Biel Car Rental Guide
The current page gives you information about the car rental possibilities in Biel. The page also introduces the main car rental and driving restrictions valid in Switzerland.
Rental Traditions
In order to rent a car in Switzerland, you must be at least 20 years old (age may vary by car category) and have held your license for 1 year. Drivers under the age of 25 may incur a young driver surcharge.
Cars rented in Switzerland are not allowed into the following countries: Albania, Belarus, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the countries of the former Republic of Yugoslavia.
Driving Restrictions
The minimum driving age in Switzerland is 18 years. Seatbelts are compulsory for front seat passengers. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.8‰.
You have to have the headlights on when driving in tunnels. Use the horn only in cases of extreme and immediate danger – otherwise, headlights should be flashed instead.
When passing another vehicle, you should not cross a double white line. If there is enough room, moving trams must be passed on the right; if not, then on the left. Many roads are closed to caravans and trailers.
Trams always have the right to move first. Buses have priority when leaving a bus stop. Blue posts indicate an upcoming intersection with a priority road.
The police are authorised to collect fines on the spot.
Speed Limits:| Area | Limit |
| Expressways | 100 or 120 KM/H |
| Outside the City | 80 KM/H |
| In the City | 50 KM/H |
Emergency Numbers
Police/ambulance/fire - 112
Road Tolls
Switzerland has road tolls for cars.
Some useful expressions for tourists travelling in Switzerland
Car – das Auto
Car rental – Autovermietung
Road – die Autostrasse
To drive – fahren
About Biel
Biel is situated at the Lake of Biel on the foot of the Jura Mountains. The city offers you everything – nature, leisure, action, sports and wellness. The mountains can be easily reached from the city. You can also take the route along the waterfront and visit the numerous great restaurants and cafes. The port of the city is the starting point for river and lake cruises.
The beautiful small city centre, the Ring, with its gothic church, impressive guild halls and fountains is full of history. Biel has long been a centre for Swiss watchmaking. There is a museum of clocks and watches in the city as well as a museum of archaeological relics.
Population: 52,600
Country: Switzerland
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +1
Telephone Area Code: 32
Monetary unit: Swiss Franc
