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Traveling in France by car

This is an elegant state with a long history, with ups and downs, a unique and original cuisine, rich culture, beautiful nature, France is a country of contrasts. From bustling Paris to extreme sports in the Alps, from the frigid Atlantic Ocean to the paradise beaches of Corsica and Nice.

As in almost any city in Europe, France will suit any type of traveler. Here there are contrasts not only in geography, but also in the country itself. Lovers of gastro-tourism, history, culture and nature, football fans, lovers of shopping, fashion and ski resorts of the Alps will find a great pastime in the state.

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About renting a car in France.

It is best to rent a car in advance, as there are simply no free cars to be found during the high season. But rental companies are usually located in the city center, at railway stations and airports.

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Things to see.

France is full of places to visit. The country is rich and full of them. First of all, of course, the capital Paris. The city is one of the most popular in the world, a symbol of the 5th Republic. Well, how could it be without its main attractions: Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, historic city center, Disneyland , the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Champs-Elysées and much more.

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Further there are two options: go west or east. In the east of France you will enjoy the unique nature, cities and, of course, the Alps. Don't overlook Lyon, Dijon, Grenoble .

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In the west of France, visit La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Arcachon. In Bordeaux be sure to check out Bourse Square, St. Andrew's Cathedral and the Tour Pey Berland Bell Tower. In Toulouse, don't miss the local town hall, Pont Neuf bridge and many ancient cathedrals. France 5

The south of France is fabulous and unique. These places include azure Nice, Marseille, Montpellier, Perpignan. France 6

How to rent a car without a franchise.

A franchise is the amount of your liability to the company- landlord. What does it mean? Let's say the contract says that your deductible was 930€. If you caused damage to the car for a smaller amount (than 930 €), then you will be charged damage money. But when you have harmed more than 930€, then this money will not be taken from you. There are situations when tourists do not want to pay for a franchise. Basically, this is done by inexperienced and insecure motorists. Below is just a way for such drivers to get rid of this.

To get rid of the deductible (your responsibility), you need to buy full insurance. In general, the standard rental includes: a franchise, a deposit (a deposit that will be returned after the rental if the car was returned without damage) and mandatory CDW insurance. But full (sometimes additional) insurance will be called SCDW. It provides many benefits, but the price must be paid accordingly. SCDW insures against many unpleasant situations. But some are not covered, so read the contract carefully. And now let's move on to companies that provide a car rental service without a franchise.

Companies providing this service.

In France, in some cities there are offices of a Spanish car rental company — “Goldcar”. Among the classes of economy cars there are: groups “AA” and “BB”. They are represented by cars: Renault Twingo, Citroën C1, Peugeot 108, Fiat 500 or similar. This is a car with 3 doors and with a minimum level of amenities.

The price includes the standard “Full” fare. Its conditions are: collection and return of the car with a full fuel tank, CDW insurance, driver and passenger insurance, limited mileage (150 km / day - free of charge). Tariff additions are shown in the screenshot below.

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After economy -the group of cars presented above is group D. These are already more comfortable and family cars. The price for 10 days is 400€ for the same “Full” tariff. The following cars are possible: Renault Megane, Nissan Pulsar, Fiat Tipo or similar. Additions to the cost for the “Full” tariff are below on the screen.

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And, finally, the most comfortable and expensive cars from "Goldcar" - class "R". It is represented by cars: Opel Mokka, Citroën C4 Cactus or similar. The price for the “Full” tariff for May 2 to 12 is 420€.

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French traffic rules.

When you travel to another country, you must take into account the traffic rules. You also need to pay attention to the character of local drivers. Naturally, there are toll roads in the country, the driver must be sober, with an international driver's license. France is a country with right-hand traffic. In general, the rules are similar to other European countries.

About the speed limit.

Take a close look at the speed limit in France. Its observance will save you from unnecessary expenses and nerves. The main points are presented below. Be aware that there are many control systems on the roads. Driving regulations:

speed on highways is 130 km/h;
on highways with a dividing strip - 110 km/h;
in cities and towns — 50 km/h;
outside built-up areas on other roads, the maximum speed is 80 km / h.

About the roads.

