Help with car rental starting/ending in Paris

[devarae]

Hi folks!
We're beginning to plan a trip that we will hopefully take this October. Our current plan involves flying into Paris, staying for several nights in the city, then renting a car and leaving the city for a bit, then returning for one final night in Paris before flying home. I know some people would do it in the opposite order, leave the city first, but we don't want to drive on our first day.

My question is: is there a good location to rent the car to minimize driving in the city (and perhaps to get better rates) that we could get to/from via metro or taxi? (We are heading in the direction of the Loire Valley so something on that side of the city would probably make the most sense)

Edited to add: It occurs to me that we might have to rent/return at CDG or maybe one of the train stations, given that we don't drive manual so we would need an automatic and it sounds like those are hard to come by...?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Ian Sutton]

I've no specific insight to Paris, but we've also hopped out to the airport to hire a car before, taking advantage of the frequent transport out there, and that some are also a quieter location, making getting used to the car easier on quieter roads (though I'm guessing CDG won't be, but better in that respect than the train stations).

I also think there is merit in staying in Paris to start with (without the car), as it allows you to get over jetlag without having to drive, and also get a degree of familiarisation with road signs, road layout style etc. before having to drive.

One challenge I'd offer, is that last night in Paris. It might be unnecessary hassle to drop the car off, or indeed unnecessary hassle to have the car in central Paris. What about an alternative that's near the airport, and probably faster to get to CDG than from central Paris. I don't know what it's like, but somewhere within the range of say Chantilly (30 mins according to Google). Such a location could even allow you to hop on a local train into Paris for the evening if you wished.

 

[BEERMAN]

We rented a car in Nice and drove to Beaune, on final day we dropped off the car in Dijon. Decided to relax on the train to Paris for final leg of the trip, off the train and into a cab is easy! Perhaps you can train to a destination near the valley and rent?

 

[vicogirl51]

Probably renting and returning to CD airport would be easiest in terms of obtaining an automatic plus cost as it varies from one place to another.
The airport is located NE of the city so you’d be driving on highways not city streets.
We’ve always rented through AutoEurope located in Connecticut for 20yrs and never had a problem getting an automatic or reimbursement if rental cost dropped!
As for the last night before flight home I’d probably return the car to the airport and stay at a hotel located in the airport itself or one close by that had shuttle service.

 

[devarae]

We rented a car in Nice and drove to Beaune, on final day we dropped off the car in Dijon. Decided to relax on the train to Paris for final leg of the trip, off the train and into a cab is easy! Perhaps you can train to a destination near the valley and rent?

Was it an automatic car? Something like that would make sense, potentially, but I'm concerned about whether we will be able to get an automatic at a smaller city (or that we might have to wait a long time to get it).

 

[devarae]

Thanks everyone!

I'm wondering now if it might make sense to try to pick up the car at Orly since that would be on the correct side of the city for us.

The suggestions to consider staying our last night closer to the airport make sense! Once I see what our more specific plans are I will look into that. Especially if our flight leaves early...!

 

[BEERMAN]

Was it an automatic car? Something like that would make sense, potentially, but I'm concerned about whether we will be able to get an automatic at a smaller city (or that we might have to wait a long time to get it).

Yes it was an automatic through Europcar. It was August and we didn't reserve early, almost a huge mistake! The one way drop off was an issue with some agencies if I remember correctly. Face to face with a nice Europcar employee paid off, took a while but she came up with a car! During that hour we were anxiously figuring out train and/or bus schedules to get us to Beaune.... Book early!!

We are looking at car rentals now for Italy during our dates, seeing prices nearly doubled for automatics. My knee doesn't like clutches anymore, but it might be fun to get a stick this trip!

 

[devarae]

Yes it was an automatic through Europcar. It was August and we didn't reserve early, almost a huge mistake! The one way drop off was an issue with some agencies if I remember correctly. Face to face with a nice Europcar employee paid off, took a while but she came up with a car! During that hour we were anxiously figuring out train and/or bus schedules to get us to Beaune.... Book early!!

We are looking at car rentals now for Italy during our dates, seeing prices nearly doubled for automatics. My knee doesn't like clutches anymore, but it might be fun to get a stick this trip!

Thank you! That is helpful to know!
I wish we knew how to drive manual... maybe we can find a friend with a car with manual transmission to teach us over the summer! Just to be safe...

 

[HarveyK]

My advice would be don't drive in Paris if you can avoid it. We did a trip last May, and spent our first week in Paris, took a Uber to Orly, picked up our car and returned it to Orly to catch our flight on French Bee. Our friend is, who did most of the driving, is British, lives in London, is an excellent driver, and he would only do the driving if he didn't have to take the car into Paris.

 

[devarae]

My advice would be don't drive in Paris if you can avoid it. We did a trip last May, and spent our first week in Paris, took a Uber to Orly, picked up our car and returned it to Orly to catch our flight on French Bee. Our friend is, who did most of the driving, is British, lives in London, is an excellent driver, and he would only do the driving if he didn't have to take the car into Paris.

Thank you, yes, I would much prefer to get the car outside the heart of the city!

But you (or rather, your friend) found it tolerable to drive in and out of Orly? I am leaning towards that for our trip since it's in the direction we will be going.

 

[Colo]

I think you are wise to skip driving day one.
Our trip was to Normandie so we pushed the easy button and caught a taxi to train station (58 euros) and caught a train in Rouen. Walked everywhere in Rouen for a couple of days and then got a car. Drove all over Normandie with no problems. Turned the car back in at Caen (12 euro drop off fee) and caught the train back to Paris for 3 wonderful days in the city. France is very easy to drive in, but like NYC I would shy away of driving in the city - Safe travels.

