On the 1st May 2016 a new EU regulation came into force meaning that non-EU registered hire cars cannot be driven around Europe by EU citizens. This could cause an issue if you are flying into the Swiss airports of Geneva or Zurich, because as a non-EU member state it is no longer permissible to drive from Switzerland into the EU in a Swiss registered vehicle.
Busy road networks around the borders of Switzerland, France, Austria and Germany affected
Many in the UK are feeling frustrated as this latest EU regulation will undoubtedly cause complications at car hire offices in Switzerland with many wishing to drive their Swiss registered hire car across the borders into France, Italy, Austria or Germany.
If you are planning on collecting your
hire car in Switzerland and driving to the EU it is advisable to contact your car hire company before travelling. The rental agent will then arrange a suitable car that is registered to drive in the EU.
If Britain were to leave the EU, absurdly enough this would mean we would be able to take a rental car across the borders into EU states. This is due to the law being applied around residency and where the car is registered. The law does not affect non-EU residents, so if Brexit were to happen, UK holiday makers would no longer be affected.
#Update 22/07/2023
Now the dust has settled around the UK's referendum result, the above legislation will no longer affect UK residents (after the UK has formally left the EU) as the legislation is only applicable to EU residents, of which following BREXIT, UK residents will no longer be.