Vehicles & Bringing Vehicles Onboard
The Urlaubs-Express can transport vehicles that are registered for road use and meet the specified dimensions. These include:
- Passenger cars with and without trailers (up to 10 meters in total length)
- Vans
- Motorcycles with and without sidecar
- Trikes and Quads
Unfortunately, scooters and mopeds cannot be transported because their design makes it impossible to secure them properly.
Vehicles up to 205 cm in height and 190 cm in width (with the side mirrors folded in) can be booked online. If your vehicle is taller or wider than these dimensions, please contact us by phone or email. We will then review your transportation options on a case-by-case basis.
Vehicle size restrictions may vary depending on the route. Therefore, please also refer to the information provided for each specific route.
Your vehicle’s ground clearance must be at least 11 cm, even when fully loaded.
Standard, permanently mounted roof racks and roof boxes are permitted, provided that the vehicle’s maximum allowable height is not exceeded. The same applies to rear racks, including their cargo. When booking, you must provide the vehicle’s dimensions, including any attachments.
In exceptional cases, our loading supervisor may require that roof or rear attachments be removed for safety reasons. Therefore, please bring any tools needed for disassembly.
Yes, single- and double-axle trailers may be transported. The total length of the vehicle and trailer must not exceed 10 meters. Since trailer combinations can only be transported on the lower cargo deck, the vehicle and trailer must each be no more than 155 cm high.
Trailers without a towing vehicle, as well as travel trailers and motorhomes, cannot be transported.
No. Deflating would mean that your vehicle would no longer comply with the Road Traffic Regulations (StVO) and would therefore no longer be roadworthy. Otherwise, your car would no longer have sufficient support on the vehicle transport trolley and safe transport would no longer be guaranteed.
Trikes should be transported on the lower level whenever possible and may be no more than 155 cm high. Classic cars and convertibles may not be covered with protective tarps; however, specially designed covers are permitted.
If your vehicle is not approved for 160 km/h, please inform the loading staff. Fabric roofs will be secured additionally if necessary.
Train4you is liable for damage to the vehicle caused by negligent or wrongful conduct on the part of our employees or agents during loading and unloading.
In addition, we recommend purchasing supplemental insurance. Our partner, HanseMerkur, offers a special insurance policy for car-on-train transport starting at €18 each way.
Your vehicle must be registered and roadworthy. Please provide the correct vehicle dimensions when booking. The maximum vehicle height may vary depending on the route and will be displayed during the booking process.
Since vehicles may be transported in reverse on certain sections of the route, your vehicle must also be capable of traveling in reverse at speeds of up to 140 km/h.
The maximum height of the motorcycle, including any attachments, must not exceed 155 cm. A sidecar must be specified at the time of booking. Windshields should be removed if possible and taken into the compartment.
Our loading staff will securely strap your motorcycle down at the front and rear. Please feel free to consult with our team on site regarding specific instructions for securing your motorcycle.
Since motorcycles are often loaded onto the ship before cars, you should arrive at check-in about two to three hours before departure. This will give you enough time to make any necessary adjustments to your motorcycle or luggage.
Saddle bags and motorcycle cases may remain on the motorcycle. Additional luggage must be securely attached to the motorcycle and fastened with straps. It must not cover any attachment points needed for securing the load.
Loose items of luggage must be removed before loading and taken onto the train. This also applies to motorcycle helmets—they must not remain on the motorcycle during the trip.
Yes, bicycles can be transported for an additional fee. Transporting bicycles on a rear bike rack attached to the vehicle is free of charge. The total length of the vehicle, rear bike rack, and bicycles must not exceed 5.35 m. The rack must be approved for the corresponding weight.
Bicycles may not be transported on the roof of the vehicle. Please indicate when booking that you will be bringing bicycles and the total length of the vehicle, including the rear rack.
For fire safety reasons, e-bike batteries may not be brought into the passenger compartment.
Please be sure to notify us of any changes to the license plate number before your trip to avoid delays in loading. We charge a processing fee for this service.
Any modifications to the vehicle or its dimensions must be coordinated with us in advance and are only possible if capacity is still available for the new vehicle category. Any price difference resulting from the new vehicle category will be charged separately.
Please do not arrive in a vehicle other than the one you booked without prior arrangement, as we cannot guarantee transportation otherwise.
Reservations, Prices, Tickets
We can resend lost travel documents to you via email at any time. Simply contact our customer service department. Please note that valid travel documents are required for your trip.
Changes to reservations are generally possible, provided the desired service is available. Changes to accommodations or vehicles are possible for a processing fee of €35 per transaction, plus any price difference that may apply.
