Compare car hire at Zurich airport (ZRH)

Looking to explore Zurich and Switzerland with absolute freedom? Hire a car at Zurich Airport (ZRH) and you can do just that. ZRH Airport is home to a wide choice of international rental providers offering a range of cars, so you’ll have no trouble finding a vehicle that ticks all your boxes.

Once you disembark your plane at Zurich Airport (ZRH), look for signs that read Mietwagen/Rental Car. These will direct you to rental desks belonging to familiar car hire companies on the first floor of the airport shopping area.

Opening hours vary between each hire car provider, but many operate between 6am and 12am. Check before you travel to make sure. Your Zurich Airport car hire options include:

• Avis: +41 448 007 733
• Europcar: +41 432 555 656
• Thrifty: +41 447 321 395
• National: +41 581 220 420

To collect your hire car, walk to the nearby P3 parking level. To return your car, follow the Abflug/Rental Car Return signs. There’s also a petrol station on site if you need to refuel before dropping the car off.

Switzerland has a number of toll motorways. It’s worth checking that your hire car has the required ‘vignette’ toll sticker in the windscreen before getting behind the wheel. If not, ask your car rental provider how to pay.

Zurich city centre is just 10km (6.2 miles) from the airport, but street parking can be limited and expensive. Consider park-and-ride options and parking garages. Check out attractions like Lake Zurich and the city’s historic Old Town (Altstadt).

The speed limit in Switzerland tends to be 50km/h (approximately 31 mph) in urban areas and 120km/h (approximately 75 mph) on motorways. In the mountains, you should use your horn during the day and your headlights at night when you approach sharp bends with limited visibility.

• Min. age required to hire a car: 19–21 (check with your provider)
• Which side of the road: Right
• Credit card requirements: Debit or credit cards accepted

Any additional requirements: Drivers aged 19–25 may need to pay a young driver surcharge