Car rental in Geneva – the pearl of Switzerland

Yes. You will always require a credit card in order to be able to collect your car rental in Geneva and elsewhere in Switzerland. At the time of pick-up, the main driver (listed on the reservation form) must present a credit card bearing his or her first and last name for means of the deposit held by the local supplier. Please ensure that you have sufficient funds to cover the deposit and that your credit card limit is high enough for the rental. Please note that deposits in cash, debit card or pre-paid card will not be accepted. The deposit will be held for the duration of the rental and will be released once the vehicle has been returned undamaged. You can easily find the amount of the deposit on our website simply by clicking the blue and white info icon 'i' where you will see all the relevant credit card information in the Mandatory Deposit Information and Supplier Payment Policy Information sections. The same details will also be included in the booking voucher sent to you by e-mail once your reservation has been confirmed.

One of the advantages of booking your car hire in Geneva with Auto Europe is the fact that all our the rates include the minimum amount of legally required coverage, comprising collision damage waiver (CDW) and theft protection (TP). Please note that CDW coverage does not cover every part of the vehicle, which is why we always advise drivers to spend a little bit more on our very popular Full Damage Protection product for total peace of mind during your journey. To check exactly what the quoted car rental rates includes in terms of coverage, please click on the blue and white info icon (i) after making a quick search through our booking engine to find all the relevant details.

Please note that any drivers under the age of 26 may be subject to certain age restrictions. In fact, some of the local vehicle rental companies may insist on a minimum age or a minimum number of years' driving experience in order for the driver to be able to collect the car. Most rental companies require that the driving licence must have been held for at least one year, although this can be as much as three or even five years depending on the category of vehicle rented and the specific rental company. What's more, although some rental companies allow you to rent a car from the age of 21, a young driver's fee may be charged locally, the amount of which is determined by the car rental company and varies according to the driver's age, supplier, car category, etc. When making your reservation, it's essential to indicate the exact age of the driver so that you will instantly know the amount of any young driver's fee (also easily accessible by clicking on the blue and white info icon(i). For any further information about age restrictions and car rental coverage, please do not hesitate to contact our rental specialists on the number at the top of this page.

Please note that if you wish to add an additional driver, he or she must be present at the time of pick-up and must be previously registered on the rental contract. They must also present a valid driving licence and might also be subject to an additional driver fee, which is charged locally and is determined by the rental company. To help you save even more cash, Auto Europe runs regular Free Additional Driver promotions throughout the year in many top destinations around the world.

Generally speaking, Swiss roads are considered safe, modern and well maintained and driving in and around Geneva is certainly no exception. However, as in most large cities around the world, roads can become congested at peak times, so it's always best to plan your journey outside the morning and evening rush-hour, if possible. We also strongly suggest that you observe the local speed limits, as enforcement is frequent and large fines are payable. As a rule, the local speed limits are 120kph on motorways, 80kph outside built-up areas and 20–50kph in built-up areas. Headlights must be switched on during both the day and night whilst driving (it is a legal obligation in Switzerland) and driving on the right side is the norm whilst sticking to the right lane on dual-carriageways and motorways is more than a courtesy, it’s a requirement.

Despite winter tyres not being mandatory in Switzerland, if you pick up your car rental in Geneva during the winter months, you'll find that your vehicle has already been fitted with winter tyres, with or without additional costs depending on which option you selected at the time of booking. Please read the terms and conditions very carefully when booking because if your vehicle is not equipped with snow tyres and you are responsible for an accident, your insurance may not cover the damage. It's important to find out before you leave as some roads and mountain passes may require snow tyres or chains, or may even be completely closed due to unfavourable weather conditions. If you are travelling long-distance, please note that a vignette will be required to drive on Swiss motorways. If you rent your car in Switzerland, it will already be equipped with one.

It can be very difficult to find a free parking space in Geneva city centre, particularly in and around the Old Town (Vieille Ville). In the event of finding a space, please note that parking in the city centre is subject to a charge Monday to Friday from 9am to 2pm and from 5pm to 8pm (you can park for an unlimited time after 8pm). There are three parking zones in Geneva: White (paid parking and tickets can be purchased from local parking meters), Blue (free parking for up to 1 hour on working days from 8am to 11.30am and from 1.30pm to 7pm. Please note that badge zones are reserved for residents but there are lots of pay-and-display zones where parking time is limited to between 30 and 90 minutes. There are also public car parks (some overground and other underground) which are an excellent solution for parking your car hire in Geneva in complete safety. Furthermore, a number of Park and Ride (P&R) car parks are located close to public transport terminal with ticket prices much cheaper than in the city centre.

Yes. Swiss motorways are subject to an annual vignette charge which must be affixed to the vehicle's windscreen. Vehicles rented on the Swiss side of the motorway are normally equipped with this vignette, but we recommend that you check when you pick up your vehicle. These stickers can be purchased at petrol stations, any border crossings or on Switzerland's official website for toll payments. Please note that if you wish to travel to Italy via the St Bernard tunnel, this is not included in the vignette and you will have to pay for it locally.

With the exception of certain mountain regions, winter tyres are not mandatory in Switzerland during the cold season. If you rent your car on the Swiss side, Auto Europe offers deals with free winter tyres included, so that you'll be able to drive safely on snow-covered roads. Please note that these special rates with snow tyres included are not available with all rental companies. Please check in the terms and conditions of our website whether or not any additional charges might apply. It's important to remember that snow chains may also be compulsory (Ketten Obligatorisch) on some mountain roads. When planning your driving itinerary, please check which roads you plan to use and reserve snow chains when booking on our website (the same applies to ski racks). These options are always payable when you arrive to collect your car rental in Geneva. Please bear in mind that if you rent your car in France, the vehicle will not be equipped with snow tyres, so if you want to visit mountainous regions in winter, we recommend renting in Switzerland.

If you have an adventurous spirit and enjoy long drives through spectacular landscapes, then you'll definitely relish the chance of travelling through Switzerland with an affordable motorhome rental in Geneva from Auto Europe. Your stay will undoubtedly be memorable and full of unexpected discoveries, not to mention all the comfort you'll enjoy thanks to the various upmarket models we offer in Geneva and many other Swiss cities.