🙂
The turning right at a red light really is something we could/should import from the US already! 😅
@@katjahuskinson3428 You can turn right on red at some intersections in the former East Germany. Just look for intersections with the green arrows aka "grüne pfeile"
@@anastasialiebster9244 yes, I know that, they have those green arrows at some intersections in western Germany as well. But in the US you can turn right at a red light on every intersection, you just have to regard the light as a stop sign, so you stop, look for pedestrians and cars and then you can slowly proceed to turn. And I think that should be a thing.
Passing right is forbidden only outside a city.
5:09 P E R F E C T - einfach nur perfekt, pronunciation like a natural!
Yayay! Thanks Bernd!
I think it's great to immerse into the german culture, but it's also sooo okay to stick to old and loved habits and food and things too. The mixture is what counts (in my opinion).
When I first came to America as an exchange student many years ago, the first thing my american host mother did was get me a taco from taco bell, and I really couldn't handle it. I was completely overwhelmed....
Yeah that’s very true!
Well I still cook hamburgers on my grill!
Great Video! :)
If I got it right, you got the most expensive fully comprehensive insurance. It is correct that you cannot register a car without liability insurance and that you will not get any license plates. In addition, there are insurance brokers who are looking for and offering insurance that is not so expensive for you. Insurance policies are a dime a dozen and not all are good.
Your car is an older model so you could have acted such as: extra winter tires (in Germany you have winter shoes (winter tires) and summer shoes (summer tires) for the car, it is regulated by law when winter tires are used and when summer tires are used.), Free service, Guarantee up to ..., full tank or roof rack extra and and ........
By the way, how long does your car have TÜV (MOT)?Every 2 years the car has to go to the TÜV, if this is not done, the car loses its registration and its license plates. License plates are then marked as invalid, so if you get caught it will be expensive.
You might have gotten more out of buying the new family vehicle.
PS: The TÜV can help you to find your way in traffic because it has driving school instructors who explain the rules in Germany to you for a day.
You can convert your French driver's license into a German one in Germany if you change it to a new one in card form at the Road Traffic Office. A driving license in card form with a new photo and German because European driving licenses are valid indefinitely.
you two guys are sooo sympatic, including your kids for sure. I love to seing you are dealing with this "german" specialisities. keep it up !
Thanks so much, Stefan!
Finally! Congratulations, you got a German ride! Happy ridin' from Frankfurt! :)
Danke!! 🚗🚙
The meetups are a really lovely idea.
The colour of the car is the same as Sarah´s hair , good decision 😁👌👍
Insurance does sound kinda high for a car like that in the countryside. It all depends which class (Schadensfreiheitsklasse) they put you in, which is the number of years you didn't have any claims with your insurance. So if you can prove that from your american insurance, you might get a lower rate.
For price compare yu can use check24 or Verivox. Also, depending on how old the car is and its value, you might wanna opt for only Teilkasko instead of Vollkasko, depending how risk averse you are. Most likely you can only change that after your first year is over though.
Okay thanks for helping us out!
Yeah, I agree, that rate is probably a bit too high for the car you're driving. Or rather: You can most likely get a better deal. Usually 30th of November is the latest day you can change your insurance. Also: I recommend you go for Vollkasko, as the car doesn't seem to be that old.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife I'd agree, your insurance sounds quite expensive. But it depends on your Schadensfreiheitsklasse (SFxy - you'll find this in the invoice) and the resulting percentage (SF1 = 100% rate, SF20 = 20 yrs no damage = 35% rate - search for it). With a good (long) driver record you may pay less than half of what you told us. - So you may imagine why the seller was so helpful - he'll get a good bonus for the contract.
@@Henning_Rech yes, Kevin was probably his favourite customer of the year agreeing on everything, lol.
@@grandmak. I do still think the deal is okay. it’s not a ripp off, but also not super cheap either. So for doing no research at all and getting the insurance just like that at the dealer, it’s really good.
