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Cheap Car Hire Geneva Airport French Side Deals
There are certain benefits to hiring a car on the French side of Geneva Airport (GVA). One which will concern many people is price. There can in some cases be significantly cheaper car hire deals available on the French side of the airport compared to the Swiss side.
It can get quite complicated for travelers due to the split of countries within the airport. What happens if you need to reach the French sector but have arrived in the Swiss area? In this situation you would go through passport control and leave the Swiss area from the arrivals hall.
You would then walk upstairs to check-ins. There is no need for a visa for Switzerland to get to the French part of the airport. You can easily travel to nearby French areas without running into Swiss territory.
Car Hire Geneva Airport French Side FAQ
| How much should I expect to pay per day for car rental in Geneva? |
| It depends on demand/time of year and which side of the airport you hire a car. Prices can work out as low as £25 per day. |
| How many car hire firms operate on the French side of Geneva Airport? |
| There are currently 6. Budget, Avis, Hertz, Enterprise. Europcar and Sixt |
| Do you recommend a specific car hire model or company? |
| No, it depends of course on the purpose of your trip. A people carrier could be ideal if a ski resort is your final destination. If your goal is to tour more city areas then a compact rental might be a good idea as there are many tight streets to manoeuvre. |
| Is it hard to find parking spots in Geneva City? |
| No, the easiest option is probably to use one the large underground spaces. It’s gets a little complicated at street level with a colour coded system in operation. There are various areas for residents etc so look out for information signs when parking. You may need to purchase a permit for certain areas. |
| Is petrol and diesel expensive in Geneva? |
| Not particularly. It works out quite similar to most western European destinations. |
| How many airport are there in Geneva? |
| Just one…but with two sides…French and Swiss. |
| So is Geneva in France or Switzerland then? |
| It’s in Switzerland but you could be in France after just 10 minutes of driving. |
| How much would a taxi from Geneva Airport to the city cost? |
| You can expect to pay around £25 for the relatively short trip? |
| Does Uber operate in Geneva? |
| Yes, it should work cheaper than a taxi but can sometimes be a less professional service. |
| What is the distance between Geneva airport and the City Centre? |
| It’s about a 5 km drive. Traffic depending it shouldn’t take long at all. |
| Which side of the road do you drive on in France? |
| The right side. |
| Can I use my mobile phone when driving in France? |
| It must be a hands free device. Wearing headphones or an in-ear device is not allowed. |
| What are common courtesies expected when driving? |
| Similar to most countries, you should not have your lights blaring and dim when appropriate. You should also give way to traffic approaching on the right side when otherwise not indicated. |
| What are the speed limits for cars in France? |
| In towns and cities, you can expect to drive 50 km per hour. On motorways, it’s up to 130 km per hour with countryside areas set at 90 km per hour. Always look for signs as these are general limits. |
| What are the requirements when using a child seat? |
| For children weighing less than 9 kilograms, you will need a rear faced seat. Children under 10 years old must also be accommodated with a child friendly booster seat or other. |
| What are some of the main tourist sights in Geneva City? |
| So many, particularly in the old town. Must sees include Saint Pierre Cathedral, Bourg-de-Four Square, Jet d’Eau Water Fountain plus an abundance of museums and galleries. |
| What are the nearest ski resorts to the French side of Geneva Airport? |
| All of the following are within a 90 minute drive. Chamonix, Morzine, Les Gets, Flaine, La Clusaz, Valmorel, Samoens. |
Geneva Airport Car Hire France Side Pickup
Take note of your travel dates and start searching today. Switzerland can be an expensive place so why not save some money on essentials such as transport. Compare car rental Geneva Airport France side offers.
Picking up a rental car on the French side is quick and easy. You don’t need to worry about getting a shuttle bus as you will find all you need within walking distance.
Make sure you choose the correct pickup and return point from our booking engine as there are quite a few choices in Geneva besides the airport such as city centre locations and Geneva train station.
Step-by-step pickup and return directions for car hire in Geneva Airport’s French Sector (P21), with access routes and terminal walking directions
Before you set off (avoid the #1 mistake)
- Confirm your booking says “French Sector / Secteur France / Ferney-Voltaire”. Geneva Airport has separate Swiss-side and French-side rental locations. Following generic “Car Rental / Location voiture” signs can take you to the Swiss-side desks and car park instead.
- French Sector road access is special: by car, the French Sector is accessed via the customs road from the Ferney-Voltaire border.
