Car rental in Zurich
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Bookingcar's insights Zurich
Explore the latest trends and booking tips. The data is based on booking statistics from the past six months.
What is the cheapest car rental company in Zurich?
Over the past 72 hours, the lowest car-hire prices in Zurich came from Hertz (€10/day), Sixt (€12/day) and National (€12/day). The cheapest of all was Hertz — about 1.7 miles from the city centre.
What is the most popular rental car in Zurich?
Mini cars are the most popular choice in Zurich, costing around €17/day on average. Some drivers have found deals from as little as €9/day.
Zurich car rental price comparison by vehicle type
How much does it cost to hire a Mini car in Zurich?
Mini car hire in Zurich typically costs around €17 per day. Prices are lowest in Feb, averaging €12 per day — roughly 29% below the yearly average. Mini cars are usually 60% cheaper than the average car hire in Zurich.
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Practical Information for Drivers
Fines for traffic violations in Zurich
In Zurich, fixed penalties are set for most traffic offences. The amount of the fine will be determined by the police officer. Therefore, if you have committed an offence and are stopped for it, you are advised to be as correct and polite as possible.
| Driving through a red light | 150 Euro |
| Overtaking on the wrong side | From 50 to 100 Euro |
| Driving on the hard shoulder | From 100 to 150 Euro |
| Illegal parking | From 50 to 100 Euro |
| Parking a car with the engine running | 70 Euro |
In rare cases, when the amount of the fine is rather small, you can pay it on the spot directly to the police officer. In most cases, you will have to go to a bank.
Speed limits in Zurich
In Zurich, the highest fines are imposed for speeding. Speed limits in the city correspond to European standards.
- The maximum speed allowed within built-up areas is 50 km/h
- It is possible to drive at up to 80 km/h outside the city and on main roads
- The speed must not be more than 120 km/h on motorways.
Do not forget to follow the road signs. Speed limits can change on some sections of the road.
Parking in Zurich
In Zurich, if you have rented a car, you will sooner or later need a parking space. There are many car parks in the city. Nevertheless, before parking, make sure that this car park is suitable for you:
- White zone
In a white zone, parking is mostly free. There are only rare exceptions. All necessary information is shown on the sign at the parking space.
- Blue and red zones
You can park here only if you have the required parking vouchers. Drivers who come to Zurich for a short period of time usually do not use these car parks.
- Yellow zones
Such parking areas are quite common, and they are practically always empty. However, do not be in a hurry to park there. It is prohibited to park in these zones.
Blood alcohol level
The police in Zurich are relatively tolerant towards drivers. The permitted blood alcohol level is up to 0.05 per mille. Nonetheless, it is not advisable to get behind the wheel if you have consumed alcoholic beverages. If you exceed the permitted blood alcohol level, you risk serious penalties:
- If your blood alcohol level is from 0.05 to 0.08 per mille, the fine will be from 500 to 700 Euro.
- If the level is more than 0.08 per mille, the fine will be from 700 to 1000 Euro. You will also be disqualified from driving for up to three years.
A foreign driver who is found guilty of drink-driving risks being banned from entering the country again.
Cost of fuel in Zurich
It is easy to refuel in Zurich. Unleaded 95, unleaded 98 and diesel fuel are always available at all filling stations. Nonetheless, it can be difficult to find a filling station in the city centre. Most of them are located outside Zurich.
- One litre of fuel 95 costs 1.44 Euro
- The price for one litre of fuel 98 is 1.48 Euro
- The cost of one litre of diesel fuel is 1.53 Euro.
It is permitted to carry fuel in cans. However, the allowed amount is limited. It cannot be more than 20 litres.
Zurich car rental — FAQ
What drivers say about Zurich
"Picked up the car in Zurich for our family holiday, easy process and friendly staff. Child seats were fine, but the boot was smaller than we expected."
"We rented a car in Zurich for a weekend trip as a couple. Clean vehicle, smooth pick-up and drop-off, and fair price. Only downside was a bit of confusion about the fuel policy at the counter, which took extra time to clarify before we could leave."
"We were a group of friends arriving in Zurich for a road trip. Booking was simple and the car was reliable and clean. Staff were generally pleasant, but the queue at pick-up was quite long and the explanation of extra options felt rushed, so we had to double-check everything ourselves."