Car Rental in Bordeaux

✓ No Hidden Costs ✓ 24/7 Support ✓ Free Cancellation

Pick-up location

Bordeaux, France

Return car in same location

Pick-up date

Drop-off date

Driver's country of residence is United States of America (USA) and age is 30-65

700+ Trusted Suppliers:

Cheapest Car Rental Rates

Bordeaux Airport

Mini

Toyota Aygo or similar

4
1
3
A/C
Man.

per day

Bordeaux Airport

Economy

Peugeot 208 or similar

5
2
5
A/C
Man.

per day

Bordeaux Airport

Compact SUV

Renault Captur or similar

5
2
5
A/C
Man.

per day

Bordeaux Airport

Intermediate

Skoda Enyaq or similar

5
2
5
A/C
Auto.

per day

Travel Information

Languages

French

Currency

EUR

Drive on

Right-hand side

Country code

+33

Average car rental price

$36 per day

Average car rental length

6 days

Speed limit within town

50 km/h or 31 mph

Speed limit out of town

80 - 130 km/h or 50 - 81 mph

Acceptable limit of BAC

0.05%

Rating

9.2 / 10

Average gas price

$1.90 per liter or $7.20 per gallon

Lowest gas price

$1.79 per liter or $6.76 per gallon

Highest gas price

$2.10 per liter or $7.95 per gallon

Why rent a car in Bordeaux?

Bordeaux is a great place to explore by car. Not only an interesting city in its own right, it is also the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine province, the center of the Bordeaux wine region, and the best access point for much of the Southwestern France.

One-Way Car Rentals in Bordeaux

The most popular one-way rental options for pick up in Bordeaux and drop off in another city include:

From Bordeaux to Nice - 72 offers from $31.31 per day
From Bordeaux to Toulouse - 95 offers from $27.92 per day
From Bordeaux to Marseille - 123 offers from $31.31 per day
From Bordeaux to Bilbao - 11 offers from $175.13 per day
From Bordeaux to Saint Brieuc - 10 offers from $77.27 per day

Top ways to enter Bordeaux

Bordeaux Airport: Located close to the city center, Bordeaux Airport serves flights to and from many destinations in Europe, as well as in North Africa, the Middle East, and the North America.
Bergerac Airport: About an hour and a half’s drive away from Bordeaux, this regional airport mainly hosts flights to the United Kingdom, as well as to Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
Public transportation: If you arrive in Bordeaux by train, it is convenient to pick up a rental in Bordeaux Train Station.

City facts

The main language of Bordeaux is, like elsewhere in the country, French. The knowledge of English varies, but many people working in the service industry speak it.
Bordeaux enjoys hot summers, but winters can get cold at times because of winds coming from the Atlantic. January, the coldest month, has the average temperature of 6.6 °C (43.9 °F), while the mean temperature in the warmest month, August, is 21.4 °C (70.5 °F).

Top sights and activities

Les Quais. Also known as the "Port of the Moon", walking the quay along the Gironde river is the best way to see Bordeaux city center and pass some of its famous attractions.
Musee D'Aquitaine. This museum lets you travel through the area’s history, from relics dating back 25,000 years to Gall-Roman era, medieval times and present day.
Place de la Bourse. Bordeaux’s iconic main square is lined with impressive buildings, cafes, shops, fountains, and the very cool “Miroir d’Eau,” the water mirror that gives a lovely reflection of the square, especially at night.
The Museum of Bordeaux Wine and Trade. This unique museum is the best place to learn about Bordeaux’s main industry and its origins, old trade routes, wine-making techniques, and present state.
Bordeaux Cathedral. Also known as the Primatial Cathedral of St. Andrew, this is the most important — and probably the most impressive — religious building in Bordeaux. Dating back to at least the 9th century (the year it was built is still uncertain), the church was initially constructed in the Romanesque style, but later renovations added a significant Gothic element to its look. Notable for its nave, the cathedral is as impressive from the inside as it is from the outside.
This is just a taste of things you to do in Bordeaux — you can find even more in this guide to Bordeaux.