Which firms are on the French side (on-airport)
- Avis France
- Budget France
- Enterprise France
- Europcar France
- Hertz France
- Sixt France
Pickup if you arrive by plane (walk inside the terminal to the French Sector)
Step-by-step from arrivals to the French-side desks
- Land, collect bags, then go landside (Arrivals). If you’ve arrived from outside Schengen, complete passport control as instructed, then proceed to baggage reclaim and out to the public area.
- Go up to the Check-in / Departures level (typically one level above Arrivals). Use lifts/escalators/signs for “Check-in / Departures”.
- Follow signs for “Destination France”, “Secteur France”, or “Gate/Porte F”. This is the internal route that leads you into the French Sector area from the Swiss side of the terminal.
- Pass the internal border into the French Sector. (There is an internal border point when moving from Swiss to French side.)
- After paperwork, go to the French-side rental car park (commonly P21). Follow desk instructions/signs for the French-sector car park for vehicle pickup/collection.
Fast warning inside the terminal
- Do not blindly follow “Rental Car / Location voiture” signs unless they explicitly reference Secteur France / Porte F. Some companies explicitly warn that those signs route you to the Swiss sector.
Pickup if you arrive by car (driving in)
Driving in from France (Ferney-Voltaire side)
- Head toward Ferney-Voltaire / Geneva Airport.
- Follow signs for “Aéroport secteur France”. Access is via the customs road from the Ferney-Voltaire border (this is not the same as the Swiss airport entrance).
- Enter the Route douanière (customs road) toward the French Sector. (You’ll typically be routed along the dedicated airport access road.)
- Follow “Locations de voitures / Car rental” for the French Sector and proceed to the French-sector rental parking area (commonly referenced as P21 by multiple rental providers).
- Park as instructed for pickups (short-stay pickup bays or the firm’s designated rows), then walk to the desks on the check-in level if you still need to complete paperwork.
Driving in from Switzerland (important turning)
- Follow signs for Ferney / France rather than the main airport (Swiss-sector) road entrances.
- Go through the Swiss customs area toward France, then take the signed turn for “Secteur français / locations de voitures” onto the Route douanière toward the French-sector rental parking.
Drop-off / return (French Sector)
Golden rule for returns
- Return to the French-sector car rental parking (commonly P21) and not the Swiss-side “Car Rental” returns. Several providers note that generic airport car rental signage can route you to the Swiss sector.
Return from France (most straightforward)
- Navigate to “Aéroport secteur France”. Approach via Ferney-Voltaire and the customs road/Route douanière access.
- Follow signs for “Locations de voitures / Car rental” and the French-sector rental car park (often P21).
- Enter the rental return area and follow lane signage for your company (Avis/Budget/Enterprise/Europcar/Hertz/Sixt).
- Park, take photos, and note fuel/odometer. (Especially useful if the drop box is used.)
- Return keys: either at the desk on the check-in level (if open) or via the firm’s key drop instructions on your rental agreement.
Return from Switzerland (avoid being forced into the Swiss sector)
- Do not follow signs for the main “Aéroport” car rental returns. Those typically lead to Swiss-sector returns.
- Instead, follow signs toward Ferney / France and then the signed turn for “Secteur français / locations de voitures” onto the Route douanière to reach the French-sector return parking.
Common “gotchas” that waste 30–60 minutes
- Following “Car Rental / Location voiture” inside the terminal (often routes to Swiss-side desks). Use Secteur France / Porte F signage instead.
- Driving to the main Swiss airport road system instead of the French Sector access via Ferney-Voltaire.
- Booking mismatch: Enterprise/Alamo/National (and others) have both Swiss and French locations—double-check your confirmation before you move.
Driving from Geneva Airport (French Side) to popular holiday resorts
Driving directions from Geneva Airport French Sector (car hire pickup/return area P21) to popular holiday resorts: Annecy, Chamonix, Morzine/Les Gets, and Évian-les-Bains.
Start point: Geneva Airport French Sector (Secteur France / P21)
After picking up your car in the French-sector car hire area (commonly referenced as P21), leave the airport via the Route douanière toward Ferney-Voltaire / St-Genis-Pouilly. From here you’ll quickly reach the motorway links used for most French Alps and lakeside destinations.
- For Annecy / Chambéry: aim for the A41.
- For Chamonix / Mont-Blanc: aim for the A40 (Autoroute Blanche).
