This price is the cheapest per day rate found by a KAYAK user in the last 48 hours by searching for a car rental in Cologne with a pick-up date of 4/2 and drop-off date of 4/9. Fares are subject to change and may not be available at all agencies or on all dates of rental. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
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Booking Insights
KAYAK’s insights & trends for Cologne car rentals
Check out the latest trends and booking tips to rent a car in Cologne with confidence.
How far in advance should you book a rental car in Cologne?
You should book your rental car in Cologne around 7 days before your trip in order to get a below-average price.
What is the cheapest car rental company in Cologne?
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at Flex To Go ($17.30/day), Wheego ($20.34/day) and Europcar ($28.95/day). The cheapest rental car price was found at Flex To Go, Mietwagenzentrum, Terminal 1, Köln, Germany (8.4 mi from city center).
What is the most popular rental car in Cologne?
Rentals in the Small category (Toyota Aygo or similar) are the most popular option in Cologne, costing $53/day on average. Some users have found deals as low as $21/day.
What is the cheapest month to rent a car in Cologne?
The cheapest month to rent a car in Cologne is November at an average cost of $41/day. July is the most expensive month to rent a car in Cologne when prices are $51/day on average, which tends to be 13% above the yearly average rental price for Cologne.
What rental car company in Cologne has the most locations?
Sunnycars operates 23 locations in Cologne, more than any other rental company.
City center is hard to find street parking, so avoid it and park in garages instead. Otherwise very beautiful city and countryside.
Verified travelerAug 2023
Give the people what they rented and the same price
KAYAK’s top tips for renting a car in Cologne
With so many sights to see along the Rhine, car hire in Cologne is almost essential if you want to take in as many as possible, without having to rely on fixed public transport schedules and routes. A short drive from the centre to the north of the city is Cologne Botanical Garden, with its glass palace and tropical greenhouse. There are also too many museums to count, including the Fragrance Museum, which is the oldest of its kind still existent in the world.
Cologne has its own international airport, Cologne Bonn Airport. As a large European travel hub, it has convenient access to car hire facilities. Companies like Avis, Enterprise, Budget and Hertz can all be found in Terminal 2, in the public area outside D Arrivals. Once all your Cologne car hire necessities have been seen to, you’ll merely have to cross the road outside the terminal exit, Kennedystrasse, and the hire car parking area will be on your right. If you’re travelling from the airport directly to the centre of the city, it will take you about 15min to make the 17 km (10.5 miles) drive.
Cologne strives to be a very green city, and certain areas in the city require you to have a green environmental sticker on your windshield. This is known as the Cologne Low Emission Zone, and it is very clearly marked out. The required stickers should be supplied with any hire car you choose that has an Emission Group 4 rating, so make sure of it when you collect your car, otherwise you could find yourself unwittingly facing a fine. Alternatively, you can park your car outside the Low Emission Zone in one of the many city car parks and take one of the frequent buses into the zone.
Rush hours in Cologne can be every bit as congested as in any other major European city. The congestion starts to build up from about 07:30, with peak hour from 08:00 to 09:00. Expect the traffic in the afternoon to start building from around 16:00 and become densest at around 17:00. The busiest streets are the most central ones, like Hohestrasse and Schildergasse, which are both vibrant commercial and shopping districts. Plot your route to avoid travelling along these roads during rush hour.
Cologne car rentals generally provide more convenience as you don't have to worry about waiting for a bus or train, which may end up eating into your vacation time. Another advantage of renting a car is that you can customize your road trips so that you visit multiple destinations in one day. For example, you can tour the Cologne Zoological Gardens in the morning and enjoy the Rhine River Cruise in the evening. Moreover, if you're traveling as a group, you can all pile into one car instead of taking multiple taxis, thus saving costs.
When driving in and around Cologne during the winter months, you need to abide by the applicable set of regulations regarding winter tires. This applies to rental vehicles and all other vehicles for winter driving. October and Easter mark the so-called “O to O” rule or Oktober bis Ostern, which means you must put snow tires on your rental vehicle from October until Easter each year. Failure to adhere to this regulation could result in penalties for non-compliance dished out by local authorities. Therefore, ensure that your rental car is equipped with the right tires for safe driving during snowy conditions.
If you're not very familiar with the city, you need a GPS navigator before setting off with your rental car. You can rent a portable "Navi'' (NAH-vee), which may come with daily charges, or better still, get a rental car with an integrated GPS system. We recommend that you mention this valuable extra when reserving your vehicle, as these may not always be readily available for renters. Additionally, some cheap car rentals in Cologne may include GPS navigation in the rental agreement at no extra cost. If these options don't suit you, consider buying a portable GPS navigation system that comes with current European maps before setting off on your trip.
25% of our users found rental cars in Cologne for $31 or less
Small rental cars in Cologne are around 34% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Cologne
What type of car is recommended for driving in Cologne?
Given the significant emphasis on green driving in this city, try to get as eco-friendly a vehicle as you can when you book car hire in Cologne. Look for the latest, most fuel-efficient models with small engine capacity and a low carbon emissions rating when browsing through the options. A small city car is all you’ll really need in the city, unless there are a few of you together, in which case a compact saloon will do nicely. Just remember to make sure that it has its green sticker when you collect it at the airport.
What’s the speed limit in Cologne?
In the centre of the city and other built-up areas of Cologne, the speed limit is 50km/h (30mph). Once you get further out you can go up to 100km/h, which is just over 62mph. When you’re clear of any towns and are travelling on the large motorways you can push it to 130km/h (80mph).