Traffic and parking

The speed limit in cities is 50 km/h, although in certain areas the speed limit may be reduced to 30 km/h. Unlike with inter-city roads, the urban speed limit is unaffected by weather.
Outside cities, as of July 2018 the speed limit depends on the type of the road. Highways are limited to 130 km/h, 4-lane expressways to 110 km/h, and 2- or 3- lane roads to 80 or 90 km/h. During the rain the limits are respectively lowered to 110 km/h, 100 km/h, and 80 km/h. The general speed limit is lowered to 50 km/h during heavy fog or other cases of bad visibility.
The insurance and car documentation needs to be in the car whenever you’re driving.
If you’re the driver, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
As of 2018, hands-free mobile phone use is banned in France and the fines are hefty.
The legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for experienced drivers and 0.02% for novice drivers.
The emergency number is 112.

Toll roads

Most of the main highways in France (autoroute in French) are toll roads. Their names start with letter A and you can recognize them by a red number sign. The fare for taking a toll road depends on the specific route, the distance length, as well as the type of your vehicle - trailer cars and caravans have to pay more than regular cars. You can pay by a credit card or by cash. You’ll be given a ticket that you have to keep while on the toll road.

Some rental cars are equipped with toll road transporters and can use the automatic toll road payment booths (Télépéage). Ask your rental car provider to find out if they offer cars with toll road transporters.

See the official French toll road website for more information. Use the website's toll road calculator to find out exactly how much you’ll have to pay for using the toll roads on your planned route.

Ideas for day trips

Wine tour. There are many organized tours that you can join, but having your own car lets you explore the nearby villages, vineyards, and chateaus by yourself. The Medoc region is perhaps the best place to start, with famous places such as Château Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Latour, Château Margaux, and Chateau Mouton Rothschild all in close proximity to one another. If you were the designated driver for a visit to Medoc, don’t despair - you can switch places with your travel companion and pay a visit to the Graves region, which has some of the oldest vineyards in all of the Bordeaux area.
Atlantic Coast. Bordeaux is located very near the Atlantic Coast, and there are many interesting places you can visit. The nearby town of Arcachon is famous for its oysters, but the nearby villages are just as charming. If you’re up for a longer trip, go all the way south to Bayonne and Biarritz, places that offer some of the best surfing in the whole of Europe.
Saint-Emilion. Historically inhabited by the Romans and hermit monks, this small village is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Notable for its ancient sites and beautiful churches, Saint-Emilion is also one of the main wine destinations in the region — the winemaking traditions here are at least 1,900 years old. The drive from Bordeaux takes about 50 minutes.
Angoulême. Known as the Balcony of the Southwest, Angoulême is one of the finest historical destinations in this part of the country and, therefore, also one of the most popular day trip destinations from Bordeaux (the drive takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes). Known for its vast green spaces, as well as many churches and other heritage architecture, it’s a splendid city for long walks – and it also boasts some amazing restaurants.

Most popular cars

The most popular rental car in France is the Renault Twingo, but travelers also love the Volkswagen Polo and the Ford Fiesta. The most popular rental car types are economy, compact and mini.