Lucky I can drive a stick. It was I learned on 50 years ago, but like a bike....
After a trip to Malta in 2016, (driving there is crazy) I bought a Fiat 500 with a stick. Now driving in Europe is much easier and cheaper.

 

[HarveyK]

Thank you, yes, I would much prefer to get the car outside the heart of the city!

But you (or rather, your friend) found it tolerable to drive in and out of Orly? I am leaning towards that for our trip since it's in the direction we will be going.

Yes, It's all highway around Orly. Just keep to speed limit as they get you by camera all over France.

 

[devarae]

Yes, It's all highway around Orly. Just keep to speed limit as they get you by camera all over France.

Great! Thank you! It sounds like pickup/dropoff at Orly may be our best bet then.

 

[Parigi]

Hi folks!
We're beginning to plan a trip that we will hopefully take this October. Our current plan involves flying into Paris, staying for several nights in the city, then renting a car and leaving the city for a bit, then returning for one final night in Paris before flying home. I know some people would do it in the opposite order, leave the city first, but we don't want to drive on our first day.

My question is: is there a good location to rent the car to minimize driving in the city (and perhaps to get better rates) that we could get to/from via metro or taxi? (We are heading in the direction of the Loire Valley so something on that side of the city would probably make the most sense)

Edited to add: It occurs to me that we might have to rent/return at CDG or maybe one of the train stations, given that we don't drive manual so we would need an automatic and it sounds like those are hard to come by...?

Thanks in advance!

Your planning-thinking is ace. Yes, not to drive long hours on your arrival. Yes, minimize city driving.
We live in the center of Paris. Not being masochists, we do not own a car. When we go on holiday, which is several times a year, we rent a car out of these spots that are relatively easy for us to get to.
1. Porte d'Orleans, with a few car rental agencies. The southward autoroute is rigiht there. But it is a bit of a walk from the metro station (Porte d'Orléans, same name). If you have wheeled luggage you will be fine. You can also take a taxi or uber there.
2. Orly airport, right by the southward autoroute. You can take a user-friendly fixed-rate taxi there, or, if you live near the bus route, take the very comfortable Orlybus. It has aircon and has no stops between the city and the airport.
3. Montparnasse, where many rental agencies have a branch. Although this is inside Paris, the city's southern exit is a short distance away. However, bear in mind that however short the distance, expect Paris traffic to be hateful. You have our idiot mayor to thank for.

 

[Ian Sutton]

A little news story from 3.5 years ago, about converting underused Paris underground car parking to a different usage

The city swapping cars for mushrooms

Paris is renovating many of its underground car parks and some are now growing mushrooms.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[devarae]

Your planning-thinking is ace. Yes, not to drive long hours on your arrival. Yes, minimize city driving.
We live in the center of Paris. Not being masochists, we do not own a car. When we go on holiday, which is several times a year, we rent a car out of these spots that are relatively easy for us to get to.
1. Porte d'Orleans, with a few car rental agencies. The southward autoroute is rigiht there. But it is a bit of a walk from the metro station (Porte d'Orléans, same name). If you have wheeled luggage you will be fine. You can also take a taxi or uber there.
2. Orly airport, right by the southward autoroute. You can take a user-friendly fixed-rate taxi there, or, if you live near the bus route, take the very comfortable Orlybus. It has aircon and has no stops between the city and the airport.
3. Montparnasse, where many rental agencies have a branch. Although this is inside Paris, the city's southern exit is a short distance away. However, bear in mind that however short the distance, expect Paris traffic to be hateful. You have our idiot mayor to thank for.

Thank you!
We have gone ahead and made our reservation for a car out of Orly!
Thank you everyone!

 

[jack_w]

I think you did the right thing by picking up the car at an airport. We rented in Italy last summer, and chose to go with a local office near the main freeway we were leaving town from rather than from a larger, central Rome office or going all the way to the airport. For ease of driving and to avoid the main part of the city, like others have mentioned.

It was not easy to get a car of any kind at the local office - when we arrived, they claimed they had none, regardless of our reservation which was prepaid, and made months in advance. They managed to find us a car, but was manual, not the automatic we had reserved, and took them an hour to get it to the office from another location. It worked out, but was not a good experience. The rental office people were nice, but claimed they were powerless in terms of cars allocated to them.

Even next summer or fall, the rental companies may still be facing a shortage of cars, especially automatic, and the airports always have the best selection and most power (according to the rental office people we worked with).

 

[devarae]

Oof, that sounds extremely frustrating jack_w! And yes, that makes me glad I made this choice!

 

[PaulC]

I've no specific insight to Paris, but we've also hopped out to the airport to hire a car before, taking advantage of the frequent transport out there, and that some are also a quieter location, making getting used to the car easier on quieter roads (though I'm guessing CDG won't be, but better in that respect than the train stations).

I also think there is merit in staying in Paris to start with (without the car), as it allows you to get over jetlag without having to drive, and also get a degree of familiarisation with road signs, road layout style etc. before having to drive.

One challenge I'd offer, is that last night in Paris. It might be unnecessary hassle to drop the car off, or indeed unnecessary hassle to have the car in central Paris. What about an alternative that's near the airport, and probably faster to get to CDG than from central Paris. I don't know what it's like, but somewhere within the range of say Chantilly (30 mins according to Google). Such a location could even allow you to hop on a local train into Paris for the evening if you wished.

I would concur with all of Ian's suggestions. That plan has always worked best for us. Safe travels!