Car Rental in France

Why rent a car in France?

France is a great country to explore by car. From its capital, Paris, to other historic cities, the Atlantic coast in the west, the Mediterranean in the south, and the Alps in the east, you could explore it for weeks or even months without growing bored.

If you want to know more about renting a car in France, don't miss our complete guide.

Top ways to enter France

• Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport: One of the busiest airports in Europe, CDG offers links with destinations all around the world. Other airports serving the capital region include Orly Airport just south of the city and Beauvais Airport, a small airport in northwestern France about 85 km (53 miles) from the capital that specializes in serving low-cost airlines.
• Nice Airport: Serving the Mediterranean metropolis of the same name, Nice Airport is the largest in the southern part of the country. Other notable airports in the region include Marseille Airport and Montpellier Airport.
• Lyon Airport: Serving the country’s third–largest city, Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport handles around ten million travelers every year. Flying here provides the easiest access to the eastern part of France – from Lyon, both the Alps and the Alsace are only a few hours’ drive away.
• Bordeaux Airport: Serving what is arguably the most famous wine city in the world, Bordeaux–Merignac welcomes around eight million travelers annually. In addition to Bordeaux itself, the airport can also serve as the gateway to France’s western coast with charming destinations such as Biarritz and Bayonne only a couple hours’ drive south.
• Toulouse Blagnac Airport: Smaller than the previous two, but nonetheless well-connected with destinations around Europe, Toulouse Airport offers access to the southwest of France. Other airports in this region include Bordeaux Airport and Biarritz Pays Basque Airport.
• By land: If your rental car supplier permits, you can pick up a rental car in a neighboring country and then drive it to France. Some large airports near France include Barcelona Airport in Spain, Brussels Airport in Belgium, and Geneva Airport in Switzerland.
• By Sea: Ferries arrive from various locations, including the United Kingdom, at ferry ports like the Cherbourg Ferry Port.

Top cities and places to visit

• Paris. Located in the northwestern part of the country, Paris is by far the most visited place in France. Home to world-famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Sacré Coeur, and Musée d'Orsay, Paris can be explored for weeks.
• French Riviera. Home to many of Europe’s rich and famous, as well as sun-loving visitors from around the world, France’s Mediterranean coast is another tourist mecca. The region has plenty of scenic coastal towns like Antibes, Cannes, and Toulon, but also interesting day-trip destinations like the historic city of Avignon and the impressive Verdon Gorge.
• The Alps. One of the highest mountain chains in Europe, it is also one of France’s most visited regions. The region is naturally popular for its many winter resorts, but most of them can be equally fun to explore during the summer months. The large eastern city of Lyon offers great access to much of the French Alps and is a worthy destination in its own right.
• Strasbourg. Known as one of the capitals of the European Union, but equally as one of the culture hubs of France, Strasbourg is a truly sophisticated destination and an increasingly popular destination for a city break. In addition to its heritage architecture and many museums, Strasbourg provides access to the scenic region of Alsace and the northeastern corner of the country that includes such city gems as Metz and Nancy.
• Normandy. Known primarily across the English-speaking world as the location of the D-Day beaches, it also boasts such lovely landmarks as Mont Saint–Michel and the medieval city of Rouen which boasts some very impressive Gothic architecture. Another draw of Normandy is that if traveling by car, it is relatively near to both Paris and the northern city of Lille, in addition to Belgium and the United Kingdom.
• Find more places to visit in this guide to France's top weekend break locations!

Most popular rental car

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

Driver's license requirements

• France recognizes driver’s licenses from all the member states of the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) as long as they are valid. Other licenses in the Latin alphabet are generally also recognized, provided that you have been in the EU or EEA for less than one year. If you’re visiting on a longer trip or are a permanent resident of the EU or EEA, you need to acquire a local driver’s license.
• If your driver’s license is printed in a non-Latin alphabet (Cyrillic, Arabic, etc.), you’ll need an International Driving Permit (IDP).
• Similarly, if your driver’s license doesn’t show your photograph, you might be required to have an IDP.
• Even if you have an IDP, you also need to keep your original license on you as you might be required to provide both.
• You must carry your driver’s license, not a copy, with you at all times. 
• Most suppliers require that you have had your driver’s license for at least two years.
• Some rental car suppliers charge a young driver fee for drivers between the ages of 22 and 25 and a senior driver fee for drivers over the age of 65.
• There may be additional requirements depending on the car supplier and category, so make sure to check the rental conditions before booking.

Crossing borders

France has land borders with Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Spain, and Andorra. All of these countries are either members of the Schengen Area or permit free movement with their Schengen neighbors, so there are no border restrictions in place between France and any of them. One-way rentals between France and other European destinations are quite popular. You can find car rental companies that permit international one-way rentals by entering your pick-up and drop-off locations when searching for a car.

Many popular French destinations are near the border with a neighboring country (e.g., Strasbourg and Germany and Switzerland, Lille and Belgium, Nice and Italy). Because of this and since there are no border checks, many travelers may want to visit the neighboring country with a rental car and then return to France. However, if you plan to visit a neighboring country during your trip, you should ask your rental car provider in advance if they permit it as rules for this vary from company to company.

There are a few car rental companies that permit one-way rentals between France and the United Kingdom (the trip between Paris and London takes about six hours). However, you should keep in mind that the United Kingdom is not a member of the European Union nor the Schengen Area. Citizens of the EU and many other Western countries can visit the UK visa-free, but citizens of many other nations might need a separate visa for each country/region.

Most popular types of rental car

The most popular rental car type in France is Economy, followed by Compact and Mini.

Top driving routes

• Brittany. A proud and historic region, this Western peninsula is one of the most underrated destinations in all of France. Brittany’s Celtic heritage can be found not only in the still spoken Breton language but also in Arthurian legends and distinct culture and folklore. While very different from France’s southern coast, Brittany’s rugged and dramatic coastline is another ace up its sleeve. Last but not least, the region has some of the best seafood in all of Europe.
• Burgundy. Made up of bucolic farmland, rolling hills, and thick forests, Burgundy is another region that’s a joy to explore with a car. Located just a couple of hours drive from Paris, it is known for picturesque towns like Auxerre and Besancon, wines of Chablis, and the Morvan Natural Park.
• Southwest. Made up of a few quite distinct regions, the Southwest is one of the most diverse parts of the country. This shows not only in different cultures and languages but also nature which includes everything from Europe’s best surfing waves in Biarritz to the countryside around Bordeaux and the impressive peaks of the Pyrenees.
• Provence. In Provence, you’ll drive past idyllic villages perched on cliffs and lavender fields in full bloom, as well as along roads with views of the Mediterranean. The landscape here is rocky, rugged, and breathtakingly gorgeous. From the coastline views of the Calanques to the mountainous views in the Luberon, it’ll be a beautiful drive anywhere you go.

Car rental prices in France

• SUVs - from $20 per day
• Station wagons - from $18 per day
• Small cars - from $13 per day
• Large cars - from $16 per day
• Medium cars - from $13 per day
• Vans - from $26 per day
• Premium cars - from $19 per day
• Convertibles - from $64 per day

Money-saving and other tips

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

• Compare rates of different rental suppliers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit in the month when the rental prices are the lowest. According to our data, visiting France is the cheapest in March when renting a car is about 20% cheaper than the yearly average and about 38% cheaper than renting a car in December.