- Fuel up in France to keep costs down. Prices fluctuate, of course, but petrol in France tends to be approximately 10 pence cheaper per litre than at a Swiss petrol station.
- If you’re going to use Swiss motorways, ensure that a vignette sticker is displayed on your car’s front windscreen. These should be provided when you hire a car in Switzerland, but do check – there’s a painful CHF 200 (£161) fine for motorists caught driving without one.
- Note that when driving in France, a recently-introduced law has changed drink-drive limits for those who have passed their driving test within the last three years; the level of blood alcohol permitted has been lowered from 0.5 grams per litre to 0.2 grams per litre. The limit remains 0.5 grams per litre for everyone else.
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Search for the best car hire deals in Geneva
While a car isn’t necessary to see Geneva itself, having your own wheels is the best way to access the various spa towns, ski resorts and magnificent lakeside scenes nearby.
Travel Information
Language: French | Currency: Swiss Franc (CHF) | Local time: UTC +1:00 | Avg. Flight time: 1 hr 50m
Where can I hire a car in Geneva Airport?
You can easily pick up cheap car hire from Geneva International Airport (GVA). Big brands Auto Europe, Rentalcars and Sixt all have desks at the airport, as well as some smaller companies. Compare and book car hire in advance of your trip for better deals.
If you’d prefer the ease of a pick-up in the city centre – and are willing to brave the often-heavy traffic – then each of the main companies has one or two offices. The most common hotspots are in Le Prieure, off Quai Wilson or Rue de Lausanne, while Hertz also has a base just north of Carouge.
Delightful day trips
Geneva is exceptionally well positioned for easy driving adventures. Across the French border (bring your passport!), temptations include Annecy, a canal-dotted delight to which the Counts of Geneva used to retreat every year, and the medieval hilltop village of Pérouges, reached via winding Jura Mountain roads flanked by gorgeous meadows.
Back on the Swiss side, cheese-making town Gruyères and the Château de Chillon castle, whose 9th-century walls rise directly from Lake Geneva, both excel in seducing tourists.
Further along the idyllic water await dreamy Lausanne and the Belle Époque grandeur of Montreux, while Charlie Chaplin fans flood to the actor’s former home, Vevey.
Packed with activities
Also accessible for those who book cheap car hire in Geneva is Ovronnaz, a village famed for its thermal baths. Swiss Alps hiking and mountaineering can be relished here in summer, while with the winter snow comes superb skiing opportunities.
Talking of which, much more of the white stuff awaits over in France. An enjoyable hour's drive will get you to the legendary resorts of Verbier, Mont Blanc, Mont Salève, and the mountain village of Chamonix. The latter is actually just as good during warmer months, with paragliding and mountain biking on offer, as well as gentle strolls.
Cheap car hire in Geneva
With free public transport on offer to and from the city centre, many visitors choose to spend a few days exploring the city on foot before returning to Geneva Airport to collect a hire car.
It’s wise to compare and book online in advance to find the cheapest car rental in Geneva. The presence of all the major car-hire players means that prices are competitive. The cheapest Geneva car hire deals are often found well in advance of travel too, so it pays to plan smarter with TravelSupermarket.