- For Morzine / Les Gets: you’ll use A41 then cut across to the valley roads near Cluses/Taninges.
- For Évian / Thonon: head toward Annemasse then the lakeshore road.
1) Annecy (Lake Annecy)
Approx: 40–50 km, 40–50 minutes (traffic dependent).
From the Route douanière, join the A41 south signed Annecy / Chambéry. Stay on the A41 for around 30 km, then take the exit for Annecy Centre / Lac. Follow city signs for Centre-Ville and Lac (the lakeside area is usually the easiest landmark for parking and walking into the old town).
2) Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
Approx: 100 km, 1h30–1h45.
From the Route douanière, route onto the A40 east signed Chamonix / Mont-Blanc. Continue along the A40 (Autoroute Blanche) through the valley section toward Sallanches. Take the exit for Sallanches / Chamonix, then follow the N205 straight into the Chamonix Valley. Once you reach Chamonix, follow local signs for your specific area (for example Aiguille du Midi, Brévent, or Les Houches).
Keep in mind that the proximity of the French Alps means you have no shortage of ski resorts to choose from. Chamonix is just over a 90 minute drive with a cheap car hire Geneva Airport deal.
3) Morzine / Les Gets (Portes du Soleil)
Approx: 75–85 km, about 1h30.
Join the A41 south (Annecy direction) and continue until you can cut across toward the Arve Valley routes. Follow signage toward Cluses and pick up the valley road toward the resorts. The common approach is to reach the D902 (main valley climb road) and follow it up to Morzine; Les Gets is signposted nearby. Expect slower progress on the final climb, especially on Saturdays in peak season.
4) Évian-les-Bains (Lake Geneva)
Approx: 70–80 km, about 1h20–1h40.
From the French-sector exit roads, head toward the Annemasse area, then follow signs for Thonon-les-Bains. From Thonon, stay on the lakeside route signed Évian (often the D1005). The last section is an easy, scenic lakeshore drive with plenty of viewpoints and places to stop.
Practical driving notes (worth reading)
- Tolls: French motorways (A40/A41) are tolled. Keep a bank card handy for toll booths.
- Winter equipment: If you’re heading to mountain resorts in winter, confirm winter tyres and/or snow chains before leaving the car park.
- Peak traffic: Saturdays can be heavy for ski changeovers; start early if you can.
- Navigation tip: Use the motorway numbers for the main leg, then switch to town/resort signage after your exit.
Snow Tyres and Ski Chains
Once you decide on which car to rent, you may want to think about optional extras such as winter tyres, ski chains, ski racks, baby seats etc.
Keep in mind, that winter equipment such as this is more likely to be all inclusive on the Swiss side. Cars rented on the Swiss side of Geneva Airport tend be more road ready for snow and winter conditions.
Of course you can also arrange these options on the French side. Just include the add-ons you need during the booking process.
Cheapest Car Rental Geneva Airport French Side Quotes
You can compare quotes from all the major rentacar firms operating at the airport using our Geneva Airport Car Hire French Side price comparison engine.
If you are still unsure which side of the airport is best to arrange car hire on, take a look at our pros and cons French or Swiss side list.
Budget, Automatic, Family or Luxury Car Hire Geneva French Side Offers
Choose the correct vehicle for your trip. Ski equipment and luggage requirements will likely be a major factor.
Selecting the people carrier hire class is probably a good place to start when looking for quotes. Here you will mostly find 5 and 7 seater cars.
If you are looking for a 9 seater then you can select that class separately and start a new search. The usual budget options are of course also available.
You can compare the best available offers from numerous firms with a quick search here today. Our car hire Geneva Airport Swiss side deals are also available if required.
Some examples of the rental cars available are listed below separated by class.
Budget Car Hire
- Citroen C1
- Fiat 500
- Toyota Aygo
- Renault Twingo
- Peugeot 208
Intermediate
- Renault Scenic
- Toyota Avensis
- Peugeot 3008
- VW Passat
- Opel Insignia
Full Size
- Mercedes C Class
- Bmw 3 Series
- Renault Megane
- Ford Focus Estate
People Carrier
- Peugeot 5008
- Renault Scenic
- Opel Vivaro
Premium and Luxury
- Audi A5
- Mercedes E Class
- Volvov90
Address: Route de l’Aéroport 21, 1215 Le Grand-Saconnex, Switzerland
Airport Code: (GVA)
Phone: +41 22 717 71 11
