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Finding a rental car in Switzerland is easy with Road Genius. Compare prices from dozens of brands around Europe with no booking fees. Pick up at Zurich, Geneva or Basel airports, or save by booking a city location. Rentals picked up in Switzerland include the motorway vignette, and winter tyres are fitted in season.

Map of campervan rental depots near 546064

Switzerland's major cities offer multiple car rental options, each with distinct advantages:

Location Pros Cons
Airport Rentals
  • Extended hours (often 7am-11pm and open weekends)
  • Convenient for air arrivals
  • Large vehicle selection
  • Immediate highway access
  • Airport surcharge (approximately 20%)
  • Potential wait lines during peak times
  • Slightly higher base rates
City Centre Rentals
  • No airport fees
  • Often shorter queues
  • Conveniently located near hotels and train stations
  • Limited hours (many closed evenings/Sundays)
  • Requires transportation to pickup location
  • Potentially fewer vehicle choices

At Zurich Airport (ZRH), the Car Rental Centre is attached to the terminal. Geneva Airport (GVA) offers rentals on both its Swiss and French sides. On the Swiss side, rentals are on the Arrivals level and returns are at the P51 garage. At Basel EuroAirport (BSL), rental counters are in the Swiss sector of the arrivals hall; the airport is physically in France but has a Swiss customs road.

To save money, consider picking up your rental in the city centre and returning it to the airport. This avoids the airport pickup fee while maintaining drop-off convenience.

Car Rental Prices

How much does it cost to rent a car in Switzerland?

On average, car rentals in Switzerland cost around CHF 83 per day, with the lowest-priced rentals available from CHF 32 per day.

Saving Tips
  • Compare pickup vs drop-off locations. In Zurich, Geneva and Basel, picking up downtown and returning at the airport often avoids the airport pickup surcharge while keeping an easy drop.

  • Time your booking to the season. For July–August and peak ski weeks, book 2–3 months ahead. In shoulder months, hold a cancellable deal and re-check prices so you can rebook if rates drop.

  • Pick the smallest car you’re comfy with. Compacts are cheaper to rent and park, and use less fuel. Manual usually saves about CHF 10–20 per day. In winter, Swiss rentals already include winter tyres.

  • Trim paid extras. Bring your own child seat if allowed, use your phone instead of a paid GPS, and limit additional drivers to dodge CHF 10–15 per day per driver.

  • Check one-way costs before you commit. Within Switzerland, many one-ways between major cities are low or free, but international one-ways can be CHF 300–500. A simple round trip can be cheaper.

  • Plan around car-free spots and city parking. Zermatt is car-free, so consider dropping the car before Täsch to avoid paying for idle days. For city days, use Park+Ride or free Blue Zones with a parking disc. Return with a full tank to skip refuelling fees.

Parking and Local Driving

Finding a car space in Swiss cities can be challenging. Understanding the colour-coded zones is essential:

Zone Description Time Limits Cost Notes
White Zones Metered spaces Varies (30 min to several hours) Varies by location Higher rates in city centres; purchase ticket from machine and display on dashboard
Blue Zones Time-limited free spaces Usually 1 hour between 8:00-19:00 (Mon-Sat) Free Requires disc (Parkuhrscheibe); set to next half-hour after arrival
Yellow Lines No parking/Reserved N/A Risk of towing and fines Often indicates private spaces, loading zones, or reserved areas

Garages: Public garages (Parkhaus) are available in all major cities and are the most convenient option for visitors.

  • City centre garages usually charge hourly rates
  • Daily maximum rates apply
  • Many garages offer cheaper evening/overnight flat rates

Local Driving Rules:

  • Drive on the right side of the road
  • Speed limits: 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h on rural roads, 100 km/h on expressways, 120 km/h on highways
  • Headlights or daytime running lights must be on at all times, even in daylight
  • Swiss highway vignette (toll sticker) is mandatory for all vehicles using motorways
  • Right-of-way is given to traffic from the right at unsigned intersections
  • Trams always have priority in cities
  • Seatbelts are mandatory for all passengers
  • Using handheld phones while driving is prohibited

Highway Vignette: The Swiss vignette is valid for the calendar year (plus December-January grace period). Rental cars picked up in Switzerland usually include the vignette.

Why rent a car in Switzerland

Get a rental to visit:

  • Grand Tour of Switzerland - lakes, UNESCO sites, mountain passes

  • Bernese Oberland - Interlaken

  • Lake Geneva region - Montreux, Lake Geneva, vineyards

  • Mountain passes - Furka Pass, Grimsel Pass, Gotthard Pass, Great St. Bernard Pass

  • Zermatt area - Täsch parking, Matterhorn area

  • Central Switzerland - Lucerne

FAQs

What documents do I need to rent a car in Switzerland? You will need a valid driver's licence from your home country, your passport and a major credit card in your name. We recommend getting an International Driving Permit if you have a non-EU/EEA licence and you must have one if your licence is not in the Latin alphabet.

What is the minimum age to rent a car in Switzerland? You usually need to be 20 or 21 years old. Rental companies add a young driver surcharge for drivers under 25. Some companies also have restrictions on the types of cars younger drivers can rent.

Is manual or automatic transmission more common? Most rental cars are manual. You can get an automatic car, but it will cost you about CHF 10-20 more each day and there may be fewer automatics available in the cheaper car categories.

Do I need to buy extra insurance? The rental price includes basic liability insurance and a basic Collision Damage Waiver (CDW). This means if there's damage, you'll have to pay an excess of around CHF 1,000-3,000. You can buy extra Super CDW from the company to lower this amount or use the car rental insurance from your credit card.

Can I take a rental car across borders from Switzerland? Yes, most major rental companies let you drive to nearby countries. You should tell the rental company your travel plans when you pick up the car, as they may have rules about taking certain types of cars to some places and some companies charge a fee for driving across the border.

Are there tolls on Swiss highways? Instead of toll booths, Switzerland requires you to have a sticker called a 'vignette' on your car. The yearly vignette costs CHF 40 and cars you rent in Switzerland will already have one.

What happens if I get a traffic or parking ticket? The authorities send the ticket to the rental company. The company then charges your credit card for the fine and adds their own processing fee, which is usually CHF 30-50.