Car hire
Hungary

Your Sixt car hire in Hungary is supplied by well-known names like Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. If you wish to rent a car in Hungary with automatic transmission, organise one-way rentals or select extras such as child seats then all the information you need is on our bookings page.

Which car rental in Hungary is right for me?

• Explore historic cities in compact vehicles.
• Enjoy motorway driving and weekend breaks in comfortable saloons.
• Fit five people and their luggage into estates and 4x4s.
• Make the most of the Hungarian countryside in luxury sports cars and convertibles.
• Pick vans for transporting business materials.

Driver's licence

Hungary accepts international driving licences of European non-residents along with EU licences. If they are in non-Roman alphabets like Arabic, Cyrillic or Russian licences must be accompanied by an International Driver's Permit (IDP) obtained in the UK either online or from Post Offices.

Age Restrictions

The minimum age for driving a Sixt car hire in Hungary is 21 along with one year's possession of a valid driving licence. Some car categories are not available for younger drivers and surcharges apply if you are under 25. Full details are in our booking engine.

Credit Card Payment

You can pay for your car hire deals in Hungary with all major credit cards. Cash along with prepaid and debit cards like VISA Electron is not acceptable. Payment methods must be in the driver's name and presented along with photo ID when you collect your rental car.

Accidents

In the unfortunate event of an accident the police must be informed. Contact them on 112. We are always available on our Hungarian hotline number of +361 4514227.

Drive with caution on motorways in particular as Hungarians have a reputation for aggressive driving which includes tailgating and overtaking at the last moment. The country has a growing network of motorways which all start in Budapest. These are generally in good condition but surfaces on minor roads can be variable. If you are crossing the country remember that apart from in and near Budapest the Danube has very few bridges. Factor the time taken by ferry crossings into your plans.

More tips for enjoying driving in Hungary:

• Drive on the right in Hungary and remember that Kilometres are used for distances and speed limits.
• Unless otherwise indicated always give way to the right.
• Tolls on the M1, M2, M5 and M7 motorways must be paid in advance by toll cards. These are readily available at petrol stations and post offices and are valid for ten days, one month or a year.
• Snow chains are compulsory in parts of the country during Winter. Maximum speeds with snow chains are 50 km/h.
• No children under 12 are allowed in the front of vehicles and if under 1.5m should be in appropriate child seats.
• Parking is easily available and clearly marked but be aware that in Budapest this is closely monitored and you may be clamped or towed even if only 30 minutes beyond your ticket time.
• Damage caused to any rental car by driving off paved surfaces is your responsibility and you will be charged for repairs.

Speed limits in Hungary

- Residential areas: 50 km/h

- National roads: 90 km/h

Motorways: 110 - 130 km/h

Traffic Infractions and on-the-spot fines:

Hungarian police are allowed to issue on-the-spot fines. These vary from 15,000 to 300,000 HUF for offences such as:

• Driving without a seat belt
• Speeding
• Not stopping at red lights
• Drink driving

Top 4 Architectural Sites

• Mupa Budapest
• Festetics Palace at Keszthely
• Burg Diosgyor
• Castle of Eger

The Mupa Budapest or Palace of Arts is an attractive modern building with glass facades in the Ferencvaros district of the capital. It contains a theatre, concert hall and art gallery. The Baroque Festetics Palace was started in 1745 and took over a century to complete. Surrounded by beautiful parterres and English-style gardens it is home to the Helikon Palace Museum. Although originally dating from the 12th-century the medieval form of the Burg Diosgyor Castle was recreated in recent years. Today it houses waxworks and exhibitions. Also dating from the medieval period is the large and imposing Castle of Eger.

Top 4 Natural Sites

• Hortobagyi National Park
• Palvolgyi Cave, Budapest
• Thermal Lake of Heviz
• Lake Cave, Tapolca

The Hortobagyi National Park is the perfect place to explore Hungary's folklore and cultural history. Its most famous landmark is the Nine Holed Bridge. Dress warmly to explore the fascinating interior of the Palvolgyi Cave near Budapest. Located at the Western end of Lake Balaton is the Thermal Lake of Heviz. It is the largest thermal lake in the world and its mineral composition is reputed to have health benefits It also creates a unique habitat for flora and fauna. The perfect way to explore the subterranean wonders of Tapolca's Lake Cave is by boat.

Important Film locations

The autobiographical American Rhapsody (2001) was filmed mainly in Hungary with many scenes shot in Budapest. The 2013 thriller A Good Day to Die Hard starring Bruce Willis saw the capital standing in for Moscow while the science fiction thriller Blade Runner 2049 was also filmed in Budapest.

With permission Sixt cars can be driven into most European countries. Certain categories of car, however, cannot be taken into Romania or Serbia. Crossing without permission invalidates any insurance.