Your Guide to Renting a Car in France
👉 Jump to: Best France Car Rental Sites | Do You Need a Rental? | Requirements | Cost | Tips | FAQs
Renting a car in France is the perfect way to see the country. I once tried exploring the countryside without a car and, as I wrote in this story, it’s not something I’ll try again.
Renting a car gives you the freedom to explore on your own terms and the flexibility to change your plans.
I’ve lived in Paris, France for ten years and I’ve rented cars many times. Here’s exactly what you need to know if it is your first time in France!
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Best Car Rental Sites in France
Here are my choices for the best car rental sites in France:
Discover Cars
Having a rental car is a must for exploring France, and Discover Cars is our top trusted partner for comparing rates and booking.
RentalCars.com
This is one of the most popular sites for finding a car rental company. It’s owned by Booking.com, and it typically has one of the largest inventories available.
Kayak
Kayak is a big name in the car rental space. Compare and organize the fares for car rental locations and providers from the lowest to the highest price, plus it allows you to book hotels, and flights too.
Discover Cars is my favorite site for comparing rentals. It has the biggest selection, meaning you’re more likely to find an affordable car with the features you want near you. It also provides call-out boxes with key information. Check fuel, prepayment, air conditioning, and transmission type for each vehicle.
RentalCars.com is another great car rental site to use in France. One of my favorite aspects of this site is the green call-out box regarding which fees the sticker price covers. Note that the site automatically sorts cars by which are “recommended,” but you can change this.
Kayak is a useful site to compare for deals. Its selection is generally smaller than Discover Cars’ or Rentalcars.com. However, it has useful features such as a price prediction to let you know whether to book now or wait.
Do You Need a Rental Car in France?
You may need a rental car in France if you are traveling to rural areas or if you need flexibility in your schedule. For example, if you’re trying to get to Normandy from Paris.
The French train network is reliable and extensive. However, finding taxis to get from the nearest station to your destination can be difficult. Bus services can help you reach more remote areas.
Families traveling together and people with disabilities should consider renting a car in France. This is also true for those with limited time. Other ways of getting around France can take significant time and energy, particularly if you’re not traveling between major hubs.
Rental Car Requirements for France
🚘 Driving Age – The minimum driving age in France is 18. However, French rental car companies generally require drivers to be at least 21. Others have a minimum age of 25. Verify policies before booking.
🪪 License Requirements – You can drive on an American license for up to 90 days. France also requires a license when renting a car. Most rental companies will require a translated, notarized copy of your license. Alternatively, companies may ask for an international driving permit.
Read requirements carefully, as some companies may also require that you’ve held your license for a minimum period of time.
💳 Payment – You need a credit or debit card to rent a car. Some companies require total or partial prepayment and a deposit.
🚗 Car Insurance – France insures cars rather than drivers. Car rental companies include the minimum required insurance in their charges. This is unlimited third-party liability insurance. Make sure to keep your rental agreement paperwork with you in case of an accident.
🔧 Additional Insurance – Homeowners insurance may provide additional coverage for roadside assistance, theft, or medical expenses. Credit cards may also do this. Check before purchasing coverage.
👉 Pro Tip: Check out policies through VisitorsCoverage.com if you do not have additional insurance. These policies are generally more reasonable than those offered by rental companies.
How Much Do Rental Cars Cost in France?
The average cost for a five-seat car in France is anywhere from $40 – $240 a day. This is with a manual transmission and limited mileage. It includes third-party liability insurance.
Prices will vary depending on the time of year you visit. Cars are significantly more expensive in summer, particularly if you are renting a car in Paris. Larger cars will cost more, but you can often find deals on smaller cars. Features like air conditioning will increase the price.
🚗 Compare rental car prices for your dates by searching these sites:
11 Tips & Things to Know Before Renting in France
Tip #1 – Make a Gas Budget
Plan for high gas prices throughout France. Gas prices in Paris are $7.19 a gallon as of May 2025. [Source] Keep in mind that France uses the metric system. Posted prices for gas are in euros per liter, not dollars per gallon, and so gas may seem more reasonable than it is.
Tip #2 – Manual Transmissions Are Standard
French cars famously have manual transmissions (stick shifts). This is starting to change, but manual transmissions are still standard for most rentals. Automatic transmissions generally cost more. However, an automatic may be a better choice for city driving, even if you’re comfortable driving a manual.
Booking cars through international sites can help you filter cars by transmission type.
Tip #3 – Plan for City Parking
Parking in big French cities, especially Paris, can be tricky. Planning makes this much simpler. Look for underground parking lots to keep your vehicle safe. Street parking is generally not your best option as protestors and vandals often key cars in Paris or even break windows.
