Car Rental in Toulouse
Cheapest Car Rental Rates
Most Popular Car Rental Deals
Travel Information
Why rent a car in Toulouse?
Toulouse is the main city of southwestern France and also one of the country’s most interesting urban destinations. In addition to a well-preserved center and plenty of history, the city has seen a lot of fascinating redevelopment and is a hub of contemporary culture. Toulouse can also serve as a base from which to explore the rest of the historic Occitanie region and provides access to the French Pyrenees.
One-Way Car Rentals in Toulouse
The most popular one-way rental options for pick up in Toulouse and drop off in another city include:
- From Toulouse to Marseille - 128 offers from $32.78 per day
- From Toulouse to Nice - 94 offers from $32.78 per day
- From Toulouse to Bordeaux - 158 offers from $29.27 per day
- From Toulouse to Montpellier - 88 offers from $34.12 per day
- From Toulouse to Biarritz - 87 offers from $32.78 per day
Top ways to enter Toulouse
- Toulouse Blagnac Airport. Located about 7 km (4.2 mi) west of Toulouse city center, this airport serves flights to and from many destinations in Europe and North Africa.
- Carcassonne Airport. Located about an hour’s drive southwest of Toulouse, this small airport serves flights to and from Belgium, United Kingdom, Portugal, and the Republic of Ireland. Other international airports 200 km (125 mi) or less from Toulouse include Tarbes–Lourdes–Pyrénées Airport, Beziers Airport, Perpignan Airport, Pau Pyrénées Airport, Bergerac Airport, and Brive Airport.
- By public transportation: If you’re arriving in Toulouse by train, you can conveniently pick up a rental car at the Toulouse Railway Station.
City facts
- With a metro area population of almost 1,000,000, Toulouse is the largest city and the capital of the Occitanie Region.
- Like other southern French cities, Toulouse experiences mild winters and very hot summers, but the precipitation is somewhat higher than on the Mediterranean Coast.
Top sights and activities
- Basilique Saint-Sernin. This church, first built in the 11th Century, is perhaps the largest building in the world built in the Romanesque style. Historically a stopover on important pilgrimage routes, it is noted for its bell tower and the impressive sound of the church organ.
- Saint Raymond Museum. From prehistoric and Iron Age artefacts to relics of Etruscans, Romans, and Visigoths, the collections of this museum tell the surprisingly diverse story of Toulouse’s history.
- Capitole de Toulouse. Located next to the main Toulouse square, this famous building is home to the City Hall with its awe-inspiring Salle des Illustres hall, as well as the city’s largest theater.
- Cité de l'Espace. With Toulouse being the center of French aviation and space research, it is only natural that one of the city’s main tourist attractions is related to these industries. Located a short drive southeast of the city center, Space City has a number of interactive exhibitions and real spacecraft for visitors to explore. If you like visiting it, you might also consider taking an Airbus tour and seeing the Aeroscopia Museum.
- Les Abattoirs. A testament to the imaginative capacities of native Toulousaine, the huge former abattoir has been turned into an art space and is now home to one of the most interesting contemporary art museums in France. Visit the museum’s official website to find out more about opening hours and admission.
- Cassoulet. Try Toulouse’s most famous dish, cassoulet. Made from beans, pork, and sausage, it’s a classic French country staple you must try! This hearty, warm meal always seems to be extra tasty on a cold day.
- Find more things to do in the city in this Toulouse guide.
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
- Carcassonne. This fortified city is one of the most notable medieval destinations in the whole of France and the largest walled city in Europe. In addition to honoring its belligerent heritage, Carcassonne is also one of the gastronomic hubs of this part of the country. The drive from Toulouse takes an hour and 10 minutes.
- National parks. There are quite a few beautiful protected areas near Toulouse. These include Pyrenees National Park which has some of the highest peaks of the famous mountain range, Haut Languedoc Regional Park with its peaceful landscapes and bucolic villages, and Pyrenees Ariegeoises Regional Park which is known for its swift rivers and variety of flora and fauna. All of these are within a two-hour drive from Toulouse.
- Andorra. Take a day to explore this micro-country, only two and a half hours from Toulouse. In the capital, Andorra la Vella, don’t miss the 12th-century cathedral, sculptures from Salvador Dali, shopping, dining, and fantastic views. The drive to and from Andorra is an experience in itself, with jaw-dropping mountain vistas.
Most popular cars
The most often picked rental cars in France are the Renault Twingo, the Volkswagen Polo and the Ford Fiesta. The most popular rental car types are economy, compact and mini.
