The road network in Switzerland is well developed. All the highways are kept in excellent condition, so traveling around the country by car is convenient and pleasant. When planning a business trip or vacation in a ski resort , especially if you are traveling with children , rent a car and you will forget about all traffic problems. Renting a car, you can create your own travel itinerary and explore all the sights of this beautiful alpine country. And our article will tell you what is the specificity of car rental in Switzerland.
Features of car hire in Switzerland
You can rent a car with a preliminary reservation via the Internet or on the spot, in any Swiss city. At the airports there are offices of the firm for car rental, which is called Switzerland Airport Car Rental. In addition, in all major cities ( Zurich , Geneva , Bern , Basel , Lugano , Locarno , Lucerne , etc.) there are offices of international companies Europcar, Avis, Budget, Sixt, Hertz.
The rental price depends on the class of the car you choose. For example, a car of class C is estimated at about 110 euros per day (including insurance). This price includes unlimited mileage of cars, local transportation tax, airport tax (if you take a car at the airport), road tax and insurance (in case of hijacking, accidents, and civil liability).
If your route lies through mountain passes, for greater security it makes sense to order winter tires or chains on the wheels of a rented car. In addition, Swiss car rental companies offer such equipment as a GPS-navigator, a baby car seat, a ski rack, etc. Some rental companies (in German they are called autovermietung) offer the possibility of taking a second driver with an extra charge.
By booking a car via the Internet, enter your data only in Latin, just as they are listed on your passport and driving license. As a rule, it is required to enter the date and place of the lease, the name, surname and age of the driver. When renting a car, make sure not only in its technical serviceability, but also in the presence of a special sticker on the windshield (vignette), confirming the payment for the use of motorways. The fuel tank should be fully charged, however, and the car will also need to be returned with a full tank.
Most companies allow renting a car in any of its branches, including outside the country. If you are planning to cross the border of Switzerland by car, it is better to make sure beforehand that there is such a possibility.
What documents do I need to rent a car in Switzerland?
When planning to rent a car, be prepared to produce the following documents:
- driver's license (national and international, if any), indicating a record of at least 1-3 years;
- a MASTERCARD, VISA or American Express credit card;
- a printed voucher (if you booked a car in advance).
Also be prepared to leave a cash deposit, which will be the higher the higher the car class.
In Switzerland, an important role is played not only by the experience, but also by the age of the driver. To rent a car, you must be more than 21 years old. And some companies in the case if the driver is younger than 25, raise the cost of hire by 15-20 francs per day, especially if the car is a representative class.
What do you need to know for a tourist traveling by car?
The following information will help you avoid many problems when using a car rented in Switzerland:
- For a trip to Switzerland, it is not necessary to obtain an international driving license, because it recognizes the national rights of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
- When planning to relax in one of the resorts of Switzerland, be sure to check if there is a car connection with this place. So, in Zermatt , Wengen, Murren, Braunwald can only be reached by tram or train (the famous railway station Gornergrat ) - in this case it is useless to rent a car.
- The rules of road traffic in Switzerland almost do not differ from international ones, however they are strictly observed here. Moving on local roads, it is desirable to switch on the passing beam at any time of the day, and for tunnels this requirement is mandatory. Children under 12 years and below 1.5 meters of height should be in specialized car seats. All passengers and the driver must wear seat belts. Telephone conversations at the wheel are permitted only if you use the hands free headset. One should also remember the speed limits: within the city it is 50 km / h, outside settlements - 80 km / h, and on the motorways - 120 km / h.
- Penalties for traffic violations, if they are not large, can be paid on the spot, in exchange for a receipt, or within 30 days after the incident. At the same time, fines are levied not only for the creation of an emergency situation, speeding and driving while drunk, etc., but also for such "trivia" as non-use of seat belts, lack of vignettes, non-compliance with the rules of transportation of children, free, etc.
- Parking cars on the sidewalks in Swiss cities is strictly prohibited! For parking, special zones are used:
- White - you can park at any time;
- blue - limited parking time in the presence of a blue disk, which can be purchased at a bank, police station or tourist office;
- Red - up to 15 hours of free parking for owners of discs of the appropriate color;
- yellow - parking is prohibited.
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