Car Rentals at Strasbourg Airport

Strasbourg Airport serves the city of Strasbourg, as well as other areas in the Alsace region of France, in particular towns of the Bas-Rhin department. The airport is quite a large establishment, handing just over a million passengers per annum, and Strasbourg is one of the nine largest cities in France, importantly located alongside the border of Germany. The airport has the official code of SXB, and is well equipped with facilities, including the Strasbourg car hire companies. Car rental options from the airport are extensive, and high quality vehicles are provided by all the companies. Competitive car rental rates can be found as well.

The airport of Strasbourg consists of a single terminal building with a surface area of approximately 21,000 square metres. There is an area for arriving passengers and the collection of their baggage, and nearby, the airport car hire companies have their rental counters. These companies include Hertz, Sixt, Avis, National, Europcar, Auto Europa, Alamo and Budget, and they are open during most hours on weekdays, and on Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons. Their times of operation usually coincide with the arrival flight schedules of the airport. The companies’ vehicles can be found alongside the terminal, in an airport car park. Exact directions to your vehicle will be provided by the car rental company upon your arrival.

Although vehicles from the Strasbourg car rental companies can be hired over the counter, an advanced reservation is recommended, as this will secure the car that is most suitable for your journey in or nearby Strasbourg. An earlier reservation will also ensure that you pay the best rates for the vehicle, and that any additional item of equipment required will be available. These items may include child seats, satellite navigation systems and luggage racks, and they are hired by most companies on a first-come, first-serve basis. In France, all persons in a vehicle are required by law to wear seatbelts, even in the rear of the vehicle if they are fitted, and it is therefore important that you organise child seats of the correct size for younger family members. Children younger then twelve years of age may also not sit in the front of the vehicle, unless they have an adequate restraint system.

The airport has ensured that its terminal building is completely accessible to disabled passengers, and that assistance is available should it be required. The car hire companies also keep persons with reduced mobility in mind, and may offer hand control equipment from their offices at Strasbourg Airport. Hand controls are ideally used by persons with a lower limb disability, and are used on certain types of automatic vehicles. Hand controls are free of charge, but should be reserved early. Disabled persons unable to drive may also still be the primary renter of a vehicle, with a free additional driver to operate the car.

Cars from Strasbourg Airport are hired with unlimited mileage, and some car hire companies include the price of insurance in their quotes. Collision damage waiver and theft protection are recommended. Smaller cars are usually less expensive to hire, but still have some nice features such as power steering and air conditioning. They are also fuel efficient and easy to drive, provided that you have experience with a manual transmission. The Renault Twingo is an example, as well as the Opel Corsa and Citroen C3. Slightly larger are Compact vehicles such as the Peugeot 308, and for up to five passengers, the Citroen C5, VW Passat and Renault Laguna may be ideal. The car rental companies also offer premium and luxury vehicles of a Mercedes, Volvo or BMW make, and Vans ideal for groups of travellers. The Citroen Grand Picasso C4, Opel Zafira and Renault Espace can seat seven, the Citroen Jumpy can seat eight and the Renault Traffic Combi has room for nine passengers.

The vehicles mentioned can be arranged as one way hires from the rental location of Strasbourg. One way hire services are very convenient for passengers who would rather not drive back to the airport, as the vehicle can be returned to any other rental location in French. Vehicles may even be considered as cross-border rentals, and driven to neighbouring countries, such as Germany, Switzerland or Belgium. Cars may also be taken to the United Kingdom, provided that they are returned to a rental location on mainland France. One way hires or cross-border rentals could be more expensive than an ordinary hire, but this will depend on the car hire company chosen, the return location of the vehicle and the length of the rental.

Anyone just 21 years of age or older can hire a vehicle in France, from the majority of the car hire companies, however, certain vehicle categories can only be selected by persons 25 years of age or older. Younger renters also pay higher rental rates for young drivers insurance. A drivers license will be required, as well as a major credit card, for example, American Express, Diners Club, Eurocard, Mastercard or Visa.

Drivers in France will keep their vehicle on the right-hand side of the road, and should always follow the indicated speed limits. In general, the speed limits to follow are no more than 50kph in urban areas, 90kph on open roads, 110kph on dual carriageways and 130kph on motorways. Main roads lead from Strasbourg in all directions, providing access to a number of nearby cities in France and Germany. Nancy and Mulhouse are just a 100km away and Karlsruhe in Germany is about 42km from the airport. Colmar is a forty minute journey by car and Metz is about an hour and half’s drive from Strasbourg.

Contact your favourite Strasbourg car hire company for the best rates and car rental options.