Car rental in Geneva

Geneva can be justly proud of the law-abiding behaviour and courtesy of its drivers. This is achieved through strict enforcement of traffic regulations by the police. There are many police officers in the city, so you are strongly advised not to risk driving through a yellow or flashing green light. It is also unwise to test whether anyone has seen you drive where it is prohibited.

It is highly likely that you will be noticed and given a substantial fine.

A police officer will issue a ticket to the offender, which must be paid at a bank.

Geneva is a city with heavy traffic, so it is difficult to accelerate sharply during the day. Nevertheless, you must always observe the speed limits, especially if you plan to drive outside the city.

• The speed limit within the city is 50 km/h
• The speed limit outside the city is 80 km/h
• The maximum speed allowed on express roads is 120 km/h.

Both the police and speed cameras strictly monitor compliance with the speed limits on city roads.

Fines for illegal parking are quite high. Therefore, never leave your car anywhere without first checking whether parking is permitted there. In any case, it is easy to find a parking space.

• White zone

You can park in this zone for as long as you wish without any time limits.

• Blue and yellow zones

To park in these zones, drivers must purchase special parking discs. This option is the least convenient for those driving rental cars in Geneva. It is better to use paid car parks.

• Red zone

Red zones are reserved exclusively for service vehicles, so it is strictly forbidden to leave your car here.

The blood alcohol level in Geneva must not exceed 0.05 per mille. If your blood alcohol level is higher, you are considered to be under the influence of alcohol, which will inevitably cause serious problems.

• If your blood alcohol level is from 0.051 to 0.79 per mille, you will receive a fine of 700 Euro.
• If the level is more than 0.08 per mille, the fine will start from 1000 Euro and you will also be disqualified from driving for up to 2 months.

A foreign driver will face far more difficulties than a local resident, so you are strongly advised not to push your luck.

The road traffic regulations in Geneva do not differ significantly from the general European rules. If you are not travelling alone, take care of your passengers' safety. Failure to observe safety measures is one of the main reasons for police complaints.

• Carriage of children

If you are going to carry a child who is under 12 years old and shorter than 150 cm, you are required to use a booster seat that meets European safety standards. Therefore, if you decide to book a car in Geneva and plan to travel with children, be sure to inform the operator so that a suitable seat is provided.

• Safety belts

In Geneva, a driver is not allowed to set off until all passengers have fastened their seat belts, regardless of whether they are sitting in the front or rear seats.

The closer you are to the city centre, the fewer fuel stations you will find. Always bear this in mind and keep an eye on the fuel level in the tank. Petrol stations offer 95 and 98 petrol, and the fuel quality is excellent. The situation with gas stations is much worse: there are fewer than 10 in the whole city.

• One litre of 95 petrol costs 1.44 Euro
• One litre of 98 petrol costs 1.48 Euro
• The price of one litre of diesel fuel is 1.53 Euro.

You are allowed to carry up to 20 litres of fuel in cans.