Where are the best places to park in Cologne?
There are plenty of car parks and parking areas in Cologne city centre, with free Park and Ride parking areas towards the outskirts. For the latter, head to P+R Stammheim or P+R Welden West. The car parks in the inner areas include Parkhaus Am Dom and Parkhaus Gross Sankt Martin. The average cost is between €1.50 and €2.50 per hour (approx. £1.30 to £2.20).
How much does it cost to rent a car in Cologne?
On average a rental car in Cologne costs $38 per day. But prices differ between operators and you can save money through a price comparison of car rental deals from different agencies. The cheapest price for a car rental in Cologne found in the last 2 weeks is $35.
Can I rent an automatic car in Cologne?
Yes, automatic cars are available in most car renting companies in Cologne. As cars with manual transmission are more common in many countries, you might have to pay an additional charge for renting an automatic car.
Which car rental companies are at Köln/Bonn airport (CGN)?
The only car rental company onsite at Köln/Bonn airport is Flex To Go.
A Small car rental in Cologne costs $53 per day, on average.
How much does a Large car rental cost in Cologne?
A Large car rental in Cologne costs $71 per day, on average.
How much does a Luxury car rental cost in Cologne?
A Luxury car rental in Cologne costs $135 per day, on average.
What is the most popular rental car location in Cologne?
In Cologne, cars are most frequently rented at Flex To Go Maritim-Platz 1, Düsseldorf, Germany (25 miles from city center).
Should I get insurance when renting a car in Cologne?
Most car rental providers in Cologne offer insurance but the level of protection can differ substantially. If you're unsure whether to get extra protection for your car rental in Cologne, check out KAYAK's car rental insurance guide.
How many car agencies are operating in Cologne?
KAYAK has deals for you to compare from 27 car rental agencies in Cologne.
What do I need to know before booking a car rental in Cologne?
Finding the right price, understanding the add-ons and staying up to date with policy changes can be a challenge. That’s why KAYAK has produced the ultimate guide to renting a car to help you cut though the jargon and make the right choice for your rental car. Find tips and insights for how to book your rental, what car rental insurance you’ll need, how to deal with a car rental agency and what extra fees to expect (and avoid!).
Why should I use KAYAK to rent a car in Cologne?
KAYAK searches thousands of car rental agencies to provide you with offers from all car rental agencies operating in Cologne so that you can compare car rental rates, reviews and pick-up and drop-off locations to find the best deal for you.
What are the rules for child safety belts in Cologne?
Children are not allowed to sit in the front seat of a car with an active airbag until they are at least 12 years old or over 150 cm or 4.9 ft. Also, children must be secured in a suitable child restraint system when traveling in a car. When other safety restraints are all in use, the child may take a seat belt and ride in the backseat.
What road trips can I take from Cologne?
Renting a car gives you the convenience of exploring different routes from Cologne. If traveling to Cologne for a romantic trip, take the route through the landscape of the Augustusburg and Falkenlust Palaces. With a car from one of the cheap car rentals in Cologne, you can enjoy a historical trip to one of Germany's important historical sites; Linz am Rhein, less than an hour from Cologne via the A3.
I liked that Kayak could find me a car to hire when all car hire companies in Cologne said none was available, including Budget/Avis. Online hire was easy and the lady in the hire outlet was very nice. Unlimited milage is a must as travelling is not restricted
The car was spotless and in a great condition in general. The staff was brilliant, very helpful and polite. Explained everything from how and where to pick the car to the a way of handing it back. I had a small mishap by leaving the car with an open window in the parking bay in front of my residence. The member of public spotted that and called the Police. Police have protected car by towing it away. The Alamo company was perfectly fine by that and after recovering the car the next day from the Police, they've decided not to charge me anything extra. Would recommend Alamo and its crew to everyone, they are an excellent team who care about their good name and the name of their company. Definitely a breathtaking experience you won't see everyday!
Car was terrible, seems it was a car from 80s. An employee who gave me this car was extremely rude. She made me feel like I'm bagging her to feed me. 3 times she said that I'm in Germany not at home. Disgusting
10.0 Wonderful
Travis, Feb 2024
Compact
Great desk agents
8.0 Very good
Anonymous, Feb 2024
Economy
oil signed showed up and needed to get back to them and get oil by myself and added to the car.
I ended up paying more than I had banked on. I purchased insurance at the counter, which wasn't an option in the online booking, and turned out to be several times the rental. But the car was clean modern and easy to use, and the staff where helpfully.
4.0 Mediocre
Anonymous, Oct 2021
over charged me by 60 euros. Added all kinds of fees that were not on the original reservation...and apparently it's fair game because I paid at the counter...
Sixt confirmed my reservation and took my payment. But when I arrived to pick up my car, they said no cars were available. They have not yet refunded my money. Avoid Sixt!
Will not be hiring a vehicle through avis again. Hired 2 vehicles whilst in Europe and both times was overcharged. They have not sent me the rental documents for the final rental so I don't even know what I have been charged for. Very poor company not happy at all.
Our car broke down less than 5 km from Star Car. They did not help us at all, and we had to wait for the tow truck to take us and the car to the car dealership. They charged us extra and provided no help as we did not speak the language. Will never use them again. It ended up delaying our trip 7 hours and we missed our dinner and hotel reservation, again with no assistance from Star Car.
Budget, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Alamo, keddy by Europcar, Europcar
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