Car Rental Vienna | Best Companies & Discounted Rentals

A trip to Austria usually involves moving between different places in its wonderful regions. In recent years, a variety of airlines (such as Ryanair, Wizz Air) have started operating frequent routes to Vienna. This has lowered the cost of flight tickets and made Vienna the ultimate choice as a starting point for a trip throughout the country.

At Vienna’s airport, as well as in the city itself, there are a variety of car rental companies that can provide large and comfortable vehicles for a trip across the country. As with every important element of a trip, there are also many things to know about driving, and for that, we have prepared a detailed article on driving in Austria, which also includes tips for renting a car in Vienna in particular and in Austria in general.

In this article, we will briefly review the car rental options in Vienna and detail excellent alternatives that can significantly reduce the cost of car rental.

The main alternative is renting a car from neighboring Slovakia, but that is not the only option.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Renting a Car in Austria or Slovakia

Before deciding whether to rent a car in Austria itself or in neighboring Slovakia, it is worth knowing the pros and cons.

The significant advantages of renting in Austria are:

• An Austrian license plate (doesn’t hurt if you get stopped by the police, heaven forbid).
• The toll for highways is already included in the package.
• The vehicles meet all Austrian standards and are carefully inspected.
• If the trip is only in Austria, there will be no need to add money for crossing between countries.
• The car return policy can be simpler.
• Sometimes there are luxurious upgrade options.

However, the clear disadvantages are:

• The cost of renting in Austria can be about 30% more expensive.
• The number of vehicles at companies in Vienna is limited, especially for large family cars, so you have to be quick and book with good timing, well before the trip. Otherwise, there are simply no available cars left.
• Taxes in Austria are higher than in neighboring countries, and therefore rental prices are higher.

In any case, no matter if you rent in Austria or Slovakia, for example, there are basic rules and things you must pay attention to in order to have the best rental experience. We have compiled a variety of tips and recommendations in the general article on driving in Austria and car rental.

Which rental companies in Vienna are worth checking out?

Due to high demand, new rental companies are constantly popping up, and sometimes it’s worth checking the popular search engines first, such as:

1. The discounted search engine of Discovercars – cars up to 70% off
2. The search engine of Rentalcars
3. The new search engine of Papam Papam

However, some companies have earned a strong reputation, and many travelers praise the quality of their vehicles, service, and rental prices.

These companies are:

1. Zippy Autorent – A young company located in the heart of Vienna and at Vienna’s airport with new cars and attractive prices. It’s worth checking their vehicle availability and deals through the discounted search engine of Discovercars.
2. Sixt (the Austrian branch) – One of the most successful and largest rental companies in Austria. A large fleet, many branches, and excellent service. The company has a large branch in the city center as well as at Vienna’s airport, making car pickup and return very convenient and simple. You can check vehicle availability and deals through the search engine.

Cheap Car Rental from a Slovak Company – Is It Really Worth It?

Renting a car in Vienna from a Slovak company is an economical and good solution for those planning a long trip throughout Austria (for a one or two-day trip, there is usually no need to rent from Slovakia).

If you are planning to start your trip from Vienna, you can take advantage of its proximity to Slovakia (a 45-minute drive) to rent the car from a Slovak car rental company. From a check we have done over the past few years, renting a car from Slovakia can save hundreds of euros compared to Austrian car rental companies. Of course, it requires more coordination, and in some Slovak companies, the booking process is a bit outdated, but if it is important for you to save on car expenses and still get new cars and excellent service, this can definitely be an ideal solution.

When you rent from Slovakia, confirm whether the rental company includes the Austrian road toll, charges a cross-border fee, and sets a price to take the car to Vienna’s airport or the city and return it there. These costs can sometimes tip the scales regarding the profitability of the booking.

