Details: From June 4 to June 19, pick up and return in Lausanne, mid-size car (Volvo V40 or similar).
Merci.
Any good, up to date tips on the best car rental rates in Switzerland?
I have always had good luck w/ travelocity.com. Great choice and prices from all different companies listed. Safe travels!
Billiger-Mietwagen.de is usually my favorite for any car rental.
But they can't do wonder. Rent in France (or Germany) if you're after massive discounts. For a similar period as you're renting, I've had the model I needed for 500€ less renting in France vs. Switzerland. And it even had a Swiss Highway sticker applied
A Swiss resident can't drive a French registered car in Switzerland so it's a bad idea to try.
Never heard of that.
(And since I did that before, and might do it again, I'm very interested to hear the reason/law behind that)
Your smuggling a car into CH, you can be fined 5 times the VAT & Taxes so about market value of the car.
For driving a foreign rental cars a few days in Switzerland? I dont think so..
1 minute is already enough to get a huge fine that will prevent you from sleeping that night if you have not declared the car properly at the border. It is not allowed to rent/borrow a foreign car and drive it in Switzerland without the proper paper work. An exception for a few days can be arranged at the border for rentals, but OP needs the car for 16 days, so that is a no go.
There is not one company who is always cheapest, just compare the offerings. And play some with the dates, I've had cars that I chose to rent for 6 days since that gave me a lower price than only renting it for the needed 5 days.
And also have a good look on how many kilometers are included, and what the price is per extra kilometer. If you drive a lot often better to pay 100,- more for a car with unlimited kilometers. Also don't wait weeks with booking, prices often only go up the closer you get to the rental date.
Thanks. Just learned it's maximum 8 days apparently, and costs 20 CHF from using Google. Couldn't believe it's actually forbidden for a Swiss resident to drive a properly rented car into Switzerland without registering (and paying) for it, and even then just for a short period.
In my opinion, that's a more than just crazy piece of "law".
If I understand it correctly, if my French friend drops over the border, has one too many, I can't legally drive him in his own car back to the hotel?
But the OP is a resident of the US, so it's ok for him.
Well, this isn't just Swiss. It's same in Poland (where I'm from), also in Austria (there was a loud case when a father - Austrian - of Swiss resident borrowed her car - Swiss registered - and tried to cross to Austria without doing any paperwork and got fined some ridiculous fine that was X times VAT due on that car... I think it was a fancy Merc)
Ah, if he indeed lives in Amerika than this is not an issue for him.
If your French friends drive in your car in France they also break the law, this is since long the rule in most (if not all) countries of Europe.
And it is not crazy, it is to prevent disabuse from for example your friend in France "owning" a car which you drive all year in Switzerland.
Thanks for all the useful answers and caveats about what may be illegal.
I'll make sure I don't run afoul of the French and Swiss laws!
As far as "proper documentation", wouldn't the rental agreement be sufficient?
If you are American resident you can rent wherever you want in Europe and drive it wherever you please in Europe.
Works the same for driving a Swiss registered car in the EU, if you are EU resident.
Tom
Nope.
If the owner is in the vehicle, no problem, as he is the one bringing over the border.
Tom
No, you have to declare it at the border.
Tom
Ah um. As usual need to do a search of the forum.