Car Rental / Car Hire in Austria & Switzerland

Austria/Switzerland Car Hire
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Car Hire

Car Hire in Austria & Switzerland

Austria

Cars can be rented (Mietwagen) all over Austria with car rental companies easily available at airports and railway stations. Most of the large international car rental companies are well-represented throughout the country.

Drivers should be over 21 years old, with a valid driving license and a credit card. All licenses from EU member states and the USA are recognised in Austria.

Cars can be rented online for airport pick from Sixt, Holiday Autos or from Opodo in fly/drive packages.

Rental cars in Austria should come with a valid Vignette - a windscreen sticker showing the country's one-off Autobahn toll has been paid. Check before driving off.

Regulations

Austria drives on the right.
Traffic signs are international.
The general speed limit in Austria is 50 kph (30mph) in built-up areas and 100 kph (60mph) on open roads. On the Autobahn the speed limit is 130 kph (80mph).
All passengers must wear seat belts and children under 14 must have a special car seat.
Insurance is legally required to drive.
The minimum driving age is 18 for both Austrian citizens and foreigners.
Cars are required to carry hazard warning triangles and to display them in the case of accidents.
Foreign cars are required to have a nationality sign.
The use of mobile phones while driving is strictly forbidden.
Motorcyclists and passengers are required to wear helmets.
The drink drive limit is 0.05 % blood alcohol content.
There are heavy on-the-spot fines for breaking traffic regulations.

Parking

Though not impossible, finding a free parking space in big cities is not easy. There are specially marked parking zones (Kurzparkzone), where you must pay and display a parking ticket in advance purchased from a Tabak or ticket machine. Many cities in Austria have multi-storey or underground car parks where you are charged on exit.

Motoring Services & Important Telephone Numbers

Der Österreichische Automobil, Motorrad und Touring Club ÖAMTC (Tel: 01 531 34)
Breakdown (Tel: 120)

Switzerland

Cars can be rented (Mietwagen, Location des voitures, Noleggio di automobili) all over Switzerland with car rental companies easily available at airports and railway stations. Most of the large international car rental companies are well-represented throughout the country.

Drivers should be over 20, 21 or 25 years old, depending on the rental company, with a valid driving license and a credit card. All licenses from EU member states and the USA are recognised in Switzerland.

Cars can be rented online for airport pick from Sixt, Holiday Autos or from Opodo in fly/drive packages.

Rental cars in Switzerland should come with a valid Vignette - a windscreen sticker showing the country's one-off highway toll has been paid and a parking disc for Blue Zone parking (see below). Check before driving off. In winter rental cars often come with snow tires, chains and even a ski rack.

Regulations

Switzerland drives on the right.
Traffic signs are international. Swiss freeways/motorways are signed in green.
The general speed limit in Switzerland is 50 kph (30mph) in built-up areas - and sometimes 30 kph (19mph) in special zones and 80 kph (50mph) on open roads. On the freeways/motorways the speed limit is 120 kph (75mph).
All passengers must wear seat belts.
Give way to postbuses and trams and vehicles coming uphill.
Insurance is legally required to drive.
The minimum driving age is 18 for both Swiss citizens and foreigners.
Cars are required to carry hazard warning triangles and to display them in the case of accidents.
Foreign cars are required to have a nationality sign.
The use of mobile phones while driving is strictly forbidden.
Motorcyclists and passengers are required to wear helmets.
The drink drive limit is 0.05 % blood alcohol content.
There are heavy on-the-spot fines for breaking traffic regulations.

Parking

Finding a free parking space in big cities is difficult and expensive and illegal parking has zero tolerance.
There are specially color-coded parking zones in Switzerland:
White Zones - pay and display a parking ticket or key in the number of your space
Blue Zones - free parking for certain time periods if you display a parking disc (supplied in all rental cars)
Red Zones - free parking for up to 15 hours if you display a parking disc (supplied in all rental cars)
Yellow Zones - private parking

Motoring Services & Important Telephone Numbers

Swiss Touring Club (Tel: 022 417 27 27)
Swiss Automobile Club (Tel: 031 328 31 11)
Breakdown (Tel: 140)
Traffic conditions (Tel: 163)

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