Car rental in Innsbruck
Read this section for advice on car rental in Innsbruck. Driving around this wonderful city will bring you a lot of pleasure.
Innsbruck is one of the most beautiful Austrian cities. That is why it is not surprising that many travelers try to start their journey around Austria in Vienna. A good chance to see everything you have planned without depending on a guide or tourist group is to hire a car and compile your own route. Here, you have a chance to look for a cheap option and rent an economy-class car. It is also possible to achieve your dream with a luxury-class car or sport-utility vehicle.
This city is traditionally called a concentration of myths, legends and castles. Innsbruck is ready to meet guests at any time of the year. It offers excellent opportunities for having a rest in winter. In summer, you can go on bike rides, see the sights and enjoy Tyrolean cuisine. Hiring a car at the airport is a wonderful idea. You can put your clothes into the baggage hold and take to the road.
In order to get a car, you need to have an international driving licence and a bank card on which a particular sum of money will be frozen as a deposit for the car. The sum will be unfrozen after you return the car if no damage has been caused to the car or third parties and you haven't committed any road traffic offence. The age limit for the driver is 21 years old. However, many companies require the driver to be at least 25. It is also important for the driver to have at least 12 months' driving experience.
Average prices for renting a car for 3 days and for 7 days in Innsbruck
| Category | 3 days' rental term | 7 days' rental term |
| Mini | 144-228 Euro | 204-336 Euro |
| Economy | 102-276 Euro | 168-348 Euro |
| Standard | 276-390 Euro | 336-564 Euro |
| Premium | 648-816 Euro | 792-1140 Euro |
| Wagon | 144-540 Euro | 258-804 Euro |
| Utility vehicle | 420-678 Euro | 540-1152 Euro |
| Shelter carrier | 360-744 Euro | 636-1500 Euro |
There is a demand for convertible automobiles. They allow you to fully enjoy the mountain landscapes and steep-roofed baroque spires of castles, as well as take wonderful photos without leaving the car. In winter, demand for sport-utility vehicles and cars with special baggage holds traditionally grows.
Fines and roads
Despite its location, the city is surrounded by mountain ranges. Innsbruck offers excellent roads, and driving on them is a pleasure. The only problem lies in the fact that you are not advised to drive as quickly as the wind, since fines for speeding can really be a killjoy and drain your purse. Another important issue is blood alcohol level. The following significant fines are given for drunk driving:
- If the blood alcohol level is from 0.8‰ to 1.19‰, you will be given a fine of 800 to 3700 Euro and deprived of your driving licence for a period of 1 to 3 months.
- If the blood alcohol level is from 1.2% to 1.59%, you will be given a fine ranging from 1200 Euro to 4400 Euro and deprived of your driving licence for four months.
- If the blood alcohol level is from 1.6%, you will be given a fine of 1600 to 5900 Euro and deprived of your driving licence for 6 months. The same penalty is stipulated if the driver refuses to take the blood alcohol test.
The speed limit is standard. It is possible to drive at up to 50 km/h in the city. You are not allowed to drive a car at more than 100 km/h outside the city. The maximum speed allowed on highways can be 130 km/h. Road signs are installed everywhere. As a result, you will learn about changes to the speed limit beforehand.
You should also remember that in Innsbruck, as in other European cities, both the driver and the passengers are obliged to fasten their seat belts. It is also strictly forbidden to drive children without child seats corresponding to their height and weight.
Important! Talking on a mobile phone without a hands-free device can result in a fine of 100 Euro.
Car insurance
As a rule, standard insurance packages against car theft and possible damage caused to third parties are included in the rental cost. However, many travelers prefer to anticipate all possible contingencies and purchase a full insurance package with a zero excess.
The standard insurance packages are the following:
- 3rd (Third) party liability - this is third-party liability insurance.
- CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) - this is insurance against damage caused to the car (bumper-to-bumper coverage).
- Theft Waiver - this insurance package covers car theft.
Innsbruck fuel, fuel stations and car parks
Rental cars in Innsbruck must be filled with one of the following types of fuel:
- Unleaded fuel 95 (on average, 10 litres cost about 18.2 Euro).
- Diesel fuel (the price for 10 litres is about 21.3 Euro).
There are enough fuel stations both in the city and on the surrounding highways. At that, the price level is practically the same. However, when choosing a fuel station, you had better be guided by such characteristics as the convenience of the entrance and the availability of a café or restaurant.
The following car parks are popular in this city:
- Ground-level and underground multistorey car parks. All information at these car parks, such as the number of spaces and opening times, is shown on special display units. When entering these car parks, you are obliged to get a parking ticket. When leaving the car park, you must give the ticket to the cashier and pay for parking.
- Park&Ride car parks near the 'Olympia' stadium and 'Hafen' club. The main advantage of such car parks lies in the fact that you can park your car there for quite a long period of time, but not more than one day.
When travelling by car, you should find out beforehand whether the hotel you are going to stay at has its own parking space. Many hotels provide such a service for free. But there are also hotels that increase the cost of accommodation by 5 to 20 Euro per day just for providing the opportunity to park a car near the hotel.
