Europe > 🇫🇷 France
The city by city Car or no Car advice for France can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in France; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in France?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in France?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
🏙️ Main Cities in France
| CITY | IATA | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Aix-en-Provence TGV | QXB | |
| Ajaccio | AJA | |
| Avignon | AVN | |
| Avignon TGV | XZN | |
| Bastia | BIA | |
| Beauvais | BVA | |
| Biarritz | BIQ | |
| Bordeaux | BOD | |
| Brest | BES | |
| Carcassonne | CCF | |
| Châlons-en-Champagne | XCR | |
| Dinard | DNR | |
| Figari | FSC | |
| Grenoble | GNB | |
| La Môle | LTT | |
| Lille | LIL | |
| Limoges | LIG | |
| Lourdes | LDE | |
| Lyon | LYS | |
| Marseille | MRS | |
| Metz | MZM | |
| Montpellier | MPL | |
| Mulhouse | MLH | |
| Nantes | NTE | |
| Nice | NCE | |
| Paris | CDG | |
| Paris Disneyland | XED | |
| Perpignan | PGF | |
| Toulouse | TLS | |
| Tours | TUF | |
| Toussus-le-Noble | TNF | |
| Valence TGV | XHK |
🚆 When You Don’t Need a Car
France’s public transport is excellent in major cities and high-speed routes. Trains are fast, efficient, and often more convenient than driving.
✅ Best No-Car Destinations
| Destination | Why You Don’t Need a Car | Best Transport |
|---|---|---|
| Paris | Metro and buses everywhere | Metro, RER, trams |
| Lyon | Compact and walkable | Metro and funicular |
| Nice & Côte d’Azur | Train line connects beach towns | TER trains, trams |
| Strasbourg | Perfect tram system | Tram + walking |
| Disneyland Paris | Direct train | RER from Paris |
➡ In these areas, having a car often becomes a burden due to traffic and parking costs.
🚗 When Renting a Car Makes Your Trip Extraordinary
Beyond the cities, France turns into a road trip paradise. Vineyards, small villages, and hidden gems are best reached by car.
✅ Best Regions for Driving
| Region | Why Driving Is Ideal | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Provence | Lavender fields and hilltop villages | Gordes, Roussillon, Valensole |
| Loire Valley | Castles spread across countryside | Chambord, Chenonceau |
| Normandy & Brittany | Scenic coasts and small towns | Mont-Saint-Michel, D-Day beaches |
| Alsace Wine Route | Vineyards and fairy-tale villages | Colmar, Riquewihr |
| French Alps | Mountain passes | Annecy, Chamonix, Route des Grandes Alpes |
➡ Renting a car lets you stop whenever you want, visit local markets, and follow your own pace.
🚦 Driving Tips for France
-
You drive on the right-hand side
-
Many highways (autoroutes) have tolls
-
Country roads are beautiful but narrow in places
-
Parking in villages is usually easy and often free
-
France uses priority-to-the-right rules in some towns
🚕 Alternatives to Driving
| Option | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TGV Trains | Long-distance travel | Paris to Marseille in 3 hours |
| Regional trains | Coastal and wine regions | Reliable, regular service |
| Buses | Budget travellers | Good for intercity travel |
| Cycling | Loire and Alsace routes | Scenic and popular with tourists |
| Guided tours | Castles & vineyards | No planning required |
🏁 Final Recommendation
| Traveller Type | Car Needed? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| City-focused traveler | ❌ No | Trains and metros cover everything |
| Wine and food explorer | ✅ Yes | Vineyards and villages off the train network |
| Romantic countryside trip | ✅ Yes | Flexibility to discover hidden gems |
| Beach holiday on Côte d’Azur | ❌ Optional | Trains connect coastal towns |
| History and culture lover | ✅ Yes | Castles, abbeys, and WWII sites are spread out |
✨ Final Takeaway
So, should you rent a car in France?
👉 If you dream of exploring vineyards, villages, coastal roads, and countryside, then yes—renting a car will elevate your entire experience.
👉 However, if you plan to stay mainly in Paris or major cities, you can enjoy great transport links and skip the rental car entirely.
