Renting a car in France.
 

I will be in France the last week in November and would like to rent a car to drive owards Normandy. I have never driven a car with manual transmission, and don't intend to learn in another country. Will it be difficult to get an automatic, and any idea if there is an additional cost? Should I try to book through a known company, i.e, Hertz, Budget....?

Al, why not practice before you get there? You could easily learn to drive a manual between now and the end of November--it's not that hard! <BR> <BR>Even though you request an automatic for your Europe trip, you may not get one. And yes, there is considerable additional cost.

Eurocar, Aug 2, 2001: <BR>Small Stationwagon (Renault Laguna -- as a Toyota Camry) -- <BR>manual = 254 FF/day <BR>auto = 593 FF/day <BR> <BR>Luckily I learned on manual transmissions, but the rental difference would have made me learn. <BR>

Automatics cost more, but are available. Your best bet is AutoEurope. They work with all the majors, provide great service, and will get you a price that is as good as or better than ther others. Their website is www.autoeurope.com. Discounts and free upgrades are often available. Normany is an easy drive from Paris, though the weather can be iffy in November.

You can book a car with automatic transmission but it is more expensive and they usually can't guarantee that one will be waiting for you.I would try all the car companies and then call them before you leave just to make sure they have a car waiting for you.

I have booked for Oct. , thru Avis, a Renault Laguna, ( about the size of a camry), automatic transmission, FULL insurance coverage( CDW, theft,etc) zero deductible, VAT all inclusive, pick up at Paris airport and dropping off in Lille, for 7 days $350.00. Autoeurope matched this price but wouldn't guarantee the automatic would be available and since avis did I stuck with Avis. Booked online and verified by phone! <BR>My husband can drive an automatic but he doesn't think it's worth the effort to save a few dollars. <BR>Just make sure you get a 7 day rental ,it always cheaper than a day rate , though autoeuropetold me that anything over 5 days they give the 7 day rate. When I first called them they quoted around 600.00 but when I told them I had $350,00 from Avis and supplied my confirmation number thay matched it. Avis considers it 7 day even if you only go a hour into the 7th day

I rented an automatic Mercedes this past may from Hertz. I had to get a Benz because we had four people and the only other automatics they had were smaller cars ideal for two people. Call or email your hotel and ask where the nearest car rental place is. There was a Hertz close to our hotel which is partially the reason why we rented from there. However, when we went to pick up the car it wasn't there and they paid for us to take a taxi to another part of the city. I have no idea how but we managed to find our way back to the hotel to pick up the others.

First, yes, I think it is a good idea to rent from a known company, of course. I like Autoeurope also and I also rented an AT compact which was only US$50 a day including CDW and everything. Sure, it was more than a manual, not sure how much, but it was really worth it to me because of driving in a strange place anyway, and not spending days of my time trying to learn at home when I don't need to (I learned how to drive a manual when a teen, also, and could get someone to the hospital, I suppose, if I had to--but haven't drive one in many years so would not ever want to drive one on vacation in a foreign country, that's not my idea of fun). I think it's the size of the car that affects price an awful lot, also. The Laguna was originally quoted to me at a much higher price than the compact I got, which was a very decent size car for 1-2 people (even with 1 little kid would be ok). Autoeurope volunteered this lower price on a smaller car also, after I'd requested a price quote on a LAguna because some info I saw implied that was all that was available with AC and AT. No one ever told me I might not get an automatic, I told them it was mandatory as my vacation would be ruined if I did not get one as my accommodations were not within reach of public transportation, and I got one all right. The subcontractor was Europcar.

We just returned from a driving trip in France, having pre-booked an automatic car with Europcar. We also do not drive a manual transmission. <BR>Despite having fully prepaid for the car, when we arrived at the agency at Montparnasse there was no car for us! They insisted that our reservation was for 9:00 a.m. and since we had arrived at 1:00 p.m. they no longer had a car for us. While they searched for another automatic car (at other agencies around Paris) another person arrived having booked an automatic and theirs was also not available. <BR>The point I'm making is that they keep a small supply of automatics. We were lucky because they found a Mercedes for us and we got to use that even though we had booked a much cheaper car! <BR>My advise - book the automatic ahead of time, through a travel agent. And then call and confirm your car rental with the actual agency pickup spot a day or two before you arrive. This may save you the aggravation we went through. <BR> <BR>

I have found AVIS throughout France to be very helpful. We have gotten an automatic each time we've booked one. There are several locations in Paris, so they can always find one for you.

Hi! This past April we rented a car in Paris via online at Thrifty.com and got an excellent deal. We paid $20 a day insurance included! Give it a shot , maybe you will find a good deal for an automatic. Don't forget to get your International Driver's License.

This may be implicit in your question but be sure to book before getting to France. The difference is as much as 3 fold. AutoEurope is a good consolidator.

This past May we rented an automatic car through Avis on-line, picked up in Lyon and dropped off in Dijon. It was a Renault Clio, $199 for 5 days. No problems whatsoever.

And, just a reminder, don't put gasoline in your diesel rental car. Sometimes traveling makes our brains go on "automatic" and you might just inadvertently reach for the wrong nozzle.

we just returned from france, and rented car for 2 weeks. we needed an automatic due to my husbands knee problems. we called morning of our pickup, and were told we were confirmed for auto, and proceeded to national/citer center at gard station. when we got there, after waiting for 1/2 hr in line, were told that if we wanted an auto. we had to go to cdg airport, in the opposite direction of where we were headed. we weren't particularly pleased, but had no other option. we got a taxi, which they reimbursed, and got- without further delay- a great citroen s-5 , which was equipped with a gps system that entertained us quite a bit. a little hassle, but no huge problem. good luck!