What company to rent a AUTOMATIC car in France?
 

I can't drive manual and my husband has mobility issues so we will need an automatic car rental from CDC this fall.....

What company is best to use to assure we get an automatic?

I have looked at Avis but it seems like the categories we like, they are mostly manual transmissions.

What other companies should I try?

thanks for any and all help.

I doubt if the company matters that much in that regard, but I've always rented from Europcar and always gotten an AT without any problem in France (at Marseille and Montpellier train stations, and Marseille airport). Of course I had it reserved in advance, though. They are one of the major rental companies, if not the biggest.

I just use www.autoeurope.com and reserve an A/T, that's all. Those are fairly good-sized cities. It's just always tgurned out to be Europcar.

I don't know what categories you're looking at that wouldn't have an AT, but I'm sure there can be some (the very smallest cars likely won't). But I rent compacts and they have them. Of course for any company, "most" of them will be manual, but does that really matter if there are some that aren't? I don't understand that concern. You won't have much choice in really small towns, if that's the issue.

In the car rental world, you cannot get "assurance." You make an arrangement to maximize your odd. For some people, they always got what they wanted. All the kudos for them. However, for others, we have to play the probability game. In Europe, automatic rentals are targeted mostly for foreigners perhaps especially those from the U.S. with no manual driving experiences. The places where these people go in higher proportions are the places you find automatic cars. That means big airports and train stations.

So in France, CDG airport (I presume that is what you meant by CDC) gives you the best odd of getting an 1. automatic 2. in the car category you want.

You can set an "automatic only" filter at rental sites, such as autoeurope and see what different companies offer. I see that Avis offers several categories at CDG although not as many categories as Hertz or Europcar.

>>I have looked at Avis but it seems like the categories we like, they are mostly manual transmissions.<<

No matter what 'category' you normally book, you need to look only at the ones that are automatics (they will be in their own categories since they cost more than comparable sticks)

So check on Autoeurope and/or Kemwel and limit your search to automatics -- then you'll see what is offered.

And realize there is always a slight chance no automatic will be available and you <i>might</i> have to wait a bit. The vast majority of the time you book an automatic you get an automatic. But there are fewer in most fleets so if one is damaged ot returned late you might have to wait til they scrounge up an automatic for you from another location.

I have rented from Hertz, Europcar, and through AutoEurope numerous times. Whenever I have reserved an automatic that is exactly what I have gotten. I think you are worried over nothing.

Hi Photobear, we' et been using Gemut.com, speak to Andy. They are in the U.S. So you pay in USD and the rentals are refundable if you need to cancel or make a change for dates or car. We have used them for several years and find their costs competitive with the specific company also, sometimes it's good to have a middleman to go to bat if a problem arises. Also, if you find the same car at a lower cost I think they will adjust the price. We have rented automatics a few times and have always had one waiting when we picked up but usually rent manuals. They will price and specify an automatic for you, I can't imagine if that's what you paid for and have a paid voucher that it wouldn't be available.

Good luck, enjoy your trip. FWIW, we are using Gemut in September, picking up in Munich and dropping in Frankfurt.

Sorry for the typo, it's.....we've been using....

We booked an automatic throu Hertz and picked it up at Charles de Gaulle when we visited in May. It was a Renault Captur, and though smaller than what we are used to driving at home, it was very comfortable and quiet, and got about 35 miles per gallon (equivalent), which we thought was good for an automatic and was helpful in keeping expenses under control since fuel was about $5.50/gallon (equivalent). We had been nervous about driving around Franxe (we put in about 2500miles) but loved it. The roads were excellent and well signed and the drivers followed the rules of the road. We didn't see an accident in 20 days of driving and no one ever passed us on the right! Be forewarned that tolls add up on the autoroutes. Have lots of coins handy!

Sorry about the typo....I meant CDG......We need it for 15 days for the portion of our trip through Alsace, Normandie and the Loire....

Thank you all.

For a 15-day rental from CDG, I would say that you have at least a 99% chance of getting an automatic car. If you had just wanted one for a few days, your chances would be more like 50/50.

When I have asked an automatic, I got an automatic.
I mostly ask it in UK, since I can then concentrate on driving on the wrong side of the road, without bothering to change gears with the wrong hand.
I've never been able to translate consumption of fuel in $ per miles per gallon... We talk about € per x liters per 100 kms - I have always found a translation absolutely meaningless :-)

I have always gotten automatics when requested from autoeurope and Kemwel.

All companies will have mostly manual transmissions. To have the best chance of getting an automatic (we have never had a problem) you are better with a large office (airport is best) and I think with either Hertz or Avis. We always do Hertz since we have a large corporate discount.

However, be aware that in the smaller car classes there just are not many automatics - you have a much better chance of getting one if you get a mid size or larger car - naturally costing more. (We get those anyway since DH is 6'3" and not comfy in the mini cars for longer distances.)

another vote for gemut.com

In addition to the benefits described above, they offer a 24/7 phone line to someone who speaks English and will help if there is a problem. I only had to use it once, but OMG, what a difference that can make!

thank you all soooo much. Great advice.....Off to do more research.

Given that you can't drive an automatic and your husband has mobility issues, you won't have any Plan B options if something goes wrong. The truth is: there are very few guarantees in life. So just learn to live with the fact that things can and do go wrong. I'm sorry there's no comfort in that.

Most people who pre-order an automatic with a place like autoeurope.com (which means pre-pay) will, in fact, receive an automatic when they show up at the designated rental counter. If autoeurope says your location has one for you, they know. But there are instances, we can call them acts of God, when you won't get the automatic you were promised, and the only option available will be a manual. If that ever happens, you have to ask yourself, what would you do?

The car categories don't mean much. There was a time when you couldn't find an automatic in Compact or smaller. You would have no choice and be stuck with a larger car. I have lots of experience with that. These days you have a Mini category, which is basically a Smart Car, but I've never seen an automatic Smart Car offered, although I believe others have. I would never rent a Smart Car, so I'm not that knowledgeable about that choice.

I fail to see any differences between the Economy, Compact, Standard, and Intermediate categories. IMO, these are marketing terms, designed to get the consumer to spend more money. In reality, they are meaningless. In Europe, if you ordered an automatic, you get what they give you at the time of pick-up.

You can never trust the car photo that appears with each car rental listing. Every time I rent an automatic, the make and model is nothing close to what the fleet photo samples suggest. The last time I rented an automatic in France, the ad said I would get a Volkswagen (or something similar), and the car I got was a Toyota Verso (and it was fabulous). In fact, I have never received a car in Europe that matched the make and model on the order form.

If you order a Compact automatic, you can show up to discover they're sold out. I can't count the number of times I've been upgraded to a luxury vehicle by doing nothing. Sure, some of those cars are divine, but I always find myself driving on tight, narrow streets and trying to park in small places. I prefer a smaller car, so getting upgraded is not always welcome for me.

If you speak only English, it's better to place your order with a company like autoeurope.com. In times of trouble, they will speak on your behalf. If you can't find what you're looking for on their website, call them. Their customer service representatives are top-notch. Be sure to note the name of the person with whom you speak.

Good luck.

We are probably going with an SUV or Van as we are not traveling alone. I speak french fluently so no problems there. Can't wait.

I may try to get some training in driving a stick before the trip just to be sure.