Car Hire in France
How to hire a car without getting stung — insurance traps, fuel policies, and the tricks that save real money.
Most of our guests drive their own car to France, but if you are flying in — or your gite is too far south for a comfortable drive — hiring a car at the airport or station is the obvious solution. France is a country best explored by car, and a rental opens up the markets, villages, and countryside that public transport simply cannot reach.
Car hire in France is generally good value, but the industry is riddled with upselling tactics, confusing insurance options, and charges that catch the unwary. This guide will help you get the right car at the right price without the nasty surprises.
Where to Pick Up
Airport pickup
The most popular option. All major French airports have rental desks in the terminal or a short shuttle ride away. Book in advance — walk-up rates are typically 2-3x the pre-booked price. Popular airports for gite holidays: Toulouse, Bordeaux, Lyon, Nice, Bergerac, Limoges, La Rochelle.
Train station pickup
Many TGV stations have rental offices, letting you take the Eurostar to Paris then hire from a station near your gite region. Major SNCF rental points include Paris Gare du Nord, Lyon Part-Dieu, Bordeaux Saint-Jean, and Avignon TGV.
Ferry port pickup
If you are a foot passenger on the ferry, you can hire at Calais, Caen, Le Havre, or St Malo. Availability is more limited than airports, so book well ahead. This is a good option for couples who want to avoid the drive to Dover.
The Insurance Minefield
Car hire insurance is where most people get caught out. Understanding it before you arrive at the desk will save you money and stress.
CDW (Collision Damage Waiver)
Included in almost every rental. Covers damage to the car BUT with a high excess (typically 800–1,500 euros). This means you are liable for the first 800-1,500 of any damage claim. The rental company will block this amount on your credit card as a deposit.
Excess waiver / Super CDW
Reduces or eliminates the excess. The rental company will offer this at the desk for 10–25 euros per day. This is where they make their money. A two-week hire could add 200+ euros. The alternative: buy standalone excess insurance from a third-party provider for a fraction of the cost (typically 3–5 euros per day).
Theft protection
Usually included in the base rental but with its own excess (often 800+ euros). Check whether your standalone excess policy also covers theft excess — most good ones do.
Tyres, windscreen, roof, underbody
These are usually excluded from CDW and even from the rental company's own excess waiver. Third-party excess insurance typically covers these. This is the single best reason to buy third-party cover.
Our recommendation
Book the basic rental (which includes CDW), decline ALL insurance upsells at the desk, and buy standalone annual excess insurance from a provider like iCarhireinsurance, insurance4carhire, or Questor. Annual policies cost 40–60 euros and cover every rental you make in a year — far cheaper than paying 15–25 euros per day at the desk.
Booking Tips
Use a comparison site
Sites like Rentalcars, AutoEurope, and Discovercars compare dozens of providers and often have exclusive rates you will not find on the rental company's own website. They also handle customer service if something goes wrong.
Book early, but check again later
Car hire prices fluctuate. Book early to secure availability (especially in summer), but check the price again a few weeks before travel — if it has dropped, most comparison sites let you cancel and rebook for free.
Automatic vs manual
Automatic cars are available but more expensive and less common. If you can drive manual, you will have much more choice and save 20–40%. Book automatic well ahead if you need one — they sell out fast in summer.
Full-to-full fuel policy
Always choose full-to-full — you collect the car with a full tank and return it full. Avoid "full-to-empty" policies where the company fills the tank and you pay their inflated fuel price (often 50% more than the pump price).
Photograph everything
Before driving off, photograph every scratch, dent, and mark on the car — including the roof, wheels, and interior. Email the photos to yourself for a timestamp. Do the same when you return the car. This protects you against false damage claims.
Credit card, not debit
Most rental companies require a credit card (not debit) for the deposit hold. The named driver must be the cardholder. Check your credit card's foreign transaction fees — some charge 3% on every transaction. Cards like Starling and Wise charge zero foreign fees.
Common Upsells to Decline
Sat nav hire (15–20 euros/day)
Use your phone with Google Maps or Waze. Download offline maps before you travel. A phone mount costs 10 euros — once.
Additional driver (10–15 euros/day)
Some comparison sites and rental companies include a free additional driver. Check before you book — it can save 100+ euros over two weeks.
Child seats (8–12 euros/day)
Bring your own if possible. Over two weeks, hiring a child seat costs more than buying one. If flying, most airlines let you check car seats for free.
Toll tag (telepeage)
Actually useful if you are driving on motorways — saves queuing at toll booths. 1–2 euros per day is reasonable. See our driving guide for more on tolls.
Best Airports for Gite Holidays
These regional airports put you closest to the most popular gite regions, with shorter transfer times than flying to Paris.
| Airport | Best For | Airlines from UK |
|---|---|---|
| Bergerac (EGC) | Dordogne | Ryanair |
| Bordeaux (BOD) | Aquitaine, Dordogne, Lot | easyJet, Ryanair, BA |
| Toulouse (TLS) | Midi-Pyrenees, Languedoc | easyJet, Ryanair, BA |
| La Rochelle (LRH) | Poitou-Charentes, Vendee | Ryanair, easyJet |
| Limoges (LIG) | Limousin, N. Dordogne | Ryanair |
| Nice (NCE) | Provence, Cote d'Azur | easyJet, BA, Ryanair, Jet2 |
| Lyon (LYS) | Rhone-Alpes, Burgundy, Auvergne | easyJet, BA |
| Nantes (NTE) | Loire Valley, Brittany | easyJet, Ryanair |
| Rennes (RNS) | Brittany | Ryanair |
Find your gite, then sort the wheels
Whether you drive or fly, we have the perfect French holiday home waiting.