I remember when we first bought a car over here. I had tried to haggle a bit and it went nowhere, but then I found out that the tax was already included in the price and I felt like I had gotten a 19% discount.
Yeah right, that would me catch off guard if i ever go to america as well. Even i know it now. Because it would be so unusual fo rus to have to add the taxes onto the displayed pricing...
We are compared to America so small and have another tax system, that we have the same taxes everywhere, so it dont matter very much for the companys selling stuff...
The perfect car! Have fun and stay safe.
congratulations on the new car.
If you ever visit Baden-Württemberg during summer August/September, you should come to Karlsruhe to watch Schlosslichtspiele. Such a wonderful and peaceful event for the whole family
Nice, we need to make a list from these comments!
The company I work for here in the US has a campus in Karlsruhe.
I know some had already mentioned the insurance is "a little high" but to me that sounded outrageous. We live in Munich, and even with the more expensive companies like Allianz and full coverage, it would be below 1000 per year. There are a number of online sites like Clark you can check, maybe you can get a better deal in the future.
great music choice!!!!
I have fully comprehensive insurance (Vollkasko) from HUK Coburg for my 5-series BMW Touring. I'm very satisfied, even with an accident 2 years ago. For older cars that no longer have a high value, a simple motor vehicle liability insurance (Kfz-Haftpflichtversicherung) is sufficient. This is then significantly cheaper than fully comprehensive insurance. You can change your insurance once every year, mostly until November of that year. Ask the insurance how this procedure is.
0:00 Love that picture. The spring is late this year, but finally it's here!
Yes, a late spring but it’s still beautiful!!
Perfect for now with most people getting vaccinated and everything opening up. Time for a summer vacation on Sylt or Rügen!? 😉 The german islands are stunning!!
Why should anyone want to go to those cold regions?
@@magmalin Summer = cold? wtf
Very entertaining video! Thank you for sharing your impressions!
Congratulation to your Car!
Thank you so much for your videos, they are just so positive and nice. Have a great evening!
Thanks Felix 🐱☺️
I always enjoy your videos because they show that you are a very nice family with lots of humour! Now you will go and travel all over Europe! To start you could go to Austria and visit the town of Salzburg and also an animal sanctuary,Gut Aiderbichl which is not far away. On the way to Salzburg you could stop in Freilassing and enjoy a meal (and a beer-also without alcohol) at the "Zollhäusl". It is a restaurant and Biergarten at the Austrian border and they have great food. It is a former customs building from around 1900. When you go back you shouldn't miss the historical bridge between Oberndorf and Laufen, very impressive with the double eagle of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire on one side and the Bavarian lion on the other. I lived in Freilassing for some years and the Zollhäusl was always my favorite restaurant. They also have a website. Gut Aiderbichl is a place for abused animals and it is really heartwarming! Greetings from Vienna!
I also get car sick a lot. You can get Reisetabletten/Lutschtabletten gegen Übelkeit in almoust every grocery store, pharmacys and stores like DM and Rossmann. They taste like a flavoured candy but are a non chemical medication against nausea.
They really help me a lot, especially when driving through mountainous landscapes. Maybe they will help your children too.
Oh thank you! I'll write that down and look for it in the stores.
beautiful kitten !!!
Btw a german license can be done in english language too. So ... Go for it!
Driving school will be whole new experience too. Can't wait to see how you'll like it.
Imho it's quality education / training.
Congratulations on the new ride!
My husband still has a German paper license. Though it is valid for life, it will need to be converted to the new format soon.
My son just completed his Erstehilfekurs (first aid class) so he can now begin Fahrschule ( driving school) . I’m both excited and nervous for him. 😂
When your kids are getting car sick, in the pharmacy you will get chewing gum called Superpep, which is really good, but we were really happy to have "Zintona", that are blue pills filled with ginger extract, so it is not chemical and it works great. Taking one before the ride and maybe one between and there is absolutely no problem with car sickness
Yes, thank you! We got some for our recent vacation and that gum really helped! Thanks for the suggestion for the Zintona, too. Now we can ask them about it.