By the way, if you’re planning on heading through Paris, be sure to check out my full guide to how to drive a car in Paris.
Tip #4 – Check Reviews Before Booking
Rental car companies notoriously overcharge when it comes to fees. Many visitors have encountered this in France. [Source] You may find these hard to dispute after your rental, particularly if your French is limited. Read reviews carefully before booking to ensure other visitors have not encountered issues.
👉 Pro Tip: Discover Cars and Rentalcars.com have strong review sections that break down ratings by category.
Tip #5 – Ensure You Meet Company Requirements
France doesn’t have general guidelines for renting cars. Instead, you’ll find that each company has different age and license requirements. For example, some require you to have had your driver’s license for more than a year. Others won’t accept non-EU licenses. Using an international rental site can help you avoid the latter.
Tip #6 – Take Note of the Type of Service Provided at Each Company
French rental car companies are increasingly offering counter-free service. This lets you book a car online, then find it in a parking garage and open it using an app.
However, I only recommend this type of service if you speak strong or fluent French and can contact customer service if need be. Otherwise, check company information to ensure there will be an attendant at the garage.
Tip #7 – Rent Outside of Paris When Possible
Paris driving can be an enormous waste of time. I once rented a car at the Louvre, then spent two hours trying to get out of the city. I recommend taking public transportation outside of the city or to outlying neighborhoods if possible. Then, rent a car from there. These agencies usually have more reasonable prices, as well.
Tip #8 – Verify What’s Included in the Price
Make a list of what you need for driving in France. Then, filter your car rental results based on these requirements. These can be “wants” like air conditioning. However, don’t forget to add “needs.”
For example, some roads require snow chains if you plan on driving in mountain areas in the winter. Many rental agencies will include these for a small fee.
Tip #9 – Check Documents Before Driving
French law requires drivers to have documents with them at all times. These include your rental company paperwork. If you have a foreign license, bring a notarized translation from the last three months or an international driving permit.
Tip #10 – Know the Rules of the Road
French driving laws are fairly strict, and punishments can be harsh. Verify differences between French rules of the road and those in your own country. Realize that your instincts may fight against these.
After years in France, I still have trouble letting cars merge from the right. However, cars on the right have the right of way in France.
Tip #11 – Get an International Driving Permit
Not all French rental companies require an international driving permit. However, many will. And it’s better to be prepared. Technically, you need either an international permit or a notarized translation of your license to rent a car. The latter must be done within 90 days of your rental. An international permit is generally cheaper and easier.
FAQs
Do I need a rental car for France?
You need a rental car for France if you plan on traveling in more rural areas. Smaller towns and cities in France lack strong public transportation systems. This makes it difficult to transfer from train stations.
How much per day is a rental car in France?
The average rental car price per day in France ranges anywhere from $40 – $240. Exact prices will vary based on factors like availability, season, type of car, and the age of the driver.
Which rental car companies are on-site at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport?
Paris Charles de Gaulle airport has multiple on-site car rental companies: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Europcar, Hertz, Sixt, and Thrifty.
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Discover Cars
Having a rental car is a must for exploring France, and Discover Cars is our top trusted partner for comparing rates and booking.
Renting a car in France may seem intimidating. But with planning, it’s one of the best ways to see the country. Rent a car to help you visit the best towns in France!
(Featured Image Credit: ArDanMe / Shutterstock)
Daughter and I are flying to Nice and plan on renting a car to drive 5 days through Provence. Is the airport the best place to rent a car or do you suggest out side of town. At the end of our trip we will be taking the train to Milan so I’m wondering if it is possible to rent a car at train station in Nice in order to make return easier
Hi Josephine! Great question. My suggestion would be to rent and drop-off at different locations, because you’re absolutely right–it is easier to rent a car at the airport, and it will be easier to drop it off at the train station. Just make sure to specify your pick-up and drop-off locations when booking to make things easier. Have a wonderful trip!
What are the rules regarding deposit? I have been told a credit card is required in the name of the driver renting the car and that the rental company blocks 2000euro on the card until it has been returned. it could then be several days before the 2000euro is unblocked.
Hi Lorraine–great question! A card in the name of the driver is required–some agencies require credit cards and some allow debit cards: you can filter for this on the left-hand menu of the Discover Cars results page. Deposits vary by rental agency and by the plan you choose. Discover Cars also has boxes for the amount of security deposit required, so you can filter for deposits under 500 euros, for example. Generally, it only takes a few days for the deposit to be released, but discuss policies with the particular agency you choose and err on the longer side just in case.
