Compare Basel car hire

Looking for a European adventure on wheels? On the borders of Switzerland, France and Germany, Basel is the perfect place to kick off a scenic, jam-packed road trip that takes in the German countryside, northern France’s wine region and the Swiss Alps.

Whether you are travelling into Basel by train or plane, you can pick up your hire car from either the city centre or Basel Airport (BSL). A rental car is a convenient, comfortable and cost-effective way to get around.

Basel is home to a number of centrally located car hire companies, and some outlets are within easy walking distance of the city’s main train station, Basel SBB. Collecting from one of these agencies is your best option if you’re travelling to the city by train or bus, you don’t immediately need to get behind the wheel of a hire car after landing at the airport, or you want to avoid any possible airport car hire surcharges.

Three of the biggest names can be found in the city centre:

• Europcar: +41 612 059 090
• Hertz: +41 612 059 222
• Sixt: +41 616 835 989

Check out Basel’s old town and stroll along the banks of the Rhine River before heading further afield in your hire car. You can take the A3 to Zurich, drive into the Alsace region via the A35 – along the scenic Route des Vins d’Alsace (Wine Route) – and venture into the Black Forest or Swiss Alps.

Basel Airport (BSL), which is also known as EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, is a 15–20 minute drive away from Basel’s city centre. Hire cars are available on both the Swiss and French sides of the airport.

To find your provider’s desk, simply follow the signs to the car rental area: Hall 1, Level 2 for the French sector and Hall 4, Level 2 for the Swiss sector. Here you will find:

• Avis / Budget: +33 082 061 1701 (French) / +41 613 252 840 (Swiss)820601
• Enterprise: +33 389 672 439 (French) / +41 848 445 522 (Swiss)
• Hertz: +33 389 708 700 (French) / +41 613 252 780 (Swiss)
• Sixt: +33 170 976 111 (French) / +41 848 884 444 (Swiss)

Opening hours vary but, generally, most hire car counters operate between 7am and 11pm, Monday to Sunday. Out-of-hours returns are possible with, for instance, Sixt allowing you to post your keys in a box at one of its desks.

There are several petrol stations near the airport, so you won’t have to worry about not having a full tank when you drop your hire car off.

Driving a hire car in Basel allows you to explore Switzerland, France and Germany whenever you want. That’s because the city’s unique tri-border location makes it easy to drive into each country.

Before you travel to other countries, check with your car hire company if this is okay. It should be. Many Basel rental companies allow cross-border travel but you may need additional insurance coverage. You’ll be on the right-hand side of the road for all three.

Switzerland has speed limits of 50km/h (31 mph) in urban areas, 80km/h (50 mph) on rural roads and 120km/h (75 mph) on motorways.

Swiss motorways also require a vignette toll sticker, which should be included with your hire car. It’s worth checking before setting off because there are hefty fines for driving without one.

Motorway speed limits in France are 130km/h (81 mph), while in Germany, on certain stretches of the autobahn, there is no speed limit. That said, it’s recommended you stick to speeds of under 130km/h.

Basel’s city centre has narrow streets and trams in operation. To park in Basel’s blue zone, you need a half-day or full-day visitor parking ticket, which you can buy online or from a ticket machine. There are also parking garages across the city, and parking at many central Basel hotels.

• Min. age required to hire a car: Typically 20
• Which side of the road: Right
• Credit card requirements: Credit card only, with sufficient funds

Any additional requirements: Check with your car rental company in advance if you plan to travel across borders