I love your enthusiasm !! Keep it up !
Congrats on the new car and "Gute Fahrt"! Now that everything is opening up again it's great that you have a car to go out traveling and exploring.
Yeah good timing! I’m so glad things are opening back up!
The Sharan ist a perfect car...we have the same and love it..
That car is a beauty! ❤️ :D Congrats!!
Great color combination !🚗🚕🚙
Allzeit gute Fahrt!
Best wishes!
Ihr beide wirkt richtig glücklich, so schön :)
Germany is making us happy 😊
Pay the sticker price for a newer car at a official dealership is not uncommon. Maybe you can negotiate a little discount or, more common a discount /or free set of tires or a bikerack e.g.
Totally okay for now..... you can change your insurance of your car every year in November. But if you feel comfortable with your current insurance, then it's okay ! It's not worth it to change your insurance every year just because of some € ! But sometimes it is also worth it to compare. Cheers from the northern part pf Bavaria, Fichtelgebirge ;-)
Have fun in Germany :-)
Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum neuen Auto 🚙 und allzeit gute Fahrt 😉
Great video! So happy for you that you finally get to enjoy more of your new home! Love from Salzburg! (Which is not too far away from you and defintely worth a visit! :-))
Hallo!! Yes we love Salzburg! Kevin and I have been there but we can’t wait to take the kids there!
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife
The borders will open on Wednesday, May 19th! :) Everything will open up in Austria (restaurants, hotels, museums, etc.) by then. If you ever need any tips or recommendations what to see/ do or where to eat (in Austria in general) let me know :)
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife but for restaurants and so on in Austria you need to have a fresh negative corona test - or you are vaccinated.
And you need to pay for the Autobahn in Austria by buying a "Vignette". It is available for 10 days for example. You need to mark the date when you start using it.
The ADAC page has some information about it under the tab "Reise & Freizeit".
There also is an updated corona travel information for different countries.
I think the best way would be to click on the tab "Reise & Freizeit" without any sub-tab. Then you have "Info zum Coronavirus" and "Maut & Vignette".
That will definitely help you out!
But I have seen that some information is already outdated. There is no curfew from 20:00 to 06:00 any more and also not around the clock in and around vienna, that's not valid any more.
But there are restrictions, but a family can stay together of course!
You also may search for "corona austria". When you are at "sozialministerium.at/en", you click on the third big icon "information in English".
There you will get the most current information about the corona do's and don'ts in Austria.
But i still read about the self-isolation for 10 days for Austria, but this rule must be gone by the 19. may 2021 (tomorrow) when you come from Germany and travel to and from Austria.
I recently started following your channel and I love your vibe. Being an expat myself, I am really happy that you are enjoying your life here. If you guys are exploring Munich sometime, let me know :)
Oh cool! Thanks for following along with our videos!
So have I, and when you get to Vienna, I'd be happy to take you to (or just tell you about ) some children friendly places. I too had to take the test after a half a year, and at that time it was only in German. So you are lucky that you can take the test in English.
Kudos to you on managing to do all of this during Covid too!
That car works fine in Germany. Just watch out for the very narrow roads in other countries that your navigation system might not know. I am living in Portugal and had more than once the experience that navigation led me into a street that got so narrow that I had to reverse all the way out of it
for your driving license you can either go to your local administration (Bügeramt) they should be able to tell you. Other idea would be to check your town for a driving school, as you need to take a test you need them anyway. Be aware that driving schools are quite expensive. The test as well as the lessons will be in german.
Good choice 😍 we had a Sharan as well for years. It was bought when I were born (at this point it was two years old) and in the same car I got my first legal ride after my 18th birthday :D so very reliable 👍🏼 now we have another one but it was a good one for years!
Wow that’s good to know!
When driving abroad be sure to follow the regulations there! The driving laws differ for each country.
In France for instance, you are required to have the items for an oral alcohol test in your car if you get stopped by the police. The German police provides these items, but in France this is not the case.
Congratulations! And it’s a beautiful and hopefully confident companion!