Hi Rachel, I am coming to France in the month of October. if I wish to rental a car in cdg airport is the car come with crit’air stickers? if I decide to drive to Germany for a short trip should I inform the car rental company cause I read up some information France rental car is permit to drive to Germany but subjected to toll fees
Hello! Great questions. Rental cars in France do come with the Crit’Air stickers. And yes, you should inform the rental agency about planning to drive to Germany. You can find out more about this on Booking. I have never made the drive myself, but it looks as though the fees are not too high–around 20 to 60 euros. Have a wonderful trip!
Hello Rachel!
We are looking to fly into Paris, spend 3/4 days and rent a car from Antony and continue to other towns. Is Antony far enough outside Paris that we will not be stuck in any major traffic or chaos?
Hi Lori! Thanks for your question–it’s a great one. My recommendations about not renting a car in Paris are based on two things: 1. Not driving in Paris traffic! and 2. Not getting stuck on the Périphérique, the highway encircling Paris. Generally, I think Antony is a great choice. Obviously, I can’t guarantee that there won’t be traffic jams due to road works or accidents in the area, but you’ll be far enough outside the city to avoid the general Parisian chaos 🙂 Have a wonderful trip–and easy driving!
Hello,
This is a helpful post so thank you.
We arrive in CDG Airport and hesitate driving to Normandy starting from there. We are in our early 70s so we have a bit of hesitation on that due to traffic.
What is the closest off-site town to CDG where we could taxi it from CDG without going all the way to Paris to then train it somewhere to pick up a car and return it.
We were first going to train it and get a car in either Caen or Bayeux but first, cannot find cars and/or one way rentals to end up in say Rouen, and two, a taxi from CDG to the Paris train station adds a ton of time. Been to Paris many times so I know.
Thank you!
Thanks,
Hi Deborah! That’s a great question. It’s true that driving from Paris to western parts of Normandy will usually take you around Paris, where traffic can be hectic at best (you’re right that it can be hectic around the airport, but I’ve found this to be extremely variable but still stressful after a long flight).
I’ve found a few options for you to take a look at, but my main answer to your question is that Chantilly may be a good option. More on this below. I like The Train Line for these searches, if you want to take off from these basic options.
It is generally difficult to find direct trains to Normandy outside of a major hub like Paris. Chantilly, though, is a good one: one change between Chantilly and Bayeux, one between Chantilly and Rouen, one to Caen. I’d suggest playing around on the Train Line site to see if you can find options that work for your goals. Chantilly is about 35 minutes from CDG in good traffic, but it’s in the opposite direction from Paris, so you’re more likely to get good traffic.
But, if a taxi to a train to a car feels overwhelming, you can actually get a train from the CDG TGV station and change to get to various places in Normandy. For example, for March 4th, I’m seeing a 4-hour trip with one change (CDG to Lille, a change of stations in Lille, then Lille to Rouen). If you’re willing to make two changes, I’m also seeing connections to both Rouen and Bauyeux.
If you want to avoid driving at the airport but are still considering renting a car nearby to drive directly to Normandy, Roissy-en-France is the town closest to CDG. It’s about a ten-minute taxi drive from the airport. You can find rental car agencies at DiscoverCars.com by searching for “Roissy-en-France Downtown.” (If you’re not this precise, you’ll get lots of airport agencies popping up in your searches.)
I hope that helps! Great planning ahead. Have a wonderful trip.
We will be flying into Marseille in June for 10 days in Provence. We’d like to pick up our rental car at the airport in Marseille. We fly in on a Sunday. Will rental car places be open on a Sunday at this airport?
Thank you!
Hi Julia, the Marseille airport does have several rental car agencies that are open on Sundays, including Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty. You can find the best agency for your exact dates and times on the RentalCars website. Have a great trip!
Love your site and advice!
We (2 people) are traveling to France (from USA) in May for a 4-week stay and would welcome advice on where to rent and drop-off car and any other tips/suggestions.
Itinerary:
• Fly into Charles-de-Gaulle. Stay in Paris for 3 days (Hotel Jean Bard).
• Rent a car. Drive to Camaret-sur-Mer in Brittany. Stay for 2-3 weeks.
• Drive to Évian-les-Bains (near Lake Geneva). Stay with friends for a few days.
• Back to Paris, drop off car and fly home.
David
PS I do have limited experience driving in France, Italy and Scotland/England.
Hi David,
Thanks for your question! Your instinct about when to rent a car is absolutely spot-on. I would try to avoid taking a car into the 6th, where your hotel is, as you’re so central that you’ll face a lot of traffic. Given that you’re going to Camaret-sur-Mer, you’ll likely be driving on highways to the south/southeast of Paris immediately out of the city, so I would look for a car rental in that area: Saint-Mandé, Chareton-le-Pont, or Ivry-sur-Seine. Then, take a taxi to the rental car desk. It sounds like a wonderful trip, and your group will be in good hands given your European driving experience! Have a wonderful time.