Further destinations
- Perpignan and the Mediterranean Coast. Not as glamorous, but arguably more relaxing than Provence, the eastern portion of France’s Mediterranean Coast is a destination of lovely fishing villages and beaches that you can explore for days. Perpignan, the region’s historic largest city and a potential hub from which you can see the rest of it, is just slightly over a two-hour drive away from Toulouse.
- Basque Country. The historical region of Basque country, shared by France and Spain, is a fascinating destination not only because of its proud yet hospitable inhabitants, but also in terms of its unique culture, architecture, and cuisine and the wild beaches of the Bay of Biscay. Biarritz, a surfing mecca that’s just before the border, is about a three-hour drive from Toulouse. If you plan to also visit the Spanish side of the Basque Country, make sure to ask your rental car supplier in advance if they allow it.
- Catalonia. Sharing close ties with Toulouse and the rest of Occitanie, the proud and scenic Spanish region of Catalonia is many tourists’ favorite. Famous for its stunning capital, Barcelona, and some of the nicest beaches in Spain, but equally notable for the scenic, wine-growing countryside and many historical landmarks that date back to prehistory, it has all the right ingredients for many memorable road trips. The drive from Toulouse to Barcelona takes about four hours. As with the Basque Country, ask your rental car supplier in advance if they permit you to cross the Spanish border.
Car rental prices in Toulouse
- Convertibles - from $91 per day
- Station wagons - from $56 per day
- Large cars - from $37 per day
- Medium cars - from $28 per day
- Vans - from $59 per day
- Premium cars - from $49 per day
- Small cars - from $23 per day
- SUVs - from $38 per day
Money-saving and other tips
There are many things you can do to get a good car rental deal in Toulouse:
- 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 Toulouse is the cheapest in October when renting a car is about 60% cheaper than the yearly average and 67% cheaper than renting a car in July.
Top 20 cities near Toulouse
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89.1 km / 55.4 miles away
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121.5 km / 75.5 miles away
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141.2 km / 87.7 miles away
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146.8 km / 91.2 miles away
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148.5 km / 92.3 miles away
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157.2 km / 97.7 miles away
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163.9 km / 101.8 miles away
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169.2 km / 105.1 miles away
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194.9 km / 121.1 miles away
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208.9 km / 129.8 miles away
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212.3 km / 131.9 miles away
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234.3 km / 145.6 miles away
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241.9 km / 150.3 miles away
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243.8 km / 151.5 miles away
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247.9 km / 154 miles away
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262.8 km / 163.3 miles away
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275.4 km / 171.1 miles away
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276.2 km / 171.6 miles away
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310.9 km / 193.2 miles away
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318.9 km / 198.2 miles away
Top 20 locations near Toulouse
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89.1 km / 55.4 miles away
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121.5 km / 75.5 miles away
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148.5 km / 92.3 miles away
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156.7 km / 97.4 miles away
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157.2 km / 97.7 miles away
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163.9 km / 101.8 miles away
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205.9 km / 127.9 miles away
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208.9 km / 129.8 miles away
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212.3 km / 131.9 miles away
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234.3 km / 145.6 miles away
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245.5 km / 152.5 miles away
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247.9 km / 154 miles away
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276.2 km / 171.6 miles away
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278 km / 172.7 miles away
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310.9 km / 193.2 miles away
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318.9 km / 198.2 miles away
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325.9 km / 202.5 miles away
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347.5 km / 215.9 miles away
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368.5 km / 229 miles away
Map of Car Rental Locations
What is the cheapest month to rent a car in Toulouse?
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 Toulouse?
What's the most popular month to rent a car in Toulouse?
Car rental information
Car rental locations | 7 |
Airport locations | 1 |
Popular suppliers | Goldcar, Alamo, Keddy, Liigu, Budget |
Popular car categories | Small cars, Medium cars, SUVs, Vans |
Lowest price | $23 per day |
Cheapest supplier | Goldcar |
Most popular car models of rental suppliers
Rental Supplier | Model | Doors | Luggage | Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
Goldcar | Toyota Aygo | 3 | 1 | Small cars |
Goldcar | Peugeot 208 | 5 | 1 | Small cars |
Goldcar | Fiat 500 | 3 | 1 | Small cars |
Budget | Renault Clio | 5 | 2 | Small cars |
Goldcar | Toyota Corolla | 5 | 2 | Medium cars |
Goldcar | Renault Captur | 5 | 2 | Medium cars |
Goldcar | Fiat Tipo | 5 | 2 | Medium cars |
Alamo | Peugeot 208 | 4 | 2 | Small cars |
Liigu | Mazda 3 | 4 | 2 | Medium cars |
Goldcar | Renault Captur | 5 | 2 | 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.