Further destinations

Biarritz. A lovely coastal city in the so-called French Basque country, right on the border with Spain, Biarritz is known for its interesting architecture, beautiful beaches, and arguably the best surfing in all of France. The neighboring town of Bayonne, located a few kilometers inland, is a historical gem. The drive from Bordeaux to Biarritz will take about 2 hours and 1 minutes.
Occitanie. Most of the visitors excited about Southern France head straight to the Cote d’Azur where tourist hotspots such as Nice and Cannes await. Those looking for a slightly more off-the-beaten-track adventure could certainly do worse than visit the western portion of the French Mediterranean coast and the region of Occitanie known not just for its beaches, but also for rich culture, delicious cuisine and historical cities such as Carcassonne and Toulouse. The latter – the capital of the region – is less than a three-hour drive from Bordeaux.
Brittany. Located north of Bordeaux and Nouvelle–Aquitaine, Brittany is another region very much worth exploring. Known for its native Celtic Breton tongue and unique culture, the westernmost part of France is also recognizable for its wild, rugged beaches and well-preserved architecture. The city of Nantes, historically considered a part of Brittany and still a gateway to the peninsula, takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes to drive to from Bordeaux.
Pyrenees. Lying along the border with Spain, the Pyrenees mountain range is one of southern France’s most popular travel destinations. Although not as high as the Alps in the east, they are home to a special atmosphere and some of the most panoramic driving routes and hiking trails in Europe. The city of Pau, one of the gateways to the mountains and the fabulous Pyrenees National Park, is only a two-and-a-half-hour drive south of Bordeaux.
Northern Spain. Only a few hours drive south of Bordeaux, the northeastern part of Spain is another fascinating region that’s within your reach. Home to imposing mountains, rugged beaches, famous cities like Bilbao and Pamplona, and the unique Basque culture, exploring this part of France’s southern neighbor can be a very rewarding experience. Although there are no border checks between the two countries as both are part of the Schengen area, do ask your rental car provider in advance to make sure they permit you to cross into Spain.

Car rental prices in Bordeaux

Convertibles - from $42 per day
Station wagons - from $45 per day
Large cars - from $37 per day
Medium cars - from $19 per day
Vans - from $60 per day
Premium cars - from $41 per day
Small cars - from $12 per day
SUVs - from $22 per day

Money-saving and other tips

You can do a number of things to get a good car rental deal in Bordeaux:

Compare rates of different rental car providers
Book your rental car well in advance
Plan your route before you go
Know your fuel and mileage requirements
Visit on the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Bordeaux is the cheapest in April when renting a car is about 29% cheaper than the yearly average.

This information was written, fact-checked, and/or translated by our content creators.

Learn more about our Editorial Policy.

Fact checked by

Megan Starr & Aram Vardanyan

Megan & Aram is a travel blog run by two friends that have been helping people travel the world since 2010. They have visited well over 100 countries together and share a special passion for lesser-known destinations, as well as the Nordics. Megan is currently based in Germany and Aram is based in Armenia. They run 4 destination-specific websites in addition to Megan & Aram.

Top 20 cities near Bordeaux

Bergerac from $24.17 per day

97.1 km / 60.3 miles away
Angouleme from $27.21 per day

114.4 km / 71.1 miles away
Dax from $33.38 per day

127.6 km / 79.3 miles away
La Rochelle from $28.28 per day

154.7 km / 96.1 miles away
Pau from $32.46 per day

163 km / 101.3 miles away
Biarritz from $32.46 per day

165 km / 102.5 miles away
Brive from $26.28 per day

179.5 km / 111.5 miles away
Limoges from $28.24 per day

187 km / 116.2 miles away
Tarbes from $33.53 per day

191.5 km / 119 miles away
Toulouse from $18.75 per day

212.3 km / 131.9 miles away
Nantes from $23.75 per day

267.8 km / 166.4 miles away
Angers from $27.71 per day

293.1 km / 182.1 miles away
Carcassonne from $22.65 per day

300.8 km / 186.9 miles away
Clermont-Ferrand from $35.29 per day

317.2 km / 197.1 miles away
Narbonne from $24.33 per day

348.6 km / 216.6 miles away
Béziers from $17.81 per day

365.3 km / 227 miles away
Perpignan from $29.49 per day

369.5 km / 229.6 miles away
Rennes from $32.04 per day

371.3 km / 230.7 miles away
Lorient from $33.14 per day

383.9 km / 238.5 miles away
Orleans from $30.50 per day

392.3 km / 243.8 miles away

Top 20 locations near Bordeaux

Bordeaux Airport from $12.42 per day
Bergerac Airport from $30.85 per day

97.1 km / 60.3 miles away
La Rochelle – Île de Ré Airport from $35.90 per day

154.7 km / 96.1 miles away
Biarritz Airport from $32.46 per day

165 km / 102.5 miles away
Brive Airport from $28.33 per day

174.8 km / 108.6 miles away
Limoges Bellegarde Airport from $43.35 per day

187 km / 116.2 miles away
Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees Airport from $33.61 per day