Enjoying the reading Q & As. We are planning to be at Disneyland Paris in May 2025. We want to go to Bayeaux and the D Day sites and spend 3-4 days there. First time to Europe, do not speak/read French. Would you recommend taking the train to Bayeaux and renting a car there or renting a car from Disneyland Paris and driving to Bayeaux and back?
Hi Pam, thanks for the question! Either of these options is a good plan, as you’ll avoid driving in Paris. Driving around Disneyland can be crowded around peak times, so that may make Bayeux a more tempting option (and you’ll minimize your driving overall), but there are plenty of rental car companies both near the Disneyland train station and in Bayeux. So there’s no “wrong” answer here. Have a wonderful time in France!
Wonderful information! Where would you recommend to rent a car from to drive from Paris to Giverney/Bayeaux? We will be staying in Paris then driving to Normandy. You mentioned may be better to take a train then rent a car from the outerskirts rather than within Paris city. Thank you!!!
Hi Rita! Thanks for the great question. Absolutely, I recommend taking the train out of the city or renting a car in the western edge of the 16th arrondissement: it has easier highway access than other parts of the city and is fairly easy to reach from most parts of Paris. But you could also take a train from Paris to either Giverney or Bayeux (there are direct trains to both). Then, you could rent a car in either place, as both have many options, to continue your trip. It sounds like a wonderful trip–have a great time!
Hi, What a great site and wonderful answers.
Our family of 5 are going to fly into Paris CDG spending a few days in Paris and would like to rent a large car. planing a road trip to maybe Austria and Bavaria and some other places like Italy etc. Aprox 2 weeks Haven’t decided yet. Then return the car to Gare du Nord train station. (Because we then go to London)
What suggestions do you have? Where to pick up and drop car, Thanks so much for any help. Trish
Hi Trish,
Thanks for the kind words! You’ll find lots of car rental agencies around Gare du Nord. However, it is fairly central and far from the highways, so it may take some time to out of/into the city. I’d definitely suggest looking at Discover Cars to see if there is a convenient agency where you could at least pick up the car that is closer to the edge of the city so you don’t have to drive through it when getting it. Just make sure to uncheck “return car in same location” if you plan on getting it elsewhere and returning it at Gare du Nord. But it’s absolutely doable to pick up and drop off from Gare du Nord–just plan on lots of extra time. Sounds like a wonderful trip–have a great time!
Thanks so much. We decided to fly to London and then take a bullet train to Europe. We are flexible, do you have suggestions on what stop to pick up a car. We saw the train goes to Lilli, Brussels etc. Any thoughts on what would be an easier spot to pick up. We are going to head to Austria And there are 5 of us. Thanks for any suggestions. We are then going to fly out of Amsterdam.
Thanks Trish
Hi Trish! I’ve never driven to Austria myself, so my advice is limited, but in terms of Eurostar stops, Brussels is generally a good spot for a change, as the city is large enough to have a lot of options but not usually as chaotic as Paris. However, it depends on the route you want to take to Austria to some extent, as Lille is another strong possibility–I’d suggest mapping out both journeys on Google Maps and seeing which interests you more. Keep in mind that some parts of the Alps can be tough to drive through, so look at that part of the trip especially carefully. Have a great journey!
hi, racheal, made a reservation thru discover cars with sixt in montpellier – got “full coverage” but it says collision damage waiver not included. would this be covered by my own car insurance from us or my credit card? or will i be asked ot pay extra at rental desk?? thanks!!
Hi Sally! That’s a great question. Rentals in France come with third-party liability insurance–it’s required by law. I’m not an insurance expert, so first, I would call your own insurance company and/or your credit card to see if they cover collision damage. If they don’t, I would then call Sixt (or see if you can call/message through Discover Cars for an easier transaction in English) to see if they offer this insurance and what the price would be. Good luck, and happy driving!
Do rental companies have an age limit like in Ireland: under 74?
Hi Richard–good question! They generally do not, though it’s always a good idea to read the fine print on any contract. To be sure, I always recommend using the age feature on Discover Cars or Rentalcars.com–they ask you to enter your age and nationality and show you available results. Right now, for a search for next week in Paris, I’m seeing many options for 99-year-old drivers.
For driving the route of Tour Des Grandes Alpes in the last week of October 2024, what kind/size of car do you recommend and is snow chain a must? Passenger comprises 2 Asian adults and little luggage. Any other tips are also welcomed.
