Why is it that you can't take specific car brands across borders in Europe?

I am looking to rent a car in Germany and have been looking at Sixt and Enterprise. I will be taking the car cross borders to Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic and back to Germany for drop off.

Anyways I noticed something that bugged me: Those countries are classified as Zone 2 and some specific car brands, noticeable VW/Audi/BMW/Merc. cannot be taken or else you loose all insurance.

That seems odd and I would really like to understand what is the logic behind that policy.

Thanks a lot.

car-rentals regulations

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Can you drive across borders in Europe?

Europe Border Crossing by Car SummaryThe main items required for a border crossing are passports, vehicle registration documents, proof of insurance and green card. Always take cash, it is often needed to purchase vignettes or insurance at the border in case your policy does not cover the country you are entering.

Can you drive a rental car from one country to another in Europe?

Can I take my rental into another country? In Europe, car hire companies typically allow renters to drive their vehicles across international borders into neighbouring countries. However, you may have to pay a cross border fee in order to drive the car abroad.

Can you hire a car in Switzerland and drive to Germany?

The rule bans EU citizens from driving non-EU registered hire cars in the EU. But with Switzerland, a non-member, at the heart of Europe there are problems at car hire offices: a Swiss-registered hire car cannot be driven across the border to France, Germany, Italy or Austria by an EU citizen (such as a Briton).

Can you take rental cars across borders?

Yes. Most rental car companies in the USA, including Budget, Dollar and Hertz, allow their vehicles to cross the Canadian border, but make sure to inform your provider in advance and read their terms and conditions carefully.

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