France car rentals

Intermediate (Volkswagen T-Cross or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in France.

Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car rental companies in France are Sixt (7.5, 127 reviews), Europcar (6.7, 80 reviews), and Hertz (6.5, 60 reviews).

Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.

Before you rent a car in France, you need to remember to drive on the right-hand side of the road and overtake on the left. Seatbelts are mandatory, and the use of mobile phones (even with hands-free systems) when driving is prohibited. You must give way to traffic coming from the right if there is no road sign at a crossing.

When you rent a car in France, you’ll have to be at least 21 years old, and you must have held a valid driving license for at least two years. For drivers under the age of 25, a daily surcharge will be added to your car rental. When you go to rent your car, you will need either an EU driver’s license or you can present your non-EU driver’s license if you have been in Europe for less than six months. You must also always carry a valid driver’s license, registration, and insurance documents when you’re driving your rental car.

You will find that the average price of petrol in France is around €1.57 ($1.78) per liter (around $6.43 per gallon). You will find a good selection of petrol stations in most cities, which usually stay open for 24h; however, petrol tends to be more expensive at stations along highways.

The speed limits on French roads are as follows: in urban areas and towns, the maximum speed limit is 50 km/h (31 mph), and on national roads you can drive up to 90 km/h (56 mph). When you drive on dual carriageways or inner-city highways, the speed limit is 110 km/h (68 mph). On highways the maximum speed limit is 130 km/h (80 mph).