Geneva Airport Car Rental
The Geneva Airport sits 100% on Swiss soil but is considered to be an airport owned by both France and Switzerland. The airport actually has two terminals, 1 & 2 - T1 being the primary terminal, and T2 being used for wintery season. 
Since the airport is essentially a two-country airport, you will find car rental offices in two distinct areas. On the Swiss side, you will have car rental options such as Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar, National and Sixt. In the France side, you will have all of the ones on the Swiss side, except for Budget.
To get to your car rental agent on the Swiss side, you will find the agents in the arrivals area, not far from baggage claim. If on the other hand, you have rented a car from the French sector, upon arrival you will first pick up your baggage. Then walk up to the check-in level and look for signs that say "destination France". You will need to go thru customs near the check-in hall. Remember that you will need to show paperwork to rent the vehicle.
So, from which side would you want to hire a vehicle? Let's take a look. First and foremost, the French side is almost always going to be cheaper. Switzerland applies a higher VAT, resulting in 20-30% higher rental car rates across the board. So if cost is a primary consideration for you (and for who is it not?) then consider that a rental longer than a few days will probably result in total car rental savings that could be obtained pretty easily by renting on the French side of the Geneva Airport. But there is one little catch. If you rent a French-side Geneva Airport car rental and you plan on driving on the Swiss Motorway, you'll need what is called a Swiss vignette. Most Swiss rentals already have them, but most French rentals probably don't. The vignette is a little sticker that once you place on your window, cannot be removed. It allows the driver of the vehicle to drive legally on Motorways - the national roads in Switzerland do not require them.
Now, you may get lucky when renting a French rental car. It is possible that your vehicle may already have a Swiss vignette. If it does (and your trip includes Swiss Motorways), then you'll not need to buy another. But if it doesn't you will certainly need to buy one. You may wait to buy one until after you've picked up your vehicle. Currently (2012) the vignette has a one-time cost of 40 Swiss Francs.
So, if renting a vehicle for more than 3 or 4 days we almost always recommend that you rent from the French side. If you'll be driving on the Swiss Motorways, you simply purchase a vignette, either before you leave the airport at the first chance you approach the motorway. The cost savings of the French rental car generally outweigh the one-time payment of the Swiss Vignette sticker.
Finally, remember that if you rent a vehicle from the French side, it definitely needs to be returned on the French side. Of course the same is true for Swiss rentals. If you rent from the Swiss side, return the vehicle to the Swiss side. If you return your vehicle to the wrong side, your credit card will be charged with a one-way rental fee. 
Switzerland - Ibis Geneve Airport - Located in view of the front of the terminal, across the A-1 Motorway, and another access road sits the Ibis Geneva Airport Hotel. This Swiss hotel sits very close to the terminal, yet most patrons report that noise is not a problem. As in the Novatel that sits on the French soil below, the Swiss-based Ibis also offers free shuttle service (you'll probably need to call the hotel once you land at the airport) to and from the airport. The breakfast buffet is generally regarded as a little less enjoyable than the Novotel in France. Prices will generally be more than the Geneva Airport Hotel below.
France - Novotel Geneve Airport - The Novotel Geneve Airport hotel is about the closest, French hotel you can get near the Geneva Airport - at about 5 km form the airport terminal. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi and by most accounts, a very good breakfast buffet. There is a shuttle to and from the airport - for those who didn't rent a car at the Geneva Airport. There is a nice-sized supermarket across the road and a McDonald's as well. Prices seem a little higher than normal, but remember, you are paying for a very conveniently-located hotel. For what it's worth, you currently pay quite a bit less to stay in this hotel than the Ibis above.
Driving in Switzerland is pretty straightforward. If you have the vignette, then you get to drive on the Motorways. If you do not a vignette, you simply don't. As above, Swiss rental cars (cars hired at the Geneva Airport on the Swiss side) will have a vignette already stuck on the glass. French cars will not, most likely. Also, don't drink and drive in Switzerland. The blood / alcohol level is .005 and is strictly enforced. In Switzerland (and other European countries) random checks are made, and if found intoxicated beyond the legal limit, heavy fines may be imposed. Swiss Drivers drive on the right hand side of the road, and one should always wear a seat-belt.
Driving in France with a rental car is a little less straightforward - mostly because of the toll roads. France doesn't have the vignette system in place like Switzerland, so you'll need to pay as you go when you approach toll roads. Drivers drive on the right as they do in Switzerland and like France, don't drink and drive. Blood / alcohol limits are similar and fines will be hefty in France as well.
Vehicles available for hire at the Geneva Airport include the regular lineup. Economy cars, standard sedans and mini-cars are all available and usually don't run out of stock. However, SUV's, minivans, 9-passenger vans, 7-passenger vans, Mercedes luxury cars and exotics are also available, but occasionally run out of stock due to the limited availability of such vehicles.
Finally, thank you so much for visiting our site. We want you to know that we certainly appreciate it!
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Geneva Airport Basics.....
