Car Rental in Lille

Why rent a car in Lille?

Lille is a great place to visit. Its Flemish-influenced old city has plenty of beautiful churches, palaces, and museums. The city also doesn’t shy away from its more recent industrial past and there are many attractions and landmarks connected to it. Named the European Capital of Culture in 2004, Lille offers many exhibition venues for culture-loving visitors. After seeing Lille, you can explore the rest of Northwest France or even travel over the border to visit one of its neighbors, Belgium or the United Kingdom.

Top ways to enter Lille

• Lille Airport: Also known as Lille-Lesquin, the second-largest airport in Northwestern France served 2 million travelers in 2019. The airport is popular with a number of low-cost carriers like easyJet, Vueling, and Volotea. Located just 11km (6.8 miles) south of Lille center, the airport can be reached in about 15 minutes.
• Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport: By far the largest in France and one of the busiest in the world, Paris-Charles de Gaulle handled more than 72 million travelers in 2019. The airport is a hub for Air France, easyJet, Norwegian Air Shuttle, and other companies, and is served by more than 70 different airlines. Located 200km (125 miles) south of Lille, it can be reached by car in about 1 hour and 50 minutes.
• Beauvais Airport: Sometimes called Tille Airport and also Paris-Beauvais, this small airport in the Picardy region is a hub for low-cost companies like Ryanair and Wizz Air. The airport offers many domestic connections, as well as flights to and from destinations in Eastern and Southern Europe and in North Africa. Located 195km (121 miles) south of Lille, the airport can be reached in about two hours.
• Charleroi Airport: Often also called Brussels-South, this small airport provides a cheap alternative to reach the Belgian capital, but is also near the French border and Lille. As of 2019, the airport has flights by nine different airlines, most of them low-cost companies. Charleroi Airport is just 120km (75 miles) east of Lille and takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach. Since you’d have to cross a border, ask your rental car provider in advance if they permit it. An alternative is to go from Charleroi to Lille by public transportation and to pick up a rental car after arriving in France.
• Brussels Airport: Serving the capital of the European Union and NATO, Brussels-Zaventem handles 25 million travelers every year. The airport provides flights to and from most European countries, as well as destinations in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. The airport is 130km (78 miles) northeast of Lille and can be reached in about 90 minutes. Like with Charleroi Airport, ask your rental car provider in advance if they permit you crossing the international border.
• By rail: If you arrive in Lille by train, you can conveniently pick up your rental car either at the Lille Europe Railway Station or at the Lille Flandres Railway Station.

City facts

• Located an hour’s drive from the English Channel, Lille has a temperate oceanic climate with fairly mild winters and cool summers, with frequent rainfall. The average high temperature is 23°C  (74°F) in July and August, the warmest months, and 6°C  (43°F) in January. Precipitation in the city is quite even throughout the year, with a small drop from June to September. Lille occasionally experiences snow.
• Often referred to as being at the crossroads of Western Europe, Lille is only 300km (185 miles) or less from four of Europe’s most famous and influential capitals, Paris, Brussels, London, and Amsterdam. Cologne and Dusseldorf, two of Germany’s largest cities, are also only about 320km (200 miles) from Lille. 

Top sights and activities

• Palais des Beaux-Arts. One of the largest museums in France and the largest fine arts museum outside Paris in terms of the number of works on display, the Lille Palace of Fine Arts is a must-visit. One of the first museums in Western Europe, the museum has a vast collection of paintings, including works by world-famous artists like Donatello, Peter Paul Rubens, Francisco de Goya, and Pablo Picasso as well as displays of sculptures and print work.
• Citadel of Lille. The pentagon-shaped Citadel of Lille was built in the 17th century as part of the historic city walls. Although Lille has since spread far outside of its original borders, the citadel remains one of the symbols of the city. Today, it is surrounded by beautiful gardens that you can enter free of charge, as well as a zoo that costs €6 per adult and €3 per child between 5 and 17 years old.
• Vieille Bourse. The former home of the Lille Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Vieille Bourse is not only a beautiful building but also the center of one of the city’s most interesting neighborhoods. Situated between the Theater Squarer and de Gaulle Square, the area is full of art galleries, bookshops, and performance venues.
• Flea market: Inside the palace, you can enter the inner courtyard free of charge to discover a flea market where you can bargain for old books, vinyl, and posters.
• Palais Rihour. Lille is well known for its distinctive architecture, and one of the main reasons for that is Gothic masterpieces like the Rihour Palace. Dating back to Burgundian rule in the 15th century, the palace is located in the very heart of the city and is as impressive from the inside as it is from the outside.
• Lille Métropole Museum of Modern, Contemporary and Outsider Art. Despite its long and ambitious name, this is one of the most interesting art museums in this part of the country. The museum is actually not located in Lille but instead in the neighboring town of Villeneuve-d'Ascq to the east of it (Villeneuve is also the home of Stade Pierre-Mauroy, one of the largest football stadiums in the country). Also known by its abbreviation LaM, the museum hosts works by such world-renowned creators as Picasso, Miró, and Braque, and also doubles as a library and research center.