France has both toll roads and free roads. Their total length is about 29 thousand km. Let's talk about free roads first, and then about paid ones.

French free roads mainly pass through settlements, through fields and mountains, near beaches, restaurants and cafe. Experienced tourists advise driving along free roads, since all the beauty is concentrated to the left and right of them. the speed on them is 70-90 km/h, but you get unprecedented pleasure from a leisurely ride!
Toll roads in France are mostly motorways. Usually indicated by the letter “A” on a blue background. They are in excellent condition and good quality. Payment is made by credit card or cash. You have to pay at the entrance to the track. In front of him is a barrier and a cash register.

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In addition to toll motorways, there are also 4 tunnels, at the entrance of which you need to pay. These are: Mont Blanc Tunnel (11.6 km. Cost: 46.6 euros one way and 58.2 - in the other), Fréjus Road Tunnel (13 km. Cost: 46.6 euros one way and 58.2 - to another), Tunnel du Puymorens (cost - 7 euros) and Maurice-Lemaire-Tunnel (fare - 6.2 euros). All of them pass between the Alps, so at the entrance to them a wonderful and unique view opens up, the power of nature and indescribable beauty!

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French drivers.

Going to France, you need to know the mentality of the French, and especially local drivers. They are similar to the Spaniards or Italians: they are just as crazy, emotional, they often like to violate traffic rules, and especially to exceed the speed limit. Do not favor onlookers and those who linger. Get ready for it.

How to rent an electric car.

All over Europe is going to replace classic cars with electric cars. In addition to Elon Musk's Tesla, other cars appear. For example: Audi e-tron, Mercedes EQS and French electric cars Citroën Ami and Renault Zoe.

France is one of the leaders in this policy. Several electric car rental companies operate here. For example, "Taketesla". It operates in the following cities: Paris, Lyon, Marseille and Cannes. The main cars are, of course, “Tesla”: Tesla Model S, Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model X, Tesla Model Y. In Paris, the price of a Tesla Model 3 starts from 250 euros per day. The most expensive is the Tesla Model X. The price for it starts from 350 euros per day. Tesla Model S and Tesla Model 3 cost the same: 300 euros per rental day. But keep in mind that these cars are rented in different configurations and the price depends on them.

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About electric filling stations.

France has a relatively well-developed network of electric stations. There were approximately 25,000 of them across the country in 2019. This is facilitated by the state policy aimed at attracting investments in the environment and nature conservation. Two-thirds of the stations are three-phase with a current of 11-22 kW. In this country, the network of electric charging stations “Ionity” is well developed. In Paris, mostly stations from the "Paris Recharge Charging Station". Toulouse has a lot from "Charge And Drive Charging Station" and "Renault". And in Nantes, from “ChargePoint Charging Station”.

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Good to know

Monthly price chart. Approximate prices for 7 days rental

January

€193

February

€211

March

€237

April

€293

May

€289

June

€308

July

€289

August

€213

September

€156

October

€134

November

€105

December

€181

The most popular cars in France

Fiat 500

€17 / Day

Citroen C1

€18 / Day

Ford Fiesta

€23 / Day

Ford Focus

€30 / Day

Opel Astra Estate

€36 / Day

Audi A4

€42 / Day

BMW X1

€43 / Day

Ford Foxus Estate

€43 / Day

Mercedes C Class

€56 / Day

BMW 5 series

€59 / Day

Ford Tourneo

€72 / Day

BMW 4 Cabrio

€85 / Day

Audi A6

€91 / Day

Audi A5 Cabrio

€98 / Day

Mercedes Vito

€104 / Day

Popular rental locations in France

Paris - Airport - Beauvais

Carcassonne - Airport

Grenoble - Airport

Lille - Airport

Mulhouse-bale - Airport - France

Nimes - Airport

Toulouse - Blagnac Airport

Corsica - Airport - Calvi

Corsica - Airport - Figari

Beziers - Airport

CDG Airport (Paris)

Cannes - Airport - Mandelieu

Perpignan - Airport

Limoges - Airport

Chambery Airport

Bordeaux - City Centre

Rouen City

Lille

Biarritz

Grenoble

Lyon

Marseille

Rennes

Toulouse

Nantes

Nimes

Reims

Aix-en-Provence

Versailles

Corsica

List of required documents

Driving license

Credit card

Voucher

Passport

A valid international driver's license is required!

