A Comparison of Car Rental Rates in Europe - Winter 2026
February 18, 2026

Cologne is the most expensive destination in Europe for renting a car this winter, according to a survey by Cheapcarrental.com.

The survey compared rental car rates across 80 European airports during the period from January 1, 2026 to February 28, 2026. With an average rate of €62 per day for the most affordable car, Cologne airport emerged as the priciest destination overall.

Second most expensive is Gothenburg, located on the west coast of Sweden, where travellers can expect to pay an average of €60 per day. The podium is completed by Luxembourg airport at an average of €59 per day.

The Swiss destinations of Geneva, Zurich and Basel follow closely, placing fourth through sixth among Europe’s priciest car rental destinations. Milan is Italy’s most expensive city for car rentals, ranking 10 th overall in Europe..

At an average of just €8 per day, the Romanian capital of Bucharest is the cheapest European destination for renting a car this winter. Also notably affordable during the same period are the Spanish destinations of Malaga (€11), Barcelona (€11) and Valencia (€12).

The following table compares car rental rates at 80 European destinations this winter. Prices shown reflect average rates for the most affordable rental car for the period January 1, 2026- February 28, 2026.

About the Methodology
Rates were established in late November, based on CarTrawler.com comparison technology. For each destination, the leading 10 car rental companies located at the airport terminal or the airport’s official rental center were identified. Rates include all taxes and fees.

For all of CheapCarRental's surveys, please click here

Press Contact:
Charlotte Smith: charlotte@cheapcarrental.com