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    FRANCE DRIVING INFORMATION

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    France Car Rental Driving Information

    Driving Overview

    General Information
    From the tip top of the Eiffel Tower to the sandy beaches of St.Tropez are only a few of the wonderful things you will be able to see with a car rental in France booked through Auto Europe! Before you go we highly suggest reading the important information below pertaining to renting and driving a vehicle in France. Also be sure to check out our France travel guide to learn more about the most interesting places to visit across the country.

    Driving in FranceRequirements
    To rent a vehicle in France through Auto Europe you are required to be at least 21 years old and have had your driver's license for a minimum of 1 year, sometimes 2 year depending of the vehicle category. Drivers who happen to be 21-24 years old should be aware that some suppliers may required them to pay what is called a “young driver surcharge”, with the suppliers we work with in France the young driver surcharge can range from $36 CAD per day up to $44 CAD per day. Children under the age 10 year must sit in the back seat of the vehicle secured in a car seat appropriate to their size or a seat belt. Any child who is under 9 months old can travel in the front seat only if the vehicles air bag has been deactivated and they are secured in a rear facing child seat. It is strictly prohibited to use a radar detector in France; if you are caught the authorities have the right to seize the vehicle.

    Speed Limits
    The standard legal speed limits in France are: city 50 km/h, major road/open roads 90km/h to 110km/h and 110km/h to 130km/h on the highway.

    Rules of the Road
    In France vehicles a required to travel on the right side of the road and must indicate passing by flashing their headlights to vehicle they are passing. Horns are only permitted in the event of danger.

    Gas & Diesel
    Finding a gas station in France is pretty easy for they are plentiful and most are open 24 hours. Regular unleaded gas costs about $6.60 CAD per gallon with diesel costing about $5.95 CAD. Prices are approximate and can change without notice.

    Car Rental Insurance in FranceTolls
    When traveling throughout France you will encounter various toll motorways. A sign with the words “péage” or “par péage” indicates toll roads. Tolls are paid when you exit the motorway and are based on the distance traveled and the vehicle category.

    Parking
    Throughout most cities in France you will find “pay and display” parking machines or blue zone parking areas. Both require you to purchase a disc or ticket to display on the vehicle dashboard before leaving and usually have a max time limit of 1.5 hours.

    Insurance Information

    General Information
    Insurance is extremely important when renting a vehicle and requirements often change from country to country. When renting a vehicle in France with Auto Europe your rental rate will automatically include all necessary insurances. Below you will find in detail what insurance is required to be on your vehicle rental and what other options are available to your through Auto Europe and the local suppliers in France.

    If beginning your rental in France the insurance guidelines of France will be in effect for the entire duration of the rental even in the event it is returned to a different country. Specific insurance information can be found in the terms and conditions area of your rental voucher.

    Required Coverage
    In France it is required for all vehicle rentals to have third party liability insurance and fire insurance coverage. All of Auto Europe’s basic rental rates in France are inclusive of these two forms of insurance. Fire insurance with most suppliers will cover an unlimited amount in the event the vehicle is damage because of a fire. Third party liability also generally provides an unlimited amount of coverage to people and property outside of the rental vehicle that may be damage or injured because of the rental vehicle.

    Optional Coverage
    In France there are a few forms of optional insurance coverage, which includes collision damage waiver (CDW), theft protection, personal accident insurance and super CDW. Personal accident insurance is offered locally and will provide death and disability coverage to the driver and passengers of the rental vehicle. The cost of personal accident insurance is between $16-$17 CAD per day. CDW and theft are optional and will be included at an advance purchase discount if the inclusive rate it selected. CDW and theft can be purchased locally for a cost ranging from $21-$52 CAD per day for theft and $9-$23 CAD per day for CDW. CDW and theft in most cases will have a deductible that you are still responsible for in the event of an accident or theft. The amount of the deductibles for CDW and theft can range from $750 CAD up to $5,000 CAD and is dependent on the vehicle category and rental supplier. Many suppliers offer a supplementary insurance which is called super CDW which will help reduce the amount of the deductible that you are responsible for. The cost for super CDW is approximately $25 CAD per day and is available through select suppliers only. If you elect to decline CDW and theft to take advantage of insurance provided by your credit card please check with the card issuer to learn the specifics of your coverage. Optional insurances are provided through certain supplies only and prices can change without notice at anytime.

    Rental Restrictions

    General Information
    Some specific vehicle categories including luxury vehicles, vans and automatics may have travel restrictions due to insurance regulations. Most other vehicle categories rented in France have the ability to travel throughout Western Europe without any restrictions. Here at Auto Europe we have worked hard to build strong relationships with all of our suppliers that has allowed for the creation of a special rental program, which will allow certain vehicles to travel into Eastern Europe. Additional surcharges may apply to rentals being taken into Eastern Europe. Some suppliers may also restrict some vehicles from traveling into Italy, if you have plans to travel into Italy please advise Auto Europe at time of booking to make sure your rental is permitted to travel there. At this time we would like to ask for you to take a moment and make sure the vehicle you intend to rent will be suitable for your travel needs.

    Rental Car Restrictions in FranceRestricted Countries
    Vehicles renting in France cannot travel into the following countries with out prior notice to and approval from Auto Europe: Africa (Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria etc) Albania, Bosnia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Turkey and the Ukraine.

    Note: With advanced notice Auto Europe can possibly arrange travel into most or all of the countries listed above with specific vehicle categories.

    One-Way Rentals
    International one-ways are available and will incur an additional fees. Domestic one-way car rentals are also offered, most are free with an exception of Biarritz & high altitude locations. Minimum rental lengths may apply and not all vehicles are allowed. Pick up a rental car in Paris and drop off in Marseille for a fun exploration of the French countryside.