Hi Runy–excellent questions! A snow chain is not required until November 1st, but it’s a good idea to have in the region all the same. You can find out more here (though note that the article is from 2021, so all of these laws have now passed). You can find out more at the government site, but much of this applies to mid-winter drying.
A lightweight car may seem more practical, given that there are only two of you and the winding roads, but heavier cars with higher ground clearance are generally better for snowy or icy conditions (Source). A larger car will generally also have more horsepower for steeper hills. A small SUV might be a good option in your case, or a larger sedan, to balance that horsepower with a slightly smaller size. The Progressive article has good tips about other things to look for in your rental.
And in terms of general mountain driving, the Arcade Driving School has strong mountain driving tips.
Have a wonderful trip!
Is there an upper age limit to renting a car in France? My husband is 78 and we would like to rent a car to go from Paris to Giverny and Normandy. We do not want to drive in Paris (been there, seen that) but would like to go outside of the city.
Thank you.
Hi Peggy,
That’s a great question. There’s no upper age limit on car rentals in France, but to be sure that you get a rental agency that won’t give you any trouble, Discover Cars has a place to enter the driver’s age and country of residence–the options are just below the date fields on the home page. I’ve just done a search for rentals from Paris for a 78-year-old driver from the US (just as a non-EU/UK option for a more complicated scenario, as I don’t know where you’re from), and found many results, so just make sure you specify age and nationality before searching or renting. Have a wonderful trip!
Hi there, I am traveling to Paris May 2025. Looking to hire a car from Caen and travelling to Normandy. I have noticed that reviews for car rentals are not positive, some are worse than others, in particular Sixt has terrible reviews.
Do you have any tips for navigating these negative reviews?
Hi Christine–great question! I’ve also read the negative reviews of Sixt, but I don’t have any personal experience with them. When I tried to rent with them about five years ago, they didn’t accept my American license–only French/EU ones held for a certain length of time, as I recall. So, depending on where your license is from, this company may not be an option for you (but policies change, so it is something to check if it’s the best agency for you otherwise).
In terms of navigating reviews more generally, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, people tend to leave reviews only if they’re thrilled or really annoyed. Because it’s hard to be “thrilled” by a rental car dealership, this skews all reviews to the negative. There are a few places in Paris I’ve consistently used that have mediocre reviews at best but that have always worked very well for me, for example. While in most cases, I try to frequent establishments with at least 4/5 stars, this easily drops to 3 stars for car rental companies.
With that said, though, do look for patterns in reviews of each company and location. If a company consistently charges unwarranted penalties or a location is particularly slow or lacks reserved cars, those are red flags. Also, look at the number of reviews and the distribution of them. If there are only two reviews and one is one star, that will obviously make the company’s rating much worse than if there are 1,000 reviews.
I hope that helps! Great work planning for this, as you’ll likely get your pick of cars this far in advance. Have a wonderful trip!
Hello Rachel, I will be in Paris next Sept 10th. Auntie travelling with 3 teenagers, and we are considering to go from Paris to Nize by car, so we can stop in towns along the road. I hold a Panamenian travel license, can I use it for driving in France. Which towns should I not miss on that route? Where outside Paris, it is easier with luggage to pick up the car? and planning To deliver it a Nize airport.
Hi Leddy, what a great trip! Very lucky kids. I haven’t had experience with Panamanian licenses in France, but the official French government website simply says that a non-European license is valid if it meets the conditions above–i.e. translated into French (within 30 days of your trip, by a certified translator, and notarized) or accompanied by an international driving license (this is the much easier option). So, my interpretation of this is that your license would be valid here under those conditions, but you can also check with your local embassy to be sure.
In terms of what not to miss, you have tons of options on the way! You can stop in Lyon for amazing food, even make it into Geneva, and check out the vibrant port town of Marseille. You can find out more about these cities in my post on my favorite French cities.
Because you’re traveling south from Paris, I’d recommend looking for a rental agency just outside the city limits to the east (which you may need to pass on your way out of the city given the highway set-up) or south, such as in Vincennes and nearby suburbs. You can take a taxi from the city to the agency with your luggage to minimize hassle. Make sure to select the option to return to a different agency before renting!
I hope that helps! Have a wonderful trip!
Hello Rachel! I’m traveling to France and plan to spend two nights in Paris and then heading into the countryside/cognac region for four days. Trying to figure out car rental! We fly in at Charles de Gaulle. Is it better to rent a car from the airport or bus into Paris and then from Paris rent a car? We don’t plan on driving around Paris. If we get a rental in Paris can the car be returned at the airport? Thanks!
Hi Lisa! Thanks for your question–it’s a complicated situation! Either option could work, but that’s two long bus/train trips out to the airport if you do the latter. In this case, I think renting a car at the airport and parking it for a few days (at an underground lot with an attendant, ideally) near your Paris lodgings would be a good solution before driving out of the city. This is particularly true if you’re not staying in the city center, where parking will cost more and driving will be harder.
