Book a car rental at Timisoara Airport (TSR)
After landing at Timisoara Airport the best thing you can do for a comfortable journey is renting a self-drive car. Not only does it save time but it also makes sure that you reach your destination without struggling in public transport or multiple share rides.
Moreover, there are so many places to visit near TSR that give a perfect start for your trip. Banat Village Museum is just a 10-minute drive from the airport. Similarly, Union Square, which is around 12 kilometers southwest, offers the best experiences with outdoor cafes, terraces and street performers.
By picking up your car rental at Timisoara Airport, you can visit all such places easily before heading to other distant places within or outside the city. With us, you can choose a vehicle according to your requirements and book a deal after comparing all the factors carefully. We work with several reputed suppliers that offer competitive prices on a wide fleet of vehicles at the airport.
Car rental desks at Timisoara Airport (TSR)
TSR Airport has a dedicated car rental area in the main arrival terminal. Suppliers like Sixt, Thrifty, Alamo, GoldCar, Keddy by Europcar, National, Routes and Enterprise have their counters located inside the arrivals hall.
After clearing customs and collecting your luggage, you can follow the directions for car rental desks and head to your selected supplier’s counter. Complete the pending paperwork. Thereafter, a staff member will guide you to the designated parking area just outside the terminal (about a 1-2 minute walk) to collect your vehicle.
Some off-site suppliers, such as Klass Wagen, have offices near the TSR Airport. Such providers offer free shuttle services (2 to 5 minutes) to their off-site offices. All the instructions related to the pick-up point, shuttle number, gate no. etc are mentioned in your Rental Confirmation Voucher.
Car rental return at Timisoara Airport (TSR)
You can return your car at Timisoara Airport within the main parking area directly opposite the passenger terminal buildings. As you reach the airport via Strada Aeroport (the main access road), look for these directions: "Car Rental Drop-Off" or "Rent a Car". Follow the lanes to enter the dedicated car rental parking bays.
Look for your supplier’s marked area and park the vehicle properly as instructed. You can give the keys at their desk inside the terminal or at the park-side kiosk.
If your selected supplier operates from an off-site branch (just outside the airport perimeter), head directly to their parking area. A free shuttle will drop you back at the terminal departure gates.
Car rental categories at Timisoara Airport (TSR)
You can select a vehicle from different categories at TSR Airport. Our listed suppliers provide a wide fleet of cars to suit your travel needs in Timisoara.
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Economy cars
Seating capacity: up to 5 seats
Popular models: Renault Clio, Dacia Logan
An economy car is the best choice if you are travelling with 1-3 people with light luggage and you mainly need a vehicle to drive within city centers like Timisoara, Arad or Sibiu.
A small vehicle can be parked easily in tight spaces of such historic areas. It is also a great choice to save on fuel if your journey is mostly limited to Romanian national roads (like the A1).
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SUVs
Seating capacity: 4-7 seats
Popular models: Volkswagen T-Cross, Dacia Sandero Stepway
Renting an SUV is recommended if your itinerary involves any mountain or remote areas. Example, the Banat Mountains, Resita which is gateway city to the mountains is approx. 100 km/62 miles from TSR Airport.
Historic Transylvanian towns (Hunedoara/Deva/Corvin Castle) can be reached under 2 hours via the A1 highway from TSR Airport. For such places you need a AWD/4WD vehicle that supports different road conditions.
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Passenger vans
Seating capacity: 8 or more seats
Popular models: Renault Trafic, Dacia Jogger
A van is a perfect option if you are traveling with 8 or more people. It is the most economical way to travel in group: saves the cost of paying for multiple cars to reach the same location, requires only one set of toll payments (like the Romanian rovinieta) and you have to pay a single parking fee.
This category is also best if you have heavy sports & outdoor gears (like bicycles, hiking gear, camping equipment or ski/snowboard gear bound) for the Retezat Mountains.
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Luxury cars
Seating capacity: 4-5 seats
Popular models: Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz CLA
You can rent a luxury car at Timisoara Airport to visit Timisoara’s historic Art Nouveau squares and nearby estate venues (such as wine estates in Recas) for high-end destination weddings or grand celebrations.
Exotic vehicles are also a great choice for a professional image to attend trade meetings in Lugoj which is approximately 60 kms/37 miles from TSR Airport via A1 highway.
One-way car rentals at Timisoara Airport (TSR)
With our one-way car rental deals, you can explore Romania to the fullest without backtracking. After picking up the vehicle from Timisoara Airport, you can head to your destination within or outside the city and return the car at a different drop-off location.
Here are some of the popular routes taken by travelers from TSR:
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Timisoara Airport to Oradea
Key stops: Arad, Salonta
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Timisoara Airport to Bucharest
Key stops: Sibiu, the famous Transfagarasan highway (accessible during summer months), Curtea de Arges and Pitesti
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Timisoara Airport to Craiova
Key stops: Resita, the historic thermal spa town of Baile Herculane and the scenic Danube Gorges (Cazanelor Dunarii)
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Timisoara to Sibiu
Key stops: Hunedoara (Corvin Castle), Deva Fortress and Sebes
Cross-border car rentals from Timisoara Airport (TSR)
Some of the suppliers allow you to travel to different countries after picking up the vehicle at TSR Airport. However, this is only possible if you inform your provider in advance and take permission to visit a specific country during your journey.
The supplier needs to issue a written permit along with border documents (like vehicle registration papers, Green Card/Carte Verde) so that you can legally take the vehicle beyond the borders of your destination.
Here are some of the popular routes chosen by customers:
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Timisoara Airport to Budapest
Time: ~3 to 3.5 hours (without any stops)
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Timisoara Airport to Vienna via Budapest
Time: ~5.5 to 6.5 hours (without any stops)
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Timisoara Airport to Sofia
Time: ~6.5 to 7.5 hours (without any stops)
VIP Cars’ tips for renting a car at Timisoara Airport (TSR)
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From November to March, snow tyres are mandatory in Romania, so make sure to verify with your supplier whether the vehicle has winter tyres while picking up your car at TSR Airport.
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During summer (July to August), TSR Airport is the busiest, with thousands of international travelers visiting the region. Therefore, we advise you to book your vehicle at least 6 to 8 weeks in advance to secure a better price.
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Make sure to check if your rented vehicle has an active Rovinieta. It is required to pay road tax digitally to drive on Romania’s national road network. Without an active vignette, you may get fined heavily.
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If your itinerary includes driving into Hungary, you must purchase a Hungarian Matrica (e-vignette) right after crossing the border or online beforehand; verify it with your provider.
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Throughout Romania, children under 135 cm in height or under 3 years must travel in a size-appropriate child seat. You can add the seat online while making a reservation.