Traffic and parking

• The speed limit in cities is 50km/h, although in certain areas the speed limit may be reduced to 30km/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 130km/h, 4-lane expressways to 110km/h, and 2- or 3- lane roads to 90km/h. During the rain, the limits are respectively lowered to 110km/h, 100km/h, and 80km/h. The general speed limit is lowered to 50km/h during heavy fog or other cases of bad visibility.
• Proof of insurance and the car’s documentation need to be in the car whenever you’re driving.
• When driving, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
• As of 2015, mobile phone use while driving is strictly regulated. Holding a mobile phone in hand while driving is prohibited, as well as wearing any device in one’s ear (except a medical device). Fines are hefty. If you are involved in a car accident without respecting the above restrictions, you may face the suspension of your driver’s license.
• 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 the letter A and you can recognize them by a blue sign. The fee for taking a toll road depends on the specific route, distance, and the type of your vehicle - cars with trailers and caravans have to pay more than regular cars. You can pay by credit card or with cash. You’ll be given a ticket that you have to keep while on the toll road that will indicate where you got on. Then you have to pay for the distance you have traveled upon exiting the road. 

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

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

• Amiens. The city of Amiens is best known for Amiens Cathedral. The tallest cathedral in France, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is considered by many to be one of the most impressive Gothic buildings in the world. Amiens has plenty of other beautiful architecture as well as the Jules Verne Museum celebrating one of the fathers of science fiction writing.  Don't miss a stroll through Amiens' Hortillonnage. Located 140km (87 miles) southwest of Lille, Amiens can be reached in about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• Brugge. Also known as Bruges, this city in Belgian Flanders is one of the most picturesque places in Europe. Bruges is also called the little Venice of the North. Thousands of visitors come here every year to enjoy the medieval old town, the Basilica of the Holy Blood, and the view from the Belfry Tower (its 366 stairs are narrow and steep, but the reward at the top is worth it). Located just 80km (50 miles) north of Lille, Brugge can be reached in about one hour by car. You’d have to cross an international border, so ask your rental car provider in advance if they permit it.
• Dunkirk. The small town of Dunkirk is famous for its role in the Second World War. There are plenty of sites and attractions connected to it, such as the Allies Memorial and the Dunkirk War Museum. But from the Port Museum’s retelling of Dunkirk’s maritime and trading history to the Dunkirk Belfry, the city has more to offer, Located 82km (50 miles) northwest of Lille, Dunkirk can be reached in about one hour.
• Ghent. Another charming Belgian destination just on the other side of the border, Ghent used to be one of the most influential and richest cities in Europe. Over the centuries, it has lost a bit of its political clout, but none of the charm, as it continues to boast a large network of canals and attractive historical landmarks. The drive from Lille will take about one hour.
• Arras. Located even closer than Dunkirk, the small town of Arras is another place scarred by former battles in and around it — in its case, it was mainly the fights on the Western front during World War One. A number of landmarks and monuments are dedicated to this grim experience. Dating back to older times, the city also boasts many fine examples of distinctive Flemish architecture. Don't miss its famous Christmas market.
• Brussels. The capital of Belgium is the political center of the European Union, but, more interestingly for a tourist, also one of the cultural metropolises of the old continent. In addition to historical neighborhoods and world-class museums (and restaurants, and breweries), the city also boasts a very lively and innovative contemporary arts scene and hosts various performances, festivals, and events practically every week. The drive from Lille takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes.
• Charleroi. Although many a Belgian will tell you that this primarily French-speaking city is one of the least attractive destinations in their country, those willing to scratch beneath the surface could do worse than make the short hop across the border (the drive east of Lille takes about 90 minutes). Historically known as a mining hub, Charleroi has been busy turning some of this industrial heritage into tourist attractions all the while also boasting some well-preserved historical architecture and the internationally known Museum of Photography.

Most popular cars

The most popular rental car in Lille is the Ford Focus, closely followed by the Renault Megane and the Citroen C3. The most popular rental car types are the mini, economy, and compact classes.

Further destinations

• Paris. From the Eiffel Tower to Montmartre and from Sacré Cœur to Moulin Rouge, the City of Light has more famous landmarks than it’s possible to list. Yes, there are plenty of tourists, but that’s only because the city has so much on offer. Located 225km (140 miles) south of Lille, Paris is just 2 hours and 20 minutes away.
• Brittany. The peninsula of Brittany is the westernmost region of France. A diverse and culturally unique place, it has plenty to explore including the megalithic stone structures erected by the prehistoric inhabitants of France, long rocky beaches, inland mountain villages, and centers celebrating the native Celtic Breton culture. Rennes, the nearest large city of Brittany, is 570km (354 miles) southwest of Lille and can be reached in about 5 hours and 15 minutes.
• London. A melting pot, a pioneering city, and a global metropolis, London is unlike any other city in Europe. A hub of arts, music, finance, innovation, cuisine, and practically anything else that one can imagine, it can be explored for days, if not weeks or months. From Lille, you can reach London by car by taking the Eurotunnel. You’ll arrive in Folkestone, then it's an hour and a half drive to London. You’d be crossing an international border, so ask your rental car provider in advance if they permit it. If not, it’s possible to go by public transportation and pick up a rental car after arriving in London. Also,check to see if you need a visa to enter the UK - unlike France, the country is not a member of the Schengen Area. 

Car rental prices in Lille

• Large cars - from €36 per day
• Station wagons - from €72 per day
• Small cars - from €44 per day
• Premium cars - from €135 per day
• Medium cars - from €29 per day
• SUVs - from €60 per day
• Vans - from €86 per day

Money-saving and other tips

Follow these tips and land a great rental car in Lille:

• Compare the 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 during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Lille is the cheapest in August when renting a car is about 36% cheaper than the yearly average. Come visit the north of France at the height of summer!