191.5 km / 119 miles away
Toulouse Blagnac Airport from $18.75 per day

212.3 km / 131.9 miles away
Nantes Airport from $29.94 per day

267.8 km / 166.4 miles away
Nantes North East from $46.07 per day

276.1 km / 171.6 miles away
Angers Train Station from $27.71 per day

293.1 km / 182.1 miles away
Carcassonne Airport from $22.65 per day

300.8 km / 186.9 miles away
Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne Airport from $41.73 per day

320.9 km / 199.4 miles away
Beziers Airport from $17.81 per day

365.3 km / 227 miles away
Rennes–Saint-Jacques Airport from $41.44 per day

368.8 km / 229.2 miles away
Perpignan Airport from $31.94 per day

369.5 km / 229.6 miles away
Lorient Train Station from $33.14 per day

383.9 km / 238.5 miles away
Montpellier Sud de France from $29.59 per day

394.1 km / 244.9 miles away
Montpellier-Méditerranée Airport from $23.96 per day

397.3 km / 246.9 miles away
Nimes Airport from $50.41 per day

425 km / 264.1 miles away

What is the cheapest month to rent a car in Bordeaux?

Car rental prices in Bordeaux vary by time of year. This graph shows the average prices per month to help you find the best time of year to rent.

Average rental costs per day in Bordeaux

$22.54

January

$37.30

February

$32.71

March

$28.50

April

$40.54

May

$46.14

June

$47.08

July

$45.33

August

$40.26

September

$31.65

October

$26.49

November

$33.33

December

The cheapest month to rent a car in Bordeaux is January (when prices average $22.54 per day). This is 37% cheaper than the yearly average and 52% cheaper than renting in July (when prices average $47.08).

This information can help you identify the low season. But these are only average numbers. How much your car rental will cost will depend on the type of vehicle you rent, how long you’ll rent it for, and how far ahead you book. Simply enter your dates in the form at the top of the page to see the exact prices.

What’s the usual rental length in Bordeaux?

How long travelers keep their rental cars for varies from month to month: in July, the average renter keeps their car for 7 days, and in March, they keep their car for 5 days.

Average number of rental days in Bordeaux

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

What's the most popular month to rent a car in Bordeaux?

Based on the number of searches by our customers, the most popular month for renting a car in Bordeaux is August, and the least popular is February.

Monthly searches in Bordeaux by pick-up date relative to the average

49%

January

37%

February

47%

March

57%

April

113%

May

141%

June

175%

July

196%

August

164%

September

128%

October

52%

November

41%

December

Car rental information

Car rental locations	5
Airport locations	1
Popular suppliers	RentScape, LOCAMALIN, Ok Mobility, Goldcar, Alamo
Popular car categories	Small cars, Medium cars, SUVs, Vans
Lowest price	$12 per day
Cheapest supplier	Goldcar

Most popular car models of rental suppliers

Rental Supplier	Model	Doors	Luggage	Type
RentScape	Peugeot 208	5	1	Small cars
Goldcar	Peugeot 208	5	1	Small cars
Ok Mobility	Seat Ibiza	5	1	Small cars
LOCAMALIN	Peugeot 208	5	2	Small cars
Goldcar	Toyota Aygo	3	1	Small cars
Ok Mobility	Peugeot 108	5	1	Small cars
RentScape	Fiat 500	3	1	Small cars
RentScape	Peugeot 2008	5	2	Medium cars
LOCAMALIN	Citroën C3	5	2	Small cars
LOCAMALIN	Peugeot 2008	5	3	SUVs

Our customers' reviews

Because we want to make sure each review listed here is left by a real customer, we don’t have the option to post a review here. Instead, we ask each and every customer to leave a review after they return their rental car. This way, you know that all reviews are authentic.