Important to remember: The idea of renting a car from Slovakia is no longer new. Therefore, even if you rent from Slovakia, you should not wait until the last minute, and even if you want to rent six months in advance, it may already be too late. The recommended Slovak companies receive bookings a year in advance for the summer months. Our recommendation is to keep your finger on the pulse, do price comparisons on the various search engines, get quotes from the recommended Slovak companies, and book a car as early as possible. With most companies, if you cancel in time, you will not be charged at all.

1. Auto-Rental Company

The Auto-rental company is considered one of the oldest and best companies in Bratislava. It is one of the cheapest companies in Slovakia. Many travelers have already booked from this company in recent years, and the feedback is good on both the price and the overall service. Auto-Rental today has a fleet of over 250 cars. The company maintains a modern fleet, using vehicles for a maximum of 3 years and keeping their mileage low.

Please note! To receive the benefits, you must enter the code AU10 in the price inquiry form (in the “Promo Code” line) on the Auto-Rental website.

What’s included in the Auto-Rental benefits?

1. 10% discount on the total rental cost throughout the year – even for bookings in the summer months.
2. Generous mileage allowance included in the price – 300 kilometers per day and 5,000 kilometers per month (instead of 200 km per day and 4,000 km per month without the coupon code). The company calculates mileage as an average over all days, so a 10-day rental includes 3,000 kilometers instead of 2,000. If you are taking a trip to Salzburg, Tyrol, or Carinthia, this will definitely be enough for your trip.
3. Crossing borders between EU countries at no extra cost.
4. Assistance with purchasing the Austrian motorway vignette in advance so you don’t have to deal with it at the beginning of your trip (the cost of the sticker for Austrian roads is not included in the rental price and costs about €12,80 for 10 days).
5. No cancellation fees (you just need to notify them as soon as possible).
6. The comprehensive insurance premium decreases as the rental period gets longer. You can get insurance with no deductible for accidents and damages for €27 per day (minimum rental period to get this price is 4 days). Please note that the insurance does not cover certain items, such as the car’s interior, tires, and similar parts. More information on the insurance offered.
7. Service throughout the rental period via WhatsApp. You can be in constant contact with the company representative directly on WhatsApp. The company representatives speak English.
8. New cars with automatic transmission. The company has a fleet of family cars (7-8-9 seats) with automatic transmission for simple and safe driving in Austria.
9. Vehicle inspection immediately upon its return. A company representative will check the vehicle the moment you return it so you know on the spot that everything is fine and there are no additional charges. Other companies sometimes inspect the car a few hours after you return it, when you are no longer present.
10. If you received a lower price quote from another company in Slovakia, Auto-Rental will match its price to the rental price offered to you by the competing company.

Sounds good?

You should fill out the inquiry form on the Auto-Rental website and book the car as soon as possible before the busy season.

Please note: The form does not require any payment details and does not constitute a commitment to rent. Remember to put the code AU10 in the “Promo Code” line to receive the benefits. The line is below your personal information at the end of the form:

2. BARKRO

The BARKRO rental company is younger and also operates in Bratislava. The company has become a household name when it comes to fast service, reliability, and good cars. The reviews about them are excellent. BARKRO’s service is exceptional, and you can get a quick response 24/7. Its fleet of vehicles is modern, and they have a variety of vehicles in different categories. They also provide comprehensive insurance, child seats, a vignette for the highways in Austria, and bring the car to any address you want. The price already includes the cost of picking up and returning the car in Vienna!

New!! Exclusive discount of up to 9% on car rentals throughout the year and unlimited mileage from BARKRO – code AU26.

In an exclusive collaboration with BARKRO, we are pleased to offer you a benefit of up to 9% off on car bookings for your trip. To receive the benefit, you must enter the coupon code AU26 before completing the booking through the official BARKRO website. Their prices are considered the cheapest compared to Austrian rental companies, and with the discount, you will get the lowest price.

Please note: Remember to put the code AU26 in the “Promo Code” line to receive the benefits. The line is below your personal information at the end of the form: