how do I rent a car?

January 14, 2009 8:12 AM

I need to rent a car (in France). How do I do it and what do I need to know?

I've never rented a car before but family members who want to see me have now offered to pay for me to rent one to visit them. I have been told that if I reserve the car in advance, it will be a better deal but I really have no idea how to go about this other than a vague idea that I probably need something with insurance included and unlimited kilometers

Relevant info: I am in Lyon, France. The primary driver will be a 26 year old American male who knows how to drive manual. We will be driving a total of ~1000km (to/from Milan, Italy) on March 7-8, 2009. We have no strong car preferences (money trumps type) but if it were possible to get a Smart Car as our rental I would be delighted.

I have no idea where to start on this and no experience with rental cars, so any information is welcome.

posted by mustcatchmooseandsquirrel to travel & transportation (7 comments total)

Rick Steves has a decent page on the subject: Driving in Europe
posted by smackfu at 8:29 AM on January 14

Do not rent a Smart Car for a long haul trip like that. You will hate it.

If you have a driver's license and a passport you are good to go.

You have to pay for the gas that's already in the car when you pick it up. So add another 80 Euro or so when you pick up the car.
posted by Zambrano at 8:53 AM on January 14

Keep in mind that the price quoted on the internet is just that, a quote. The actual price when you pick up the car will be different. Ask if there is a special promotion or reduced fare.

The last time I rented a car in France, I lowered the price by 50% just by asking for a reduced fare and using my frequent flyer card. The clerk might not know about it so try to speak to a manager. I've rented a Peugeot 308 last summer and loved it.
posted by racingjs at 9:49 AM on January 14

It's really no different to renting a car in the US - I've used Hertz in France before and it was exactly like using Hertz in San Francisco. Although Hertz in SF didn't laugh cutely at my attempts to speak French. Reservations online etc are no different.
posted by rhymer at 9:52 AM on January 14

In France I generally rent cars from EuropCar. It's pretty easy, particularly in a big city. Some things an American might not think of:

If you don't have French ID, you'll need to show a passport.
Small French offices often close for lunch, holidays, etc. Check the hours they're open.
You may or may not find anyone who speaks English. You can rent a car with terrible French, but be very clear what type of fuel the car takes.
Many French contracts have a charge if you drive too much. But unlimited mileage is not uncommon either.
Be very sure to inspect the car and have any damage noted; I've gotten in trouble twice when returning a car.
Consider picking up the car in a place where it's easy to get in and out of town.
Drop-off locations can be tough to find, buried in a parking garage or train station.
posted by Nelson at 10:51 AM on January 14

I've rented from Europcar in France with no problem. I chose Europcar because they had the best price. I made my reservation and pre-paid for the car online, where I could read the contract and all the terms in English. The car pickup was easy (I had to show my passport and US driver's license) and the total price when I returned the car was exactly what I had been told online.

The basic process is this: make a reservation online; go to the office at the right day/time and pick up the car - fill out forms, inspect the car for damage, get the keys, drive away; go on your trip; return the car to the rental office and get it inspected/checked in. The End.

A few other things to know about car rental:

- Smaller cars are generally less expensive to rent. If only two of you are traveling, you should be fine renting the smallest car available.

- Check to see if your credit card automatically provides insurance for rental cars. Many credit cards do. Then you don't need to worry about purchasing insurance from the rental company (which can be expensive).

- If you do an online reservation, print out a copy of the verification in case there is a problem at the office.

- If more than one person will be driving the car there will probably be an extra charge.

- You may want to check that it is OK to travel with the car across national borders. This can be an problem with US/Mexico trips but I don't think it's often a problem in Europe.

- The car usually has to be returned with a full tank of gas. Make sure you do this or you will be charged extra.

- You will be given the option to rent various extras, like a GPS unit to help with driving. You can decide if you think this type of thing is worth it.
posted by betterton at 4:28 PM on January 14

Same as in the US: driver's license and credit card. You also may need to show your passport. It's not complicated.
posted by hapax_legomenon at 11:37 PM on January 14