If you do choose to bus into the city (though the RER commuter train goes from CDG airport into the center of the city so you may find it easier), you can sometimes return cars at different locations; it depends on the agency and the location. Usually there are options to search for this, though they’re not always immediately apparent. On Discover Cars, for example, untick the box that says “Return car in same location” to search for different pick-up and drop-off locations.
I hope that helps! And have a wonderful trip.
I saw a YouTuber who moved to the French countryside who claimed stores/supermarkets (?) rented cars as well. Do you know about this? How would I arrange to rent a car from a village market?
Hi Heather–great question! I’ve never heard of this, but I don’t live in a village and have mostly rented from big cities. Do you have the link? I’d love to take a look and see if I can dig up more information. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
Hello, I’ve just booked a car in Béziers airport through Kayak, bsp-auto and Alamo/enterprise. The rental confirmation says I need to bring proof of residence (facture EDF ou téléphone etc) but I don’t live in France. What is the reason? And booking.com said I can’t book a car, after clicking on New Caledonia as my home. Any ideas please?
Hi Paul, thanks for your question, and I’m sorry you’re having such a frustrating experience. I don’t have direct experience with this issue, but I would recommend contacting the original company’s customer service to see if they can help and to clarify their policy about rentals by those living outside of mainland France. If other readers have faced this same issue, please share your experiences!
Hi Rachel , we are planning to rent a car on a Sunday and keep for 2 weeks. However we will rent from Palaiseau area where Sunday all rental car companies are closed. I found turo.com where I can put my location for delivery. Any guidance ?
Hi Santanu, great question! I actually haven’t used this company myself, so I can’t personally recommend it. Depending on how close you are to Paris and public transport, you might want to see if there are suburban rental companies nearby that you can taxi or bus to easily–it can be tough to find Sunday openings in smaller towns. Orly, which is nearby, might also be a good option, as many airport counters have extended opening times. Good luck!
Hi! What a great website! I am planning to rent a car in Caen for several days – we will have 3 adults and 1 child – also 3-4 suitcases – I currently drive a big American SUV – no sense of what size car I should rent as they all look so small. Have heard parking can be a problem with a larger car. Can you provide some guidance?! Thank you!!
Hi Catherine! Thanks for your kind words. You’re absolutely right that an SUV can be impossible to park here, especially in smaller cities and villages. The other thing is that it can be very difficult to drive down narrower roads in both urban and rural areas–and there can be many of these. A sedan is a good choice, but make sure you find one that can accomodate your group. Here’s what I’d suggest:
If you sort cars on Discover Cars, you can see that at the top of the search results, you have the small, medium, large, and SUV options. (Don’t pay attention to the number of people and bags in that overview.) Instead, sort by “large,” then scroll through the results. Look at the specific number of seats and bags on each listing until you find a sedan that has 4-5 seats and can fit a minimum of three bags (I’d avoid anything with “SUV” in the title, even “compact SUV”.) For example, a car like this has five seats (likely one small middle one in the back) and can fit three bags. It’ll be bigger than a Mini Cooper or something very compact like that, but small enough to park with relative ease. I hope that helps! And happy travels!
Hi Rachel, I am planning to spend some days in Paris and then to rent a car to go to Normandie.Your post is very clear and gives interesting tips and information ! so my question here is which would be your recommendation about where to rent a car to go to Normandie and go back to Paris ? Many thanks.Jorge !
Hi Jorge, Thanks for your question and your kind words! I’ve actually done this drive a few times myself. The best way, I’ve found, is to rent a car on the western edge of the 16th arrondissement or even in the suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt nearby (easily reached by public transportation or taxi), because those are very close to the highway you’ll take north and help you avoid too much time on the “Péripherique,” the highway surrounding Paris that can get easily jammed up. Hope that helps, and happy travels!
I plan on renting a vehicle Sept 14-18. We will be in Thouars area then making our way to Paris. I’m having trouble figuring out the closest place to pick up rental and then the best place to drop off (my preference is to not actually drive in Paris). Would appreciate your suggestions. Thank you
Hi Shelley! So, it looks like the issue is that the Europcar, which is the main agency I’m seeing in Thouars, isn’t open on weekends. You might plan on getting the car that Friday–otherwise, looking at Saumur or even Angers could be a possibility. For driving close to Paris, the western suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt is often a good place to drop off cars. You’ll also find a ton of rental car agencies (and transport options into the city) at the airports Charles de Gaulle or Orly. Happy travels!
Incredibly helpful article!