If you drive in Switzerland you need to buy a Motorway Sticker (Vignette) from day one. It costs 40 swiss francs and is vald from January 1 up until January 31 the following year.
Beware: it's compulsary to drive with lights on day and night. If you don't have day lights on, it'll cost you 40 swiss francs per time you get caught.
Always make sure to move aside for emergency services with blue lights. On the autobahn the right lane moves to the right, the left to the left forming an emergency lane (Rettungsgasse) in the middle.
Just to let you know: Switzerland is a pretty amazing country and very unique....but of course more expensive than most of the other european countries....
The Multivan is the dream of a lot of German men. My husband was so happy and still is with his. Our Sharan was a "Montags Auto" 😬
A multivan is a German man’s dream? 🤣 So they can go camping?
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife One reason is that you can go on holiday with 3 kids and a dog without making an elaborate plan where to put your stuff. Always made my husband grumpy...
Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum neuen Auto.
Maybe you travel to Hamburg some day. Just tell me if you need a guide for all the sights (and the best playgrounds 😀)
We definitely want to see Hamburg! And playgrounds 😍
Hamburg ein Muss das Miniatur Wunderland als tip
i would suggest a rooftop box for vacation - we travel with 2 kids and a dog, while havin a car 1 size smaller than yours - we really appreciate the extra space for luggage
Yes that's a great suggestion!
You only need the Vollkasko the first 2-3 years. After that the depreciation of the car makes it possible to go for the Teilkaskoversicherung which helps you to save money for lower
insurance payments.
Okay good to know, thanks, Stefan.
I'd say that definitely depends on the amount you'd be saving without the Vollkasko. That insurance basically pays only when you damage your own car or somebody else does and drives off without leaving a note. The Teilkasko covers theft, broken glass, animal damage and fire for your own car whereas the mandatory Haftpflicht covers the other party's damage to persons and property (which can be another (or several other) car(s), a building, a road, whatever.
Opting for the VW insurance is certainly a good thing, they've got a good reputation and is for now maybe not the cheapest but the easiest for you. Also it might be a good idea to have a Wartungsvertrag (maintenance contract), which should be around €25 a month and covers all regular maintenance cost for the car.
The insurance company is going to send you an amended premium offer by the end of the year. You can then accept it (in that case you haven't got to do anything) or cancel it and go for another company. There are plenty of insurance comparison (Versicherungsvergleich) websites which will provide you with offers for several insurance companies. But mind you, you've got to register with them, so probably use a throwaway email address 😉
Have fun with the Sharan! And yes, as somebody suggested, definitely visit the North Sea and some of its car-free small islands like Spiekeroog or the more touristic Langeoog and Wangerooge. But then there's soooo much to see only in Germany, it will keep you busy for years on end, don't worry 😊 And then there's even all the fantastic neighbouring countries!
It might be a good thing to have a more expensive kind of insurance even if the value of the car is in no proportion to it from a strict mercantile point of view because of one aspect: broken glass! Windshields are horribly expensive and they are the things that break under the same circumstances be the car brandnew or worn down. I live in the country and we have lots of gravel pits here, accordingly lots of gravel trucks and tractors. My car is 12 years old by now and has windshield number five!!! On one occasion a padlock fell off the back of the truck in front of me and l sat there showered in bits and pieces of glass that came off from the inside of the shield, the padlock itself bounced off and I had no chance to proof where it had come from anyway. I never paid anything for any of the replaced windows.
you guys must visit the Black Forest and Heidelberg, lots of castles down. here!
Yes for sure! And we have friends who live there, too!
Oh, oh,
here we have opened a can of worms. Every area, more precise every Town and most Villages, in Germany are proud of something to take a visit. If you want to visit all this you will have to live a very long time. I would advise you to visit the surrounding area first and then to see which other places you are still interested in. If you ask your friends you'll get a different answer from everyone, because everyone prefers something different.
So my opinion is to look in the web what you are interested in together and then decide for yourself.
