Flinkster Carsharing in Germany: A Comprehensive Guide

Overview

Flinkster is a free-floating carsharing service in Germany owned by Deutsche Bahn, the German national railway company. In addition to Flinkster, Deutsche Bahn operates station-based carsharing services such as Ford Carsharing and Book-n-Drive. Despite its widespread presence across Germany, Flinkster cars are not as frequently encountered as other services.

The Flinkster website is notably complex, making it difficult to understand the offerings, tariffs, and insurance conditions.

User Requirements and Service Conditions

• Driver's Licenses Accepted: All valid EU-issued driver’s licenses, as well as licenses from the United Kingdom and Switzerland, are accepted. Licenses issued in the older pink-paper format are not accepted.
• Registration Requirements: Users need a valid driver’s license and passport for registration.
• Age Limit: Drivers must be at least 21 years old to use the service.

Pricing and Tariffs in Flinkster

Flinkster provides example tariffs on its website, but these are approximate, which can be inconvenient for prospective users comparing carsharing services. Below is a summary of pricing:

Additional Fees

Fleet and Vehicle Types

The fleet consists mainly of compact and mini-class vehicles with both manual and automatic transmissions.

Service Coverage

Flinkster operates in most German cities and can be used throughout the EU.

Refueling Policy

Each vehicle comes with a fuel card, which can be used for refueling as needed. Users must ensure the fuel tank is at least one-quarter full when returning the vehicle.

Insurance and Liability

All vehicles are insured. In the event of damage, the user is responsible for a deductible of €1500. This amount can be reduced to €300 by opting for an additional liability reduction tariff, costing €9.90 per booking.

Features

• Vehicles can be unlocked via the mobile app or with a customer card placed against the windshield.
• Car keys are stored in a secure device within the glove compartment.

Website and App Evaluation

The Flinkster website is not user-friendly, making it challenging to find essential information amidst excessive details.

App Performance

This guide aims to provide a clear overview of Flinkster's carsharing services, helping users make informed decisions.