Rachel, do you know any rental agencies that do not charge for a second unrelated driver?
Thank you!
Francesca
Hi Francesca, thanks for your comment–I’m glad it’s been helpful! I don’t know of any agencies that do this, unfortunately. I’ve searched different companies here in addition to the sites above that I generally use, and all that I’ve looked at (Sixt, Hertz, Avis, Europcar) have a small daily fee associated with a second, unrelated driver (I’ve seen anywhere between 11 and 15 euros per day in my searches). Sometimes you can find promotions online to add a second free driver, but I don’t know of any agency that does this regularly. I’m sorry not to have better news!
Thank you for the info. We are renting a car in Aix en Provence. What are your thoughts of adding the car rentals’ GPS vs relying on our I-phone/ Google maps?
We have insurance through our CC companies. With that said, do you think it is advisable to add the car rentals insurance as well, especially since we’re foreigners?
Hi Lorri–great questions! I always recommend getting the GPS through the car rental if you’re driving through rural areas. There are lots of places where cell phone coverage will cut out but a SatNav will keep going–I discovered this on my own trip from Aix, actually!
Of course, I’m not an insurance agent, so I can only tell you what I’ve done in the past with renting cars here. Generally, if it’s not too expensive, I get the local coverage, too. This is because they offer better roadside assistance (if that’s part of the policy–be careful to read it carefully) and I don’t want to deal with with annoyances in translating claims or transferring them between countries in the unfortunate event of an accident.
I hope that’s helpful, and happy travels!
We’re trying to rent a vehicle for six people (or we’ll settle for 5) out of Dieppe, France. We would like to take a day trip to the Vimy Memorial from Dieppe and back to Dieppe, where we are staying. Having a difficult finding a rental for April 17-20 with drop off on the Saturday afternoon. Also, as an alternative, is there any other good way for our group to get to the memorial and back in a day other than trying to rent a car.
Hi Cela! What a frustrating situation–I’m sorry the options are so limited. I’ve found an Avis in Dieppe with 5-seaters available for Canadian (or British, or American) drivers on those dates; they close at noon on Saturdays. Perhaps you could plan on lunch in Dieppe on Saturday? Or did you want to go and come back that Saturday?
Public transportation won’t get you there without a LOT of hassle–the shortest itinerary I’m seeing is two trains and a bus! I wouldn’t recommend it, particularly for a group.
Another option that would be more feasible would be to go a little out of your way: take the train directly from Dieppe to Rouen train station. There, you’ll find the train station Avis open until 6 pm/18h. But I’m still not seeing anything larger than 5 seats, I’m sorry!
Let me know if I can help out any more! I’m traveling myself right now (Saint Tropez for the weekend, waiting for MY rental car at the moment!), so it may take a few hours between replies, but I’m here if I can be of more help!
We are renting at Rennes Gare for a week to explore Brittany and being offered a choice of an electric car or a gas car. Are charging stations common in Brittany or are we safer to stick with traditional gas. (more concerned with convenience than cost) Thanks.
Hi Nanci–that’s such a smart question because many parts of Brittany are rural, and it can be difficult to find charging stations outside big cities. If you read French, you might take a look at Chargemap to see where electric charging stations are along your route. But traditional gas will be far easier to find in that part of the country. This article from last year notes that there are around 52,000 charging stations in Brittany–before noting that 90% of them are private! Gas is still easier to find. Great planning, and happy travels!
Great article – thanks. I am planning a trip that includes crossing the channel from England and I was hoping to pick up a car in Calais, drive around the WW1 battlefields for the day and stay a night in somewhere like Amiens, then drop the car off there the next day and train into Paris. Is this feasible? I wasn’t able to find any available cars via the Discover link you posted. Is Turo an option?
Hi Brendan! Thanks for your question–it sounds like a great itinerary (and it’s so smart to take the train into Paris rather than navigating the heavy traffic). I also couldn’t find Discover Cars results, but I did find some on Rentalcars.com–here’s the result of my search. If you can schedule your trip without a car pick-up or drop-off on a weekend, you’ll be far more likely to get good options in smaller cities like these–with a weekend return, I only see results with a London pick-up–definitely not ideal! I’ve never used Turo myself, so don’t feel comfortable recommending it, but I’m confident you’ll be able to find a car that meets your needs! Let me know if I can help with anything else!
Update: It’s also occurred to me that, if your trip does involve a weekend drop-off, you might have more luck driving a bit closer to Paris, to Creil or Beauvais. And if you’re looking at a weekend pick-up, you might try looking for cars in Dunkirk, too–there’s a quick direct train from Calais.