Australia

Peugeot 408

10/26/24

Wonderful food and helpful friendly people in the Dordogne, especially Sarlat

Greece

Fiat 500

10/18/24

Great to travel around Bordeaux and the whole area.

Italy

Renault Clio

9/16/24

We had a great tour in Cap Ferret, went to the beach and swam in the Ocean!

Ireland

Peugeot 108

8/23/24

Great trip

Australia

Fiat 500

10/18/23

We visited South West Framce: the Correze, Dordogne and Limousin

Ireland

Hyundai Tucson

7/15/23

I had an amazing trip, despite the fact I started my trip with a fine for a late arrival for picking up my rental car which was Keddys fault for misrepresenting Europcar opening hours.

United Kingdom

Peugeot 208

7/1/23

With family, great scenery, good food & great weather

United Kingdom

Peugeot 108

8/14/20

Lovely area of France. Very hot lots to do.

United Kingdom

Opel Adam

1/18/20

We were an hour early but made to wait although the car was available, surely unnecessary? Everything else was excellent.

United Kingdom

Opel Adam

11/22/19

Despite great public transport hiring the car cost us less than we would have spent on trains, trams, buses etc,

United Kingdom

Chevrolet Aveo

10/29/19

We have a house In St aulaye and can recommend the village.

United Kingdom

Opel Astra

8/18/19

Bordeaux and surrounding areas are lovely

United Kingdom

Citroen C3

7/16/19

Don't try driving in the narrow streets of the old town ( Google doesn't know which are one way) but do go for a walk there, it's lovely....

Ireland

Renault Mégane Estate

7/2/19

No queues, car was within a short distance of the desk

United Kingdom

Renault Megane

6/19/19

Wine country, beautiful scenery, delicious red wine, amazing food! The roads in the city are a bit narrow to drive around but a lot easier in the country side. Highly recommend checking out Bordeaux even if you don't drink!

United Kingdom

Opel Astra

6/10/19

Must visits in the area, Bordeaux itself is lovely and dune du plat and Arachon are well worth a day out.

United Kingdom

VW Polo

5/29/19

Beautiful part of france, you soon get the hang of driving on the right, really relaxing and stress free. Beautiful landscape, lovelly people.

United Kingdom

Volkswagen Polo

4/29/19

The Northern Dordogne is really beautiful- especially the villages close to Lake Jemaye

Ireland

Opel Astra

2/17/19

Lots to see around Bordeaux. The city is great but worth touring the wine regions, Cognac, Royan, Arcachon, St Emillion, Blaye etc.

Bulgaria

Citroen C4

12/1/18

I rent a car app 4-5 times/year and definatelly, by all means the experience I had in Bordeaux is by far the best one!

United Kingdom

Chevrolet Spark 3d

10/12/18

Do a wine tour, then find the places you enjoyed and go for a drive around them at your leisure. It was lovely!

United Kingdom

Ford Fiesta

9/25/18

Ensure familiarity with all car features before leaving pick up point. Check sat nav settings. Bordeaux was particularly busy and a lot of road closures when we set off, check alternative routes available.

United Kingdom

Nissan Juke

8/19/18

Lots of sights. Great location.

United Kingdom

Ford S-Max

8/16/18

Great area to visit. The lake beach at Maubisson is amazing. Great for little ones to have a potter and a swim - the water is warm and very child friendly. The beach at Carcans Plage is gorgeous in a different way. The Atlantic waves are huge so hold on to your kids and take care. But amazing for body boarding and surfing. The most thrilling powerful waves I've ever been in - very vigilant lifeguards. Free parking everywhere. nice variety of eating places at Carcans Plage