The travel date or route can be changed once, up to 14 days before departure. The new travel date must be no more than four weeks before or after the original date and must be at least seven days after the rebooking. We charge €35 per leg for this, plus any difference from the current daily fare.
Any other changes, failure to show up, or withdrawal are considered a cancellation. For more details, please see our Terms and Conditions.
Please pay for your tickets by bank transfer to the account specified on the invoice after you receive your booking confirmation. On board, you can conveniently pay for food and beverages with a debit or credit card.
A discounted children’s fare applies to children ages 4 to 14. Children under 4 travel free of charge, provided they do not require their own seat, recliner, or bed. For safety reasons, infants and toddlers may not be placed in the overhead compartments.
Yes, minors are generally allowed to travel alone. Their legal guardians decide whether their child is mature enough to do so. To travel, minors need a letter of authorization and a form of identification.
Please note that we are unable to provide special supervision for minors traveling alone. Our trains may make extended stops at night during which the doors remain open. The responsibility for supervising the minors remains with their legal guardians.
At Urlaubs-Express we use a flexible pricing system, as you know it from many airlines, for example. Prices vary depending on the destination, day, route and the load already reached on the day of booking. Unfortunately, it is not possible to reserve a specific daily rate for a later booking time. With the Urlaubs-Express, it always pays to book early!
Check-in, Loading & Arrival
Please arrive at the loading station approximately 120 minutes before departure. For motorcycles, we recommend arriving for check-in about two to three hours before departure, as they are loaded earlier. Please refer to your travel documents for the exact check-in times for your trip.
Your vehicle must be registered and roadworthy. Please be sure to enter the vehicle dimensions correctly when booking. The maximum vehicle height may vary depending on the route and will be displayed when you book.
Since vehicles may be transported in reverse on certain sections of the route, your vehicle must also be capable of traveling in reverse at speeds of up to 140 km/h.
After check-in, our team will provide you with all the important information regarding loading. You will then drive your vehicle onto the vehicle transport trailer yourself, following the instructions of our loading staff, where it will be secured by our team.
At many loading stations, you can check into your sleeper car or sleeping car while your vehicle is being loaded.
No. For technical and safety reasons, you cannot access the vehicle while it is in motion. Therefore, please bring all personal items you will need during the trip into your compartment before boarding. We do not have a carry-on luggage limit.
Please allow about 45 minutes before unloading begins. At most loading stations, the car carriers must first be uncoupled from the passenger cars and maneuvered to the loading ramp. The vehicles are then unloaded one after another.
In Düsseldorf, a green environmental sticker is required to enter the low-emission zone. In Hamburg, there is currently no low-emission zone and therefore no general requirement for an environmental sticker.
Travel & Onboard Services
Yes. Of course, you can also use the Urlaubs-Express without a vehicle. For travelers without a car or motorcycle, there are even additional boarding and disembarking stations available.
Please bring only as much luggage as you can carry yourself and that does not obstruct other passengers. For safety reasons, aisles and entry areas must be kept clear at all times to serve as escape routes.
Most of our trains feature an onboard bistro. In addition, our UEX service staff offer snacks and beverages right at your seat. On trains without an onboard bistro, you can book breakfast to be served at your seat.
Dogs and cats are permitted to travel if they are registered at the time of booking and a compartment is reserved for their exclusive use. A maximum of two animals is allowed per compartment. For hygiene reasons, animals may not use seats, reclining areas, or sleeping areas, and may not be brought into the on-board bistro. Guide dogs are exempt from this rule.
You are personally responsible for complying with official regulations, especially when traveling abroad. A deposit of 150 € per animal must be paid on board; this deposit will be refunded after the trip, provided no damage has occurred.
Yes. Almost all our compartments are equipped with a 220 V socket. In some vehicles, power outlets are only available in the aisles.
No! Due to legal requirements, all UEX trains are non-smoking. We charge a fee of €200.00 for violations of the smoking ban that trigger the fire alarm system.
We ask for your understanding that we cannot assume liability for your luggage and valuables. Therefore, please take great care of your property and do not leave it unattended.
It is not possible to complete the journey completely forward for operational reasons. Route closures due to road works may lead to a change in the direction of travel. As the vehicles have to be transported backwards on parts of the journey due to operational reasons, the customer is obliged to ensure that the vehicle is suitable for backwards transport up to 140 km/h. Train4you Vertriebs GmbH does not assume liability for damages caused by wind events.
We’re happy to help
Do you have questions about your trip on the Urlaubs-Express, your reservation, or bringing your car along?
📱 Phone: +49 (0) 221 800 20 820
✉️ Email: info@train4you.de