Thanks Rachel. I have seen some availability for Dunkirk but ignored them because it meant diverting from my preferred route, however if it’s a quick train trip that might be a good option. No weekend days in my plans – ideally I’m looking for a Monday pickup and Tuesday drop off. The trip is a fair way off (in late November) but I wanted to start locking down some details so I don’t have everything to do at the last minute.
Great idea planning ahead, especially because 11/11 is of course Armistice Day and thus a national holiday! I did a quick Rentalcars.com search and found Calais–>Amiens cars for every Monday to Tuesday in November, so the Dunkirk option shouldn’t be necessary. Don’t hesitate to let me know if I can send specific links or be of further assistance. Otherwise, have a wonderful trip!
Where’s the best place on the outskirts of Paris to return a car – we’ll be travelling from Annecy and staying in the 3rd arrondisamont the day we return out car?
Hi Susan–Thanks for your question! It’s a great one because normally, I’d recommend coming in through the 16th or the suburbs out west, but that makes less sense given your route. I’d recommend looking for a rental agency in the more upscale but close eastern suburbs like Saint-Mandé, Vincennes, or Charenton-le-Pont. But, of course, it will depend on what agency you’ve booked with and when they’re open. For example, there are Sixt and Rent-a-Car locations in Vincennes and an Avis in Charenton-le-Pont. Have you already chosen one, or are you still looking? Let me know if I can be of any further assistance!
(Also: if you’re struggling to find open locations at any of these locations–for example, for a weekend return–I do highly recommend the 16th or even the western suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine, though the taxi/metro ride would be slightly longer to the 3rd. These are generally very safe areas, and have a huge number of agencies.)
Hello and thank you for the information. What about weekend hours? The first two companies I looked at do not have Sat Sunday hours. Also wonder about drop off fees if you choose to drop off at a different location.
Hi Ed! Great questions. Locations in larger cities and airports are more likely to have weekend pick/up drop-off hours–if you let me know where you’re planning to leave from and go to (and on which days), I can look into this more for you. Right now, I’m seeing locations open at the Nice Airport on Saturdays for Alamo, Europcar, and Keddy through Discover Cars.
As for drop-off fees, check out the “one-way rental” point on the right side of each specific car’s Discover page. Using the Paris to Nice example I checked above, Alamo had a higher overall price but only a 0.01 euro one-way fee, while Keddy and Europcar had a 72 euro one-way fee for a mini rental and higher fees (131-161 euros) for one-way economy cars.
Please don’t hesitate to let me know if I can help look into any other details to help you with your trip planning!
I saw a YouTuber who moved to the French countryside who claimed stores/supermarkets (?) rented cars as well. Do you know about this? How would I arrange to rent a car from a village market?
Hi Heather–great question! I’ve never heard of this, but I don’t live in a village and have mostly rented from big cities. Do you have the link? I’d love to take a look and see if I can dig up more information. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
I like to ask if rental companies are offering unlimited mileage? Because I found some are charging per KM after the alloted distance. Thank you Hope to hear from you
Hi Daryl–thanks for your comment, it’s a great question! Some French agencies do offer unlimited mileage, usually for a surcharge. This is definitely something to be aware of when renting. If you search on Discover Cars (example), you can see green checkmarks for the boxes on rentals that offer it. You can also go down to the filters on the left of the page, very bottom, and search only for rentals with unlimited mileage. Happy travels!
Hi! How does one get a translated copy of American drivers license for documentation ?
Hi Susan! So, first things first: getting an international permit is usually much easier and cheaper, and it’s an acceptable alternative to a notarized translation. You can get one through AAA, for example.
However, if that’s not an option, you’ll need to look for a translation service with notarization–lots of online options, but be careful to read customer reviews and do due diligence. Make sure you purchase an option that will get you a hard copy with original stamps.
Keep in mind that the translation and notarization will need to be done within the three months before your trip.
I hope that helps! Happy travels!
Great information
We are planning to rent a car for one way trip from Nice to Avignon in May 2025. I don’t see the cost of one way rental in the total price. Should I assume it’s in the cost?
I only find rentals through airport on Sunday- assuming rentals are closed on Sunday?
Hi Lisa! If you’re searching through Discover Cars, unclick the box on the search page that says “Return car in same location.” Then, you’ll have the option to put in your destination in the new box that appears. The results will show the cost of the one-way trip.
In terms of Sunday rentals, it’s usually much harder to find them, but bigger cities usually have more options. On Discover Cars, you can select “non-airport options” from the column on the left to see where else cars are available. For example, for a trip I searched for this coming Sunday, I’m seeing cars available to pick up at Dollar at Nice Train Station and the Avis Downtown location, among others. They are slightly more expensive, though.
I hope that helps–happy planning and happy travels!