The Geneva Airport sits 100% on Swiss soil but is considered to be an airport owned by both France and Switzerland. The airport actually has two terminals, 1 & 2 - T1 being the primary terminal, and T2 being used for wintery season.
Geneva Airport Car Rental.....
Since the airport is essentially a two-country airport, you will find car rental offices in two distinct areas. On the Swiss side, you will have car rental options such as Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar, National and Sixt. In the France side, you will have all of the ones on the Swiss side, except for Budget.
To get to your car rental agent on the Swiss side, you will find the agents in the arrivals area, not far from baggage claim. If on the other hand, you have rented a car from the French sector, upon arrival you will first pick up your baggage. Then walk up to the check-in level and look for signs that say "destination France". You will need to go thru customs near the check-in hall. Remember that you will need to show paperwork to rent the vehicle.
So, from which side would you want to hire a vehicle? Let's take a look. First and foremost, the French side is almost always going to be cheaper. Switzerland applies a higher VAT, resulting in 20-30% higher rental car rates across the board. So if cost is a primary consideration for you (and for who is it not?) then consider that a rental longer than a few days will probably result in total car rental savings that could be obtained pretty easily by renting on the French side of the Geneva Airport. But there is one little catch. If you rent a French-side Geneva Airport car rental and you plan on driving on the Swiss Motorway, you'll need what is called a Swiss vignette. Most Swiss rentals already have them, but most French rentals probably don't. The vignette is a little sticker that once you place on your window, cannot be removed. It allows the driver of the vehicle to drive legally on Motorways - the national roads in Switzerland do not require them.
Now, you may get lucky when renting a French rental car. It is possible that your vehicle may already have a Swiss vignette. If it does (and your trip includes Swiss Motorways), then you'll not need to buy another. But if it doesn't you will certainly need to buy one. You may wait to buy one until after you've picked up your vehicle. Currently (2012) the vignette has a one-time cost of 40 Swiss Francs.
So, if renting a vehicle for more than 3 or 4 days we almost always recommend that you rent from the French side. If you'll be driving on the Swiss Motorways, you simply purchase a vignette, either before you leave the airport at the first chance you approach the motorway. The cost savings of the French rental car generally outweigh the one-time payment of the Swiss Vignette sticker.
Finally, remember that if you rent a vehicle from the French side, it definitely needs to be returned on the French side. Of course the same is true for Swiss rentals. If you rent from the Swiss side, return the vehicle to the Swiss side. If you return your vehicle to the wrong side, your credit card will be charged with a one-way rental fee.
Hotels Near the Geneva Airport.....
Switzerland - Ibis Geneve Airport - Located in view of the front of the terminal, across the A-1 Motorway, and another access road sits the Ibis Geneva Airport Hotel. This Swiss hotel sits very close to the terminal, yet most patrons report that noise is not a problem. As in the Novatel that sits on the French soil below, the Swiss-based Ibis also offers free shuttle service (you'll probably need to call the hotel once you land at the airport) to and from the airport. The breakfast buffet is generally regarded as a little less enjoyable than the Novotel in France. Prices will generally be more than the Geneva Airport Hotel below.
France - Novotel Geneve Airport - The Novotel Geneve Airport hotel is about the closest, French hotel you can get near the Geneva Airport - at about 5 km form the airport terminal. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi and by most accounts, a very good breakfast buffet. There is a shuttle to and from the airport - for those who didn't rent a car at the Geneva Airport. There is a nice-sized supermarket across the road and a McDonald's as well. Prices seem a little higher than normal, but remember, you are paying for a very conveniently-located hotel. For what it's worth, you currently pay quite a bit less to stay in this hotel than the Ibis above.
Car Types Available at the Geneva Airport and Driving Information.....
Driving in Switzerland is pretty straightforward. If you have the vignette, then you get to drive on the Motorways. If you do not a vignette, you simply don't. As above, Swiss rental cars (cars hired at the Geneva Airport on the Swiss side) will have a vignette already stuck on the glass. French cars will not, most likely. Also, don't drink and drive in Switzerland. The blood / alcohol level is .005 and is strictly enforced. In Switzerland (and other European countries) random checks are made, and if found intoxicated beyond the legal limit, heavy fines may be imposed. Swiss Drivers drive on the right hand side of the road, and one should always wear a seat-belt.
Driving in France with a rental car is a little less straightforward - mostly because of the toll roads. France doesn't have the vignette system in place like Switzerland, so you'll need to pay as you go when you approach toll roads. Drivers drive on the right as they do in Switzerland and like France, don't drink and drive. Blood / alcohol limits are similar and fines will be hefty in France as well.
Vehicles available for hire at the Geneva Airport include the regular lineup. Economy cars, standard sedans and mini-cars are all available and usually don't run out of stock. However, SUV's, minivans, 9-passenger vans, 7-passenger vans, Mercedes luxury cars and exotics are also available, but occasionally run out of stock due to the limited availability of such vehicles.
Finally, thank you so much for visiting our site. We want you to know that we certainly appreciate it!
Source: Geneva Airport Homepage