The Black Forest has actually very few castles. The Swabian Alb - the parallel upland "before" the Black Forest seen from Upper Bavaria - has much more castles.
There are also some important castles / palaces in the area where this family lives.
- in / near Salzburg
- Burghausen (the longest castle complex on the planet)
www.burg-burghausen.de/englisch/castle/bedeut.htm
- Herrenchiemsee New Palace
www.herrenchiemsee.de/englisch/n_palace/index.htm
I‘m always looking forward for a new episode! :)
Thank you for your support, Jörg!
I haven't watched all your Videos, I see you enjoying Germany, you people will be blessing for Deutschland, you will get tons of Friends, you will learn to understand German history from the German side, what ever happened in the past today's germans is not to blame for it.
PS. You are a happy couple.
Thanks, Johann!
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife
You as a American have heard probably lost of negative from the German history.
You moved to the right country at the right time.
Listen to Herr Wiliam Toel von Amerika.
If he talks the truth you have a bright future in Deutschland.
czcams.com/video/J-Px-bdlKXk/video.html
1:30 Yeah! :D
You can fill tons of videos with car insurance companys, it's very complicated.
But i think you got the right car, not too big and not too small. ;)
Thanks, Klaus. Yeah I couldn’t see us being able to drive anything bigger on some of these narrow roads!
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife hehe so........ now imagine being a truck driver in Germany! *giggles
Now you know why you won't find any Peterbilt in Europe *winks
Oh btw - did I get that right, your Sharan is a stickshift? Respect! Most American expats I ever watched or met are afraid of driving other than automatic gear vehicles!
Hi and happy easter, i hope you are fine and your car still drives without any problems.
You bought a good car.
My VW Golf has now half a million (!) kilometers on the mileage counter and the motor is stil running perfectly and not a speck of rust anywhere on the car.
Great video. Allways a pleasure to see you. congratulations on the new car. There is a common saying: it still squeaks. That means that you still have to oil it. By having a few drinks with neighbors or friends. ;) :)
Danke ☺️💖 thanks for watching!
Right, do you also know the tradition of 'baptising ' the car with some champaign like a ship ? Of course you don't smash the bottle on your new car but pour some champaign over the front and say " Allzeit gute Fahrt".
Congratulations on the new car! You can save a lot of money on insurance, but then you also save on service and you may have a lot of trouble and work if a claim occurs. If I were you, I would leave it that way for now, and if you speak German really well, then take a look around. Everyone knows everything better, especially with insurance, but you have to know what you need.Yes, your insurance sounds expensive at first, but I think you are in good hands in the event of a claim, and you probably belong to VW and internal processes are better organized and you have less work and running when something happens, and it will always cheaper, the longer you are in there.
Oh herzlichen Glückwunsch zum neuen Auto ♥️♥️
Danke!! 💖
You look so proud (as you should be!) of the groceries up the hill STILL! Just love you guys.
Congrats on the new car. You picked a good one. The Sharans are very reliable from what I have heard. Now you can start planing road trips. If you want plan on going to Hamburg or Schleswig-Holstein, I'd be happy to show you around.
Glad to know they’re reliable! We weren’t sure, but we thought that VW has got to be a reliable brand since it’s German!
dann müssen wir sie uns teilen, lol.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife I wouldn‘t worry too much anyways, the car is practically new. I drive a 2018 VW Golf station waggon and it hasn‘t had any problems yet.
@@grandmak. Dann machen wir einfach den „Fanclub Norddeutschland“ auf und machen eine große Party drauß. 🥳
@@rieckenberg gute Idee !
Congratulations! Happy to hear that all went well with the car but also with the german authorities and the bureaucracy. I’ve recently watched the podcast/video of Felicia (German girl in America) and Josh (the podcast’s name is “Understanding train station”) about Josh’s bad experiences with the authorities in Munich and felt so sorry for him. I work in a public authority myself and my coworkers and me would never dare to be unfriendly or rude to someone who needs our help.