A complete guide to car rental in France

Download Google maps for offline access

The presence of an offline navigator allows you to save on roaming. It is enough just to download the necessary maps from Google Maps and get directions even without a network connection. To do this, enter the phrase "OK MAPS" in the application, select the desired area and download offline maps to your smartphone.

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Book a car in advance

France is now in ever-increasing demand, which affects the high demand for car rental. By booking online, you can avoid any unpleasant surprises after you arrive at your destination. Both with the car itself and with its rent.

It is better to book a car at least one and a half months before the trip. As the required date approaches, the number of available offers is reduced, and the cost of the remaining models increases. If plans change and the trip is postponed, then you can cancel the rental without any sanctions 2 days before it starts.

Which car to choose for rent

The compact model is relevant for city trips in France. It can be Renault Twingo or Opel Corsa. Mountain routes require a more powerful four-wheel drive vehicle - Audi A4 Estate or similar model. You can order an SUV for just €57 per day;

What you need to pay attention to at the time of receiving a car

Before picking up, you are required to carefully inspect the car and point out to the rental company manager for scratches, damage and defects, such as dirty seat upholstery. You should check the ignition and the fuel level in the tank. You need to know the conditions for returning the car - where exactly, with what amount of fuel to return the car.

The rental agreement must include a telephone number to contact the rental company. It is designed so that customers can get help in emergency situations, such as when a car breaks down or in the event of an accident. A call to the rental company should be done first, even before the arrival of the police.

Insurance recommendations

Rental companies in France may offer different insurance options. They differ in price and set of options. Here are the basic types:

Third Party Liability (TPL)/Third Liability Protection (TLP). This is a third party liability protection. If you are the culprit of an accident, the insurance will compensate for the costs of the victims for you.
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW). This is to protect your vehicle from any damage. She works with a franchise. This is the amount that you will have to pay in case of damage in any case. The company will cover anything over the limit. The insurance does not cover theft.
Theft Insurance (TI)/Theft Protection (TP)/Theft Waiver (TW). This is car theft protection. Operates with a franchise.
Super Loss Damage Waiver (SLDW)/Theft Protection+Collision Damage Waiver (TP+CDW). Full protection against theft and damage, even if you are the culprit of the accident.
Personal Accident Insurance (PAI). This is medical insurance for the driver and passengers.

If you want to save money and choose the cheapest insurance, carefully inspect the car upon receipt. Make sure the machine is not damaged. France 15

Fuel prepayment terms

When you pick up your car, you may be asked to pay for a full tank of fuel right away. This condition will suit you if you plan to travel long distances. For a couple of trips around the city, you don’t need so much fuel, and therefore it doesn’t make sense to overpay. Pay attention to the fuel policy when booking a car. If necessary, use the special filter to select the most convenient option for you.

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Unlimited mileage

According to the rental conditions, the mileage can be limited or unlimited. Travel lovers should choose the option without a limit. It will cost more, but in the end it will save. Check the appropriate box to filter offers with unlimited mileage.

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Compare conditions of different rental companies

When choosing a rental car in France, you should carefully read all the terms of the rental. This is due to the fact that different companies may differ not only in rental prices, but also in conditions for limiting mileage, the cost of additional services, and the amount of the deposit. To compare rental conditions, it is convenient to use the search and booking system on our website.

How to choose a rental company

Pay attention to the car park. Large and reliable companies regularly buy new cars.

Our clients name the top companies in France - EUROPCAR with an average rating 9.9 points and SIXT with 9 points.

We show all the rental conditions of different companies. Read the rules carefully before booking a car.

Car pick-up procedure

Getting a rented car in France is as follows: You show the manager a voucher, as well as the necessary documents - a passport and an international driver's license. The manager draws up a lease agreement, after which the agreed amount of the security deposit will be blocked on your bank card. Before receiving the car, it is necessary to inspect it, fix the existing damage and inform the manager about them.

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