BucharestThe Palace of Parliament
Bucharest's landmark and the second-largest administrative building in the world. Book a guided tour of its marble and crystal halls in advance, then walk down Unirii Boulevard among the fountains.
Car rental Bucharest
Rent a car in Bucharest
178 offers, pickup at the airport, in the centre or at your door.178 offers from verified partners. Pick up at the airport, in the centre or at your door, at any hour.
- Guaranteed model
- Full insurance
- Instant confirmation
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Rent a car Bucharest
Why rent a car in Bucharest
Landing at Henri Coandă Airport (Otopeni), arriving by train at Gara de Nord or staying in the centre? Our rent a car partners in Bucharest hand the car over right there. You choose the pickup point in the search and can return the car to the same place or to another location.
For car rental at Otopeni, the handover takes place at the arrivals terminal, night flights included. In the city, the car can be brought to your hotel or your address at a time agreed in advance.
Why Mașini la Cheie
Car rental in Bucharest, with no hidden costs
Guaranteed model
100%
the car you book
What you see in the photo is exactly the car you get at handover.
Guaranteed model
Cars with a guaranteed model carry the "Guaranteed model" label, and you get exactly the model you chose.
Rarely, a car can become unavailable for external reasons, such as damage, an unexpected extension of the previous rental or a technical fault. In that case we offer you a similar car and only swap it with your confirmation.
Instant confirmation
You only see the cars free on your dates and get confirmation right after you book.
Verified partners
20 rental companies, each one checked by our team.
A clear price from the start
The price in the search is the final price, with all costs included.
Reviews
Reviews from our customers
Cars for rent in Bucharest
Cars available in Bucharest
How it works
How to rent a car in Bucharest, in 3 steps
- Step 1
Choose the right car
Tell us where and when you need a car, then compare the models and prices available in Bucharest.
- Step 2
Book online
Confirm the booking from your phone or laptop, and the pickup details arrive by email.
- Step 3
Pick up the car and go
Get the keys from the partner, choose your route, and at the end return the car at the agreed place.
Bucharest attractions
What to visit in Bucharest and nearby
Bucharest
BucharestThe People's Salvation Cathedral
The largest church in Romania, built right next to the Palace of Parliament. It has a painted interior with gilded mosaics, and its domes can be seen from many parts of the city.
BucharestHerăstrău Park and the Village Museum
The largest park in Bucharest, with a lake, shaded paths and waterside terraces. Next to it, the Village Museum gathers traditional houses from all over the country in an open-air museum worth exploring in any season.
BucharestThe Old Town
The historic quarter of Bucharest, with pedestrian streets, terraces and 19th-century buildings. Stop by Manuc's Inn, Cărturești Carusel and Stavropoleos Church, then stay for dinner on Lipscani.
15 km from BucharestMogoșoaia Palace
The Brâncovenesc-style palace built by Constantin Brâncoveanu on the edge of Bucharest. The park, the lake and the inner courtyard are perfect for a quiet afternoon away from the bustle of the city.
125 km from BucharestPeleș Castle
The former summer residence of Romania's kings, in the heart of the Bucegi Mountains. A day trip from Bucharest along the Prahova Valley in your rental car, with a stop in the Sinaia resort and at the nearby monastery.
190 km from BucharestBran Castle
The medieval castle tied to the legend of Dracula, perched on a rock at the foot of the mountains. A day trip from Bucharest that you can combine with a walk through Brașov's old town.
Pickup points
Where to pick up your car in Bucharest
Pick up your rental car at one of Bucharest's two airports, at Gara de Nord or in any sector of the city. You choose the pickup and return point right in the search.Pick up your rental car wherever suits you best: at one of Bucharest's two airports, at Gara de Nord or in any sector of the city. You choose the pickup and the return point right in the search. All the handover details, including the exact address and how you get to the car, are shown on the car's page and in the booking confirmation.
Airport · OTPOtopeni Airport
Landing at Henri Coandă International Airport? Choose Otopeni as your pickup point and hit the road right after your flight, with no taxi or transfer, and at the end you return the car to the airport.
Find cars at Otopeni
Airport · BBUBăneasa Airport
Flying into Aurel Vlaicu International Airport in northern Bucharest? You pick up the car close to Herăstrău and the city centre, for a business trip or a city break, and at the end you return it here.
Find cars at Băneasa
StationGara de Nord
Arriving in Bucharest by train? Choose Gara de Nord as your pickup point, get the car near the station and continue to the mountains, the seaside or other cities in Romania. At the end you return it here.
Find cars at Gara de Nord
Sectors 1-6Anywhere in Bucharest
You will find rental cars in every sector of the city, from Piața Victoriei and Floreasca to the Old Town, Tineretului, Cotroceni and Drumul Taberei. Pick the area closest to you in the search or, on request, have the car delivered to your hotel, office or home.
Find cars in Bucharest
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Rental cars in Bucharest, by type of trip
For trips abroad, for groups and for important meetings, we recommend a car category for each.
Recommended:Estate
Cross-border
Car rental with cross-border travel
Driving to Bulgaria, Greece or other European countries? Tick the countries right in the search and get the car with the cross-border permit ready. An estate gives you room for luggage and comfort on long drives.
- Choose the countries right in the search
- Cross-border permit ready
- Generous boot
Recommended:8+1 minibus
Groups and large families
8+1 minibus rental in Bucharest
Travelling with the extended family, friends or your team? An 8+1 minibus seats nine people and can be driven with a category B licence, so you all travel in a single vehicle.