Good luck with your beautiful car and happy adventures! 🤩
I’m sorry they had that experience. We’ve had such wonderful experiences out in the countryside, maybe that makes a difference.
This is how saturated green I remember the grass is in Germany and Austria. So pretty. It was like real life photoshop.
Last summer every garden was grey and yellow: No rain the whole summer. Climate change. Even in the mountains quite a few waterfalls ran out of water.
Nice car. Good job, Kevin 👏🏻
Thanks!
Over at Simple Germany Channel there is a video of how to find car insurance and other helpful videos for expats.
Ah great!
The German drivers licence used to look like Kevins French one until January 01, 1999 when they launched an EU licence in credit card size.
Oh! Good to know.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife My father died in 2000 and still had his 1936 driver's license, almost a collector's treasure, lol.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife
Yes, mine looks the same.
And it is also not limited in time... at least not by the license.
But they made a law that they have to be changed. It depends on year of birth and when the license was done.
So I must change it until 2025.
I think you can maybe use the French license longer: "Besitzen Sie einen Führerschein aus einem Mitgliedstaat der Europäischen Union (EU) oder Vertragsstaat des Abkommens über den Europäischen Wirtschaftsraum (EWR) bleibt er in der Regel auch nach Wohnsitznahme in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland grundsätzlich bis zum Ablauf seiner Geltungsdauer weiter gültig. Erforderlich ist ein nationaler Führerschein, ein internationaler reicht nicht."
This is from the official website of the Ministry of Transport.
There are siome restrcitions about "license tourism" but I am not sure that this applies to your situation.
To make sure you should ask when you go to the office to change the American one. It also might be, that the rules for the French licenses when they have to be changed apply on them. But it will problably easier to change than the US one, depending from which state it is.
There are different regulations for the diffrent US states.
www.bmvi.de/SharedDocs/DE/Anlage/StV/auslaendische-fahrerlaubnisse-merkblatt-ausserhalb-eu-und-ewr-staaten-englisch.pdf?__blob=publicationFile
I have my drivers licence from when I was 19 years old. It's common called "Der graue Lappen", roughly translated to "the grey rag". The picture in it doesn't resemble me today, 37 years later. 😂 But it's still valid.
For a long time I had my driver's license from 1976, which looked exactly like Kevin's French driver's license (in pink). However, one day a police officer said at a traffic control that I should get a new credit card driver's license at some point in the near future, because I was no longer recognizable in the photo ... Now I have a plastic card, also in pink.
Wunderbar on the German car too.
Good job, Kevin! So many new things to learn, isn't there?
Exactly! I went three months without a haircut because I had no bandwidth to figure it out. So finally today I figured out how to get a COVID test and describe how I wanted my hair cut on German. Whew!
You can use search machines for checking the insurance fees. It’s important to have a look into your insurance papers to see how long the contract is running. Normally you can leave insurances at November 30th.
Okay thank you!
I think that changed more than 10 years ago, I was in the industry (as a web developer) when the eVB- Number was introduced and this fixed date fell.
Please dont use search engines like Check24. You will not be happy here with an american pre-insurance. You need a person to take care of it, not a machine.
Normaly a german insurance (in this case the allianz) accept a american pre-insurance. Call your last insurance. The old insurance should send you a "no-claim-letter". This paper can save your money. Send this paper to your new insurance. They will check your letter and the contract and do some math. Then you get a new contract with a better price.
Normaly the insurance can be canceled on 01.01. to be finished every year. To do this, the termination must be on November 30 at the insurance.
@@ThePixel1983 But only 5% of the cars have a different cancellation date than 01.01. ;-)
At dealerships you normally never negotiate on the price whatsoever, so don't worry you didn't get scammed :) The only time you would negotiate is when buying used from a private seller. Love your Channel and I hope you'll like Germany even more now that lockdown seems to slowly come to an end and summer is approaching!
Well you can and it is not so uncommon. Though mostly they would rather put in something extras like snow tires. However as always you need arguments to negotiate, maybe something like the other one offered a better price...