Avis - Renting from AVIS Switzerland

Folks:

I will be renting a car for 15 days at Zurich airport.

I am reading about these rules that state having a fluorescent jacket in the car for each occupant is necessary. I am wondering if this is a service that AVIS provides? We will be 4 people. Would they provide 4 jackets? Or will I have to purchase some?

Secondly I do plan to drive out into Germany and Austria, perhaps even Italy. I read something about needing some sort of vignette - do I need to pre arrange this?

Thanks!!
Pranu

PS - Not sure if this should be in the AVIS forum or the Europe forum. Hope I get my answers here.

If you drive on the Austrian autobahn you'll need to buy a vignette, available at the first few service stations and hope that your Swiss rental is actrually out of Switzerland (as it might be a one-way from a third country) to avoid needing a Swiss vignette too.

nd/or Folks:

I will be renting a car for 15 days at Zurich airport.

I am reading about these rules that state having a fluorescent jacket in the car for each occupant is necessary. I am wondering if this is a service that AVIS provides? We will be 4 people. Would they provide 4 jackets? Or will I have to purchase some?

Secondly I do plan to drive out into Germany and Austria, perhaps even Italy. I read something about needing some sort of vignette - do I need to pre arrange this?

Thanks!!
Pranu

PS - Not sure if this should be in the AVIS forum or the Europe forum. Hope I get my answers here.

Thanks BKKLEE.

I also did some research and apparently even the jackets can be picked up at gas stations for failry cheap. So will make the trip to pick up a 10 day Austrian Vignette and the jackets.

As for the Swiss Vignette, am I correct in assuming that if it is a Swiss registered car, then I do not need a vignette? I know the European plates look fairly similar - how do I confirm if the car I get is a Swiss car? I am sure there must be some easy way to tell from the plates - I just don't know the system well enough.

The Swiss vignette is a sticker (approx 2" x 3") on the inside of a vehicle's windshield. When I rent in Switzerland, the vignette is already there.

It's a huge earner for the rental companies. The vignette costs 40 CHF for a year (potentally 14 months from December in one year to January in the next but one). Avis charges a daily rate of 4.50 CHF for 'vehicle registration' including the vignette.

Swiss cars have a Swiss flag on the left of the rear registration plate, alongside the flag of the canton in the right - Zurich's is blue and white. The agency may have other cars (returns, for example). If necessary, specify one with a vignette.

Any special equipment that is legally required when driving in a certain country will always be provided if you collect from an Avis office in that country so you won’t need to worry about the fluorescent jackets and Swiss vignette if you're picking the car up in Zurich. However, when taking the car into other countries as the the driver you are responsible for organising any extra equipment that you may need.

Hope this helps.

Lucy, Avis UK
www.wetryharder.co.uk