- 9 seats, driver included
- Category B licence is enough
- Room for everyone's luggage
Recommended:Premium
Premium
Premium car rental in Bucharest
Choose a premium car for an important meeting, an event or the pleasure of driving. The model you see is the model you get.
- Brands like BMW, Mercedes and Audi
- Guaranteed model
Driver's guide · Bucharest
Driving, parking and traffic in Bucharest
Answers for anyone renting a car in Bucharest: how traffic works, where to park and where it's worth heading.
When a rental car helps
In the centre you'll get around fine by metro and on foot. A rental car helps when you land at Otopeni with luggage, have errands in several parts of the city or want to get out of Bucharest, to Mogoșoaia, Snagov, the Prahova Valley or the seaside.
Traffic in Bucharest
Bucharest has wide boulevards and clear signage, and with a navigation app you can easily get anywhere. The most congested areas are Piața Unirii, Piața Victoriei, Șoseaua Kiseleff, Splaiul Independenței and Pasajul Basarab. Traffic is heavier at rush hour, so it pays to leave a little earlier or to use wide boulevards such as Șoseaua Mihai Bravu and Șoseaua Colentina. For relaxed city driving, choose a car with an automatic gearbox.
When traffic is lighter
Traffic is lightest at midday, late in the evening and at weekends, and in summer and during school holidays the city empties noticeably. Weekday mornings and afternoons are the busiest times.
Driving rules
The rules are the same as everywhere in Romania: 50 km/h in town unless signposted otherwise, seat belts for all passengers, phone only with hands-free and zero tolerance for alcohol. In Bucharest, watch out for public transport lanes and stop when passengers get on or off a tram where there is no island.
Parking and rates
Paid parking spaces run by Bucharest City Hall have a single rate: 5 lei per hour, Monday to Sunday, between 08:00 and 20:00. You pay in the Parking București app or by SMS, and some sectors have their own apps too. The rate and payment options are shown on the parking signs. For covered parking in the centre there is the underground car park at Piața Universității, with 406 spaces, and the Inter car park at Bulevardul Nicolae Bălcescu no. 4. A cheap option is the Park & Ride at Străulești: 1.5 lei per hour, with access to the metro.
Towing of illegally parked cars
In June 2026, the General Council approved new fees for towed vehicles of up to 5 tonnes: 400 lei for the tow, 300 lei for transport and 300 lei for storage in the first 24 hours, so 1,000 lei, plus 150 lei for each extra day. Always check the signs and avoid parking on pavements or at bus stops.
Motorways from Bucharest
Three motorways leave Bucharest: the A1 to Pitești, the A2 to Constanța and the seaside, and the A3 to Ploiești and the Prahova Valley. The A0 ring motorway is being built around the city, and part of it is already open. All cars on Mașini La Cheie have a valid road vignette.
Day trips from Bucharest
Close to the city there are Mogoșoaia Palace and Lake Snagov. For a full day, Peleș Castle in Sinaia, Bran Castle and Brașov are the classic choices, and in summer the A2 takes you straight to the sea.
Which car to choose for Bucharest
In the city, a small car or a hatchback squeezes through and parks easily, and an automatic gearbox helps in traffic. For trips outside Bucharest, with family or luggage, choose an estate, an SUV or an MPV.
Charging stations for electric cars
If you rent an electric car, Eldrive installed 13 charging stations at AFI Cotroceni in 2023. Check your charging app for free stations in the area you are heading to.
What to do after an accident
Make sure all passengers are safe and call 112 if anyone is injured. If only two cars are involved, both with valid RCA (third-party) insurance, and there is only material damage, you can fill in the joint accident report (constatare amiabilă) together. When more than two cars are involved, someone is injured or objects outside the cars are damaged, such as poles, crash barriers or buildings, call the Police. Tell the rental company as soon as possible and follow its instructions.
Where to go to the Police after an accident
If the accident happened in Bucharest and you need to go to the Police, go to the Traffic Police Brigade (Brigada Rutieră) at Str. Logofăt Udriște no. 9-15.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions about car rental in Bucharest
Can't find the answer?
Our team replies quickly.Our team in Bucharest replies quickly.
How much does it cost to rent a car in Bucharest?
Renting a car in Bucharest costs from 14 € a day, and the average is 49 € a day. On Mașini La Cheie you compare offers from 20 rental companies in Bucharest, with full insurance included in the price shown. The daily rate drops the longer you rent the car.
Can I pick up the car at the airport in Bucharest?
Yes, in Bucharest you can pick up the car at both airports, Otopeni (OTP) and Băneasa (BBU). When you search, choose the airport as the location and the rental company hands the car over there. You can see the offers on the Otopeni and Băneasa pages.
Can I leave the country with a car rented in Bucharest?
You can leave the country with a car rented in Bucharest if the rental company allows trips outside Romania: tick "I am travelling abroad" when you search, choose the country and see the costs upfront. For the drive to Bulgaria, bridge tolls and other countries' road vignettes are not included in the price, so you pay them yourself.
Do you have to pay a deposit when you rent a car in Bucharest?
The deposit for a car rented in Bucharest depends on the car: some rental companies ask for one, others don't, and the amount is shown on the car's page. If one is required, you pay it to the rental company at pickup, by card or in cash. You get it back when you return the car in the same condition.
Can I pick up the car at night or at the weekend in Bucharest?
Yes, in Bucharest you can pick up the car at night or at the weekend, including after a flight that lands late. If the time you choose is outside the rental company's opening hours, the handover costs a fee, which you see on the car's page before you book. For any problem on the road, Mașini La Cheie phone support answers 24/7.
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