Renting a car in France: 5 things you need to consider

Planning the French road trip of your dreams this summer? We asked Buggs Car Hire what renters need to know about hiring a car in France

Exploring France by car gives you the freedom to discover its cities, coasts and countryside with the flexibility that public transport doesn’t provide. But how easy is renting a car in France? Take the hassle out of hiring by opting for a trusted English-speaking rental company like Buggs Car Hire, an airport car hire service based at the popular destinations of Bergerac, Limoges and Biarritz airports.

What do I need to hire a car in France?

You will need a valid driving licence that you must have held for at least one year. If you’re under 25 or over 70, beware: many companies place a hefty daily surcharge on drivers above or below a certain age. Buggs Care Hire have managed to scrap these fees completely for over 70s and lower them to just €15 a day for under 25s – meaning more cash to spend on croissants and crêpes!

What sort of car should I opt for?

It all depends what kind of driving you’ll be doing. Buggs has a wide range of airport car rental options to suit all needs, from compact convertibles for a road trip with friends to 7-seaters that are perfect for families. “Everybody has their different requirements,” says Simon Parr of Buggs. “You want an easy car that you can just jump in and drive off in. At the moment, people are going mad over our little Fiat 500 Convertibles.”

France is embracing the green car movement and Buggs are doing their bit by introducing some eco-friendly motors to their fleet. “We’ve already got the new Kia hybrids and we’re looking at some all-electric vehicles next year,” adds Simon.

What kind of insurance cover is required?

At Buggs, Standard Vehicle Insurance comes included in the price of your hire car. For extra peace of mind, there is Buggs Excess Protection and Buggs Excess Protection Plus, which either reduces or eliminates the excess payable. You can also buy insurance online through third party companies.

How does fuelling work?

Buggs provide the rental car full and ask for it to be refuelled full. This is the fairest method, unlike other companies who ask you to pay for a full tank on arrival and return the car empty, which is impossible.

What if I break down or have an accident?

Hopefully your journey will go without a hitch! But Buggs provide a pack in the glove box with all the relevant paperwork and contact details for such events. There is also a warning triangle and yellow vest in the car, as required by French law.

WHO ARE BUGGS?

Established in 2006 at Bergerac Airport, Buggs Car Hire started with just a few cars working out of the airport car park. Business boomed and it now includes Limoges and Biarritz Airport in its rental roster as well as a choice of 200 cars. It is an independent local business that prides itself on offering great value rental with friendly, reliable service. “We saw a need for an independent car hire company because as the airport was developing, the demand for car hire was increasing and it was noticeable that there was a need for a small local company to work alongside the big multinationals,” says founder Simon Parr.

Contact Buggs Car Hire online at buggscarhire.com or by phone, quoting FM19

Bergerac: Tel (Fr): 5 53 74 05 86

Limoges: Tel (Fr): 7 87 36 09 59

Biarritz: Tel (Fr): 6 47 46 87 08