Europe > 🇫🇷France
Should You Hire a Car in France? This can be broken down into two similar questions - do you need a car in France (in other words, will your holiday be ruined without one), and is it worth hiring a car in France - i.e. is a car better value than using public transport? We'll weigh up both questions and give you a response generated by Chat GPT, together with our own curated opinion before finally giving a yes or no verdict at the end.
| 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 |
Should You Rent a Car in France? 🚗🥖🍷
France is a country of iconic cities, medieval villages, coastal roads, vineyards, lavender fields, alpine passes, and castles around every turn. It offers world-class trains in some regions and charming backroads in others. So the big question is: should you rent a car in France? Let’s break it down clearly.
🚆 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.
Should You Hire a Car in 🇫🇷 — or Not? Advice on this page has been written using Chat GPT, backed up by 20 years experience in the travel industry. This site is planned for full launch on 1st January 2026. Full terms, advice, FAQs, disclaimer etc to follow. UN flag is a placeholder
.