Car Hire in Switzerland

Tourist information - Switzerland

Switzerland has 3 languages so 3 names also, French Suisse; German Schweiz; Italian Svizzera. Switzerland is a federal republic in west central Europe, bordered on the north by France and Germany, on the east by Austria and Liechtenstein, on the south by Italy, and on the west by France. The largest city is Zürich, and the capital is Bern. Other major cities are Basel, Geneva, and Lausanne.

SPECIAL NOTES

Drive on the right, overtake on the left.
Wearers of spectacles are required to carry a spare pair in the car.
Driving licence and vehicle documents must be carried at all times.
Dipped headlights are compulsory 24 hours of the day - 24/7.
Snow chains/tyres may be required in winter, your car rental provider will advise.
Winter restrictions apply on some mountain roads and passes and must be observed.
On narrow mountain roads vehicles travelling uphill have the right of way.

VEHICLE REQUIREMENTS

A warning triangle and a first aid kit are compulsory. A spare bulb kit and a fire extinguisher are recommended. If you are likely to enter France you must have an adequate first aid in the car also, a fire extinguisher is recommended.

SPEED LIMITS

Cars Only
Built-up areas = 50 kph
Major roads outside towns = 80 kph
Motorways = 120 kph

MOTORWAYS

To use a motorway (autobahn/expressway) a vignette pass must be displayed in the windscreen. Note that cars rented in Switzerland come with a vignette displayed in the windscreen. If entering from another country these can be purchased from the Swiss Customs posts at the border or service stations before entering the country.

DO NOT DRIVE ON THE EXPRESSWAYS WITHOUT A VIGNETTE - YOU WILL BE FINED IF CAUGHT.

SEAT BELTS

Front seat = Compulsory
Rear seat = Compulsory if fitted
Children under 12 years not allowed in front unless in an approved seat or harness.

DRIVING LICENCE

Minimum Driving age - 18 years.

FINES

Fines are imposed for using motorways without displaying a vignette.
Motoring offences receive on the spot fines. The police are empowered to collect fines on the spot.

DRINKING and DRIVING

Drinking & driving severe restrictions.
Blood/Alcohol limit 0.08%.
Visiting drivers exceeding this level will result in imprisonment.

Trams always have priority. Buses have priority when leaving a bus stop. Blue posts indicate an upcoming intersection with a priority road.

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

Police 117
Fire Service 118
Ambulance 117 or 114

PARKING

Blue disc parking zones operate 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and discs can be obtained from petrol stations, garages, kiosks and police stations. Wheel clamps can be used on illegally parked cars. Do not park on the pavement.

FUEL

Unleaded Super 95 = Bleifrei / sans Plomb / sensa Piomba
Diesel = diesel or gasolio
LPG = autogas

Credit cards are accepted for buying fuel but many stations are often closed outside business hours. In this case an automate will take payment. For this you will need to have the PIN number for your credit card. Ensure you have Mastercard or Visa as Amex and Diners club cards are not accepted.

MasterCarsDirect offers car hire in the following locations in Switzerland

Adlikon, Altenrhein Airport, Baar, Basel Airport, Bern Airport, Bern, Biel, Chur, Ebikon, Geneva Airport, Geneva, Herisau, Interlaken, Kriens, Lausanne, Lugano Airport, Romanel, Sion, St Gallen, Triesen, Uster, Widnau, Zurich Airport, Zurich.