The 5 best car rental companies in France

If you’re looking for a French car rental site offering both high quality vehicles and competitive rates, you’ve come to the right place. Finding the right car rental company—especially when you’re abroad—can be a real headache. It’s a competitive market, and so much choice can result in a serious case of option paralysis.

France is home to some of the top car rental agencies in Europe. Think road trips around the French Riviera, meetings in Marseille, family trips to Provence or a weekend break to Bordeaux. France is a very driveable country with hundreds of beautiful destinations on offer.

To save you time—and headaches—we’ve gone through the top car rental companies in France with a fine tooth comb. To best compare the options, we searched each website for a 3-day midweek rental in Paris, for dates two weeks out from the time of writing this piece.

Armed with this list (and a valid driver’s license) you’ll be zipping down the French national highways in no time, knowing that you’ve got one of the best deals on the market. 

Let’s go! Or, should we say, on y va!

1. TravelPerk: perfect for corporate trips

If you’re searching for the best car rental deals for business trips, travel management company TravelPerk might be your best bet. With multiple types of car available, from Compact to Economy, Intermediate to Mini, you’re free to pick the style that best caters to your specific needs.

TravelPerk offers a vast inventory, including both manual and automatic cars, from which to choose your rental car. If you’re looking for a sustainable option, there’s also a selection of electric cars available. Plus, VAT-friendly invoices are available for a number of car rental companies offered by TravelPerk, saving you a lot of time, hassle, and money. 

TravelPerk works with some of the top names on the market, including Avis, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, National and Sixt. The list doesn’t end there—if you have specific needs requiring a specialized service, TravelPerk can get in touch with extra providers to find your ideal vehicle. From pick-up trucks to lorries to group convoys, the options available at TravelPerk are second to none.

A three-day family car rental for the start of August, booked two weeks in advance, offered various options between 147€ – 690€. 

2. France Cars: with all the local know-how

Established in 1952, France Cars is a solid option if you’re looking for a French rental agency. Offering both a ‘utilitaire’ section for van hire, and a ‘tourisme’ option for comfortable car hire, France Cars offers a great selection for many requirements.

In addition to car rentals, France Cars offers a minibus hire for a minimum of nine passengers. Whether you’re organizing a school trip or bringing a group of employees to a conference, it’s an affordable and effective option. Partnered with international Avis Budget, France Cars are known for their competitive rates, expert local knowledge, and impressive fleet of vehicles. Be careful though—they’re closed on a Sunday, meaning you can’t return cars on that day! 

Here are their top features:

• Over 80 office locations in France, open 6 days a week
• Varied selection of insurance options, including young drivers
• Optional GPS systems
• Real-time availability updates
• Free child seat hire
• Electric vehicles for hire, including cars, mini buses and vans
• Exclusive rates for one-way journeys and drop-offs

We found that a three-day family car rental for the start of August, booked two weeks in advance, offered various options between 201€ – 577€. 

3. Europcar: a well-established, reliable choice

With over 70 years of experience in the industry, Europcar has become a household name in the world of car rental agencies. Operating around Europe, Europcar was actually founded in Paris in 1949. 

It’s well-known and well-respected in France, but their reputation means they don’t necessarily come cheap. In a recent study by TravelPerk, Europcar emerged as nearly 20% more expensive than the average car rental cost. 

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Europcar’s stand-out features include the Europcar Privilege Club, which entitles members to a permanent 10% discount off every rental, free weekends and discount coupons. Rewards are frequent and varied, helping members make daily savings. Another notable feature is Europcar’s list of partnerships, with various hotels, credit cards, airlines and tramlines to discover.

More features include:

• Cancellation policy enabling users to cancel for free up to 48 hours before the pick-up time
• A wide selection of partnerships
• A lucrative loyalty program for members
• 24/7 customer service
• Impressive and varied fleet of vehicles
• Wide selection of bonus features, including child seat hire

According to our research, a three day rental for a family car in the middle of August, booked with two weeks’ notice, comes out at around 236€ – 323€. 

4. ADA: French through-and-through

Set up in 1984, French enterprise ADA is a go-to choice for many people seeking a rental car in France. Their website is intuitive and easy-to-use, clearly stating prices and available vehicles. ADA has offices all around France, from Toulouse to Lille. They’re not the cheapest, but they’re a go-to option for many French residents.

Some of their stand-out features include: 

• Scooter and motorbike rental
• Removal van hire
• Open 7 days a week
• 1200 agencies in France
• 20,000 available vehicles

During our research, prices for a family car rental at the start of August, booking two weeks’ in advance, gives options at around 336€ – 432€. 

5. Ucar: ideal for a range of vehicles

Offering 24/7 customer service, Ucar is another leading agency with numerous car rental locations around France. Ucar offers competitive deals, such as a ‘solution week-end’ which gives discounts at the weekend. They also offer long-term rentals for those seeking to hire a car for over a year, with their ‘location long durée’ plan which enables users to rent a vehicle for up to 36 months. They also offer a wide variety of vans, ranging from 2m3 to 22m3.

Ucar offers a wide selection of bonus equipment for your vehicle at little-to-no extra cost. From GPS to booster seats to snow chains, they’ve got every requirement covered. Like many of the other agencies, you can rent your vehicle one-way, returning it to another agency without worrying about bringing it back. With prices from 59€ per day, you’ll be sure to find your ideal car.

Here are some notable features: 

• Over 150 pick-up locations around France
• 24/7 customer service
• Bonus features for hire
• Moving equipment for removals

Our research showed prices for a three-day family car rental, booked for the start of August two weeks in advance, gives options at around 177€ – 249€. 

Find the right vehicle for you—aujourd’hui!

Whether you’re heading up to the snowy Alps or down to sunny Nice, now you know the top France car rentals you’ll be using to get you there. When it comes to comparing these agencies, we’d recommend watching out for additional fees, read insurance small print, and understand mileage rates.

In terms of minimizing hassle, TravelPerk comes out on top for corporate travelers. Its all-in-one platform means that you can easily visualize your options, get access to the best rates on the market, and avoid lengthy booking processes. It’s also ideal for those non-French speakers out there, as the website’s available in English, French, German, or Spanish. 

Bon voyage!