Rent a car in Switzerland and go on an exciting trip with the purpose, say, to visit all the local lakes, enjoy the magnificent scenery, breathe in the clean mountain air and see the cozy towns and climatic resorts that meet along the way - great for traveling at any time of the year. The purpose of your trip can become Swiss castles, ancient cities or search for the best panoramic views for stunning photos, and practical information for all cases of "life driving" we will provide you.
In German car rental will be autovermietung. At your service international car rental companies (you can pre-order online), numerous brokers and small private agencies that you can contact when you arrive in any city in Switzerland.
When planning a trip to Switzerland by car, note that some resorts, for example in Zermatt, Murren, Wengen and Braunwald, can only be reached by train or tram - there is no car communication with these cities.
Documents, insurance
To rent a car in Switzerland will need an international driver's license, national rights and a credit card. The driver's age should usually be over 21 years, and the driving experience is needed at least one, two or three years (for different models of cars - different requirements). If you want to rent a car in a class higher than the standard one, be prepared to present two credit cards and be at least 25 years old. Sometimes, if the driver is over 21 years old, but younger than 25 years, the rental price increases (approximately 15-20 Swiss francs per day).
The price of car hire in Switzerland usually includes: airport tax (if you take the car immediately upon arrival), local tax, unlimited mileage, accident insurance with franchise or without, theft insurance and civil insurance th responsibility, vignette (road toll). Decoding of the insurance options: 3rd (Third) party liability, CDW - Collision Damage Waiver (our CASCO with a franchise), Theft Waiver - insurance against theft.
Additionally paid: child seat rental boot on the roof for skiing, a second driver, rent a navigator, snow chains and winter tires. If you plan to leave the territory of Switzerland on a rented car, inform the company-distributor about it. It may be necessary to purchase additional insurance, and some agencies generally prohibit the export of their vehicles from the country.
Fuel and refueling
Usually ordered car is provided with a full tank of gasoline, you are required to return it also with fully charged tank. The petrol stations in Switzerland sell 95 and 98 unleaded petrol and diesel fuel, leaded gasoline for sale is not allowed. In canisters, petrol can be transported, but not more than 25 liters.
Rules of the road traffic
The Swiss traffic rules differ little from the norms of behavior on the road in other European countries. The requirement for the use of dipped-beam headlamps is mostly recommendatory in nature and only in tunnels is mandatory. For children under 12 years of age and with a height of less than 1, 5 m, the use of special seats is mandatory. Seat belts should be buttoned at all who are in the car. Talking on the phone while driving should only be done by "hand frees."
Make sure that the car you rented has an emergency stop sign (and it should not be in the trunk, but in the car) and a first aid kit. Radar detectors are prohibited for use and transportation. The navigator function for detecting speed measurement cameras should be turned off. Before steep turns with reduced visibility, the driver must give a beep at daylight or blink headlights - into the dark.
Penalties
Smaller fines in Switzerland can be paid "on the spot", the police officer will issue a receipt for the received material assets. Or the payment of the written out fines is allowed later, but not more than 30 days after the offense.
Some amounts of fines: drunk driving - from 500 to 1000 CHF and / or deprivation of rights for a period of up to 3 months; no vignette - 200 CHF (and immediately you need to buy it); non-observance of rules of transportation of children - 60 CHF; excess of speed - from 40 CHF and up to half of all wages (for residents); wrong parking - 80 CHF; non-use of seat belts - 60 CHF; talking on the phone without hands free - 100 CHF.
| Toll road map of Switzerland |
Toll roads
To travel on the roads of Switzerland, you need to purchase a vignette, the cost of which for a passenger car in 2013 is 40 CHF, from December 1, 2012 to January 31, 2014 (a vignette for each next year is always valid these 14 months). On a rented car, such a vignette is likely to be already, and if you cross the border with Switzerland by private car, take care of its acquisition (at customs, post office or at gas stations). Of course, the vignette needs to be properly installed - that is, to glue it to the windshield.
Switzerland has several sections with special payment. Tunnel Great St. Bernard connects Switzerland with Italy, driving it on a passenger car will cost 29.20 CHF one way and 46.70 CHF both ways (return within 30 days). Prices for entry from the Italian side do not differ. To travel in both directions on the tunnel Munt la Schera (also between Switzerland and Italy) you will have to pay 42 CHF on Saturdays and 36 CHF on the remaining days (the tariffs are valid until April 30, 2013). The width of the tunnel allows you to pass only one car, so the traffic in the tunnel is reversible.
Parking in the cities of Switzerland
With parking in the cities of Switzerland, like almost everywhere in Europe, strictly . It is worth remembering the differences between zones of different colors . White zone: park on health for an unlimited time, after looking around and making sure there are no parking machines . Blue zone: waiting for the lucky owners of blue discs (you can buy in a turofis, in a bank or in a police station), it happens that up to 90 minutes you can stand for free . Red zone: already up to 15 hours of free parking, but only for those who bought a parking disk of red color (sell in the same place as blue) . Yellow zone: sorry, you can not park here at all .
On the parking disk you need to set the time of arrival (except for parking between 19:00 and 8:00 am Many streets are equipped with parking machines: you simply pay for parking time.The cheapest thing is to throw the car at the entrance to the city - at Park & Ride parking lots, and then move on public transport. Most expensive will be to leave the car in the underground parking.
Car rental firms in Switzerland
Rent a car in Swiss airports: Switzerland Airport Car Rental.
International companies: Hertz, Europcar, Auto Europe , Avis, Budget, Sixt.
Rolling brokers: Nova Car Hire, Economy Car Rentals, Instantcars.eu.
Discounter broker: Ebookers.ch.
All prices are quoted in Swiss francs as of December 2012