Car Hire Geneva France or Switzerland side?
A question we often get asked is "Should I arrange car hire Geneva Airport French side or a car hire Geneva Airport Swiss side deal? and what are the advantages/disadvantages? We look at the Pros and Cons to help you make the correct decision.| French Side | Swiss Side | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pros | Some Possible Cons | Pros | Some Possible Cons |
| Generally Cheaper Rates | You are unlikely to be given a vignette which is needed for driving in Switzerland. This may seem like a non-issue for some however you can often save a lot of time by driving on Swiss motorways at certain points of your journey. If you are lucky, you might get a car with a vignette already paid for though staff have been known to clean old ones off before renting the car again. | Car comes with a vignette (extra fee). It is displayed on the windscreen. | Usually not as cheap as the French area |
| Easy fast pickup area (P21). This section of the airport is smaller so you can get to your rental quicker. no shuttle bus required. | Rules vary from country to country and one rule in France is that you must carry a breathalyser testing device in your car | Whatever equipment you need for adverse weather conditions is normally supplied by the car hire firm such as snow chains, tyres etc | Customs walk-through necessary if pickup is on French side of the airport |
| Shorter queues at rental desks in general (though not always) | Winter weather equipment such as snow tyres are not necessarily included and may add to your rental fee if needed. Car fleets on the French side are often sourced from hotter parts of the country such as the south. This means they are sometimes not ideal for winter driving. | Pick up location (P51) is within easy reach whether you decide to take the free bus or just walk. It is about four hundred metres away and is situated on the lower level. Desks are found to the west side of the terminal. | All cars on the Swiss side are Swiss registered vehicles. This may prohibit EU citizens from driving their rental car in the EU. In most cases, a waiver can be signed if you wish to drive outside Switzerland |
| You must travel through customs if you arrive on the Swiss side of the airport yet have booked a car for pickup on the French Side | Quicker route to the motorway than the French side | This goes for both sides but always return your rental car to the section you hired it from. Large fines are not unusual for those who don't. | |
| Though the rental price will likely be cheaper on the French side, you must add up all the costs associated with your rental to get a clear idea of which option offers better value. | Cars are generally "ready to go" in terms of a ski holiday. It's unlikely that your car hire will not be "winterized" and the vignette comes as standard. Always double check everything though, to be on the safe side. | ||
Compare Cheap Car Hire Geneva Airport Prices
Grab a bargain and compare the cost of hiring a car at Geneva Airport. Budget rates available.
Cheapest Geneva Airport Car Rental Offers
To get the best possible car rental Geneva Airport price, use a car hire comparison website such as carhiregeneva-airport.co.uk.
Car Hire Firms on the Swiss Side
- Firefly
- Avis
- Budget
- National
- Europcar
- Hertz
- Sixt
Car Hire Firms on the French Side
- Avis
- Budget
- Enterprise
- Europcar
- Hertz
- Sixt
