Should You Rent a Car in France?

Everyone knows that there are a ton of things to see in France. Perusing the travel section of your favorite bookstore gives you an idea of how much there is to do, but once you arrive, options explode in every direction. Walk out of your hotel room in the morning and you to your left is an incredible art museum, to your right a famous cemetery full of gorgeous graves and monuments, and straight ahead of you a gourmet restaurant frequented by the stars of French film and stage. Then again, you could also just go to the park and enjoy a warm, sunny day with a good book and a journal.

The one thing you don’t want to happen to you in France is to get stuck ten miles away from the one the one thing you really want to see or do because you don’t have a way to get there. Total freedom of transportation is the reason that many travelers to France choose to rent a car for their stay. When you’ve got your own vehicle, you aren’t limited to going where the buses will take you or following someone else’s schedule. The question is: Are you the right person for renting a car in France?

Here are some ways to decide whether renting is the right choice for you.

Are you qualified to rent a car?

You need to be at least 25, although some companies make exceptions for drivers who are at least 21. You have to have a valid driver’s license from your home country. You should also be able to drive a stick! While automatic cars are available, manual cars in Europe are much more popular. An automatic is probably going to cost you more money, and you’re going to have a lot more trouble driving through the Alps or the Pyrenees without the benefit of a stick shift.

Can you take on the financial burden of renting a car?

Renting is not the cheapest way to travel, that’s for sure. The cost varies widely depending on a number of factors, including the time of year and the company you go with. You shouldn’t even consider renting a car without getting the insurance, especially with the risks you take on being a new driver in a new country. Insurance is costly, but absolutely worth it. Also, gasoline is more expensive in France than the United States, so be prepared to come home and think $4.00 a gallon is a great deal!

Are you adventurous enough to rent a car?

Just because you drive at home doesn’t mean you’ll be comfortable driving abroad. You have to be willing to learn new traffic rules. If you don’t speak French, you’ll need to learn the words that you’ll be seeing most often on the roads. French drivers tend to be polite but confident, and they expect that you’ll be the same. Confidence is incredibly important in renting a car in another country.

What is more important to you: total traveling freedom or available guidance?

There is more to traveling by car than just the freedom of when and where you’ll go. You’ve also got lots of space to store your luggage, assuming you pack lightly and don’t overload the car with people. However, you don’t have the benefit of helpful employees at every turn, as you would at a train or bus station.

Once you decide whether or not you should rent a car, seek out additional advice online. Rick Steves has some good tips on what to expect while driving in Europe, and you can always get information from the rental companies themselves. Most importantly, though, get a good map! In fact, you should practice reading it and interpreting it before you even leave! European road maps read a little differently than the ones you might be used to, so the practice is helpful.

Now go see France!

Photo of French road originally posted by hans s

Topic:  Tips and Ideas | 3 Comments
Tags:  France, transportation

About the author

Liz is a second year MFA student at the University of New Hampshire, where she's writing a book about the ways the Tour de France has affected her family. She really likes art and music and movies and watching pro cycling.