Car rental in France costs upwards of €250 a week (from around €50–100 a day), but can be cheaper if arranged before you leave home. You'll find the big firms at airports and in most major towns and cities, with addresses detailed throughout the Guide. Rental from airports normally includes a surcharge. Local firms can be cheaper but you need to check the small print and be sure of where the car can be returned to. The cost of car rental includes the basic legally necessary car insurance. It's normal to pay an indemnity of at least €350 against any damage to the car – they will take your credit card number rather than cash. You should return the car with a full tank of fuel. North Americans and Australians in particular should be forewarned that it's difficult to arrange the rental of a car with automatic transmission; if you can't drive a manual you should try to book an automatic well in advance, possibly before you leave home, and be prepared to pay a much higher price for it.Most rental companies will only deal with people over 25 unless an extra insurance premium, typically around €20–22 per day, is paid (but you still must be over 21 and have driven for at least one year). OTU Voyage (tel 08.20.81.78.17, €0.12/min), the student travel agency, can arrange car rental for young drivers, with prices beginning at €87 for a weekend.
Pages in section ‘Car rental’: Car rental agencies.
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