We have prepared this guide to inform you about the pros and cons of renting a car in Paris as well as the prices, companies, how to book and other tips that could be usefull for you.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Renting a Car In Paris
Let's find out together if it worth renting a car in Paris. In which cases the disadvantages might outweigh the benefits?
Let's start with the bright side. Renting a car can be considered to fully explore the city and the surroundings. Especially, if you're planning to visit nearby towns or sightseeings outside of Paris, having a car gives you the flexibility and comfort.
If the lodging you found is located in a remote district of Paris, your car will be your saviour. Also, if you or the people you're traveling with have limited ability to move around, renting a car would be the easiest way to get somewhere.
On the other hand, we all know that Paris city center is a small and extremely busy. Everything arranged according to a traffic light system that many foreigners are not accustomed to. There is a fairly punctual and well-functioning transport system with bus, subway, tram, RER, and suburban train in Paris. Therefore, using a car is much less preferred compared to many cities.
The French capital is the busiest city of the country with a serious parking problem for car. It is very challenging (physically and mentally) to find a parking spot in the streets of Paris, specially with the rigid regulations in place.
Read More: Parking in Paris: Where to Park and How Much it Cost?
Find Your Rental Car Company
Considering everything, renting a car could be your final decision. Now, all you need is to take your driving licence and insurance papers.
Major car rental providers include Hertz, TT Car Transit, Sixt, Europcar, Alamo and Avis. These companies are easy to reach with many offices both in France and Europe along with many airports and railway stations.
Booking early is essential to get the best deals and rates. When in doubt, you can benefit from the comparison sites such as Rentalcars to make a decision among several rent a car companies that will be presented to you.
Tip: It could be wise to choose a car with GPS for easy driving in Paris as the roads can be very complex at times.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
The average cost of renting a car is € 97 per day.
The cheapest rental car in the area is the Fiat 500 (€ 45 per day).
The Paris metro ,RER, buses are easy to use and very punctual. Also, hop-on, hop-off bus tours of Paris are a good option to get the touristic sihgtseeings easily.