Renting a Car and Driving in France Made Easy!

On my own, solo, I have rented 3 different cars and driven over 10,000 kilometers (6,000 miles) in France. I've been in some "tight spots", but I've really enjoyed my road trips there. I've learned a thing or two along the way and share those tips so that you too can enjoy driving in France.

For those that don't know, they drive on the same (right) side of the street as the USA.

Tip 1 – Get an International Drivers License if you plan to rent a car. I get mine through AAA for $10 plus a handling fee.

Tip 2 – Find out if your credit card will provide auto insurance if you use it to rent a car. If it does not, I suggest purchasing travel insurance, my preference over just buying rental car insurance.

Tip 3 – Unless you specifically request an automatic transmission, you will receive a car with a manual transmission.

Tip 4 – Most rental car agencies will not guarantee the make and model or fuel, just the class (compact, economy, etc).

Tip 5 – On multi-lane roads or the autoroute, stay on the right side of the road except to pass. Turn your left blinker on to pass, and keep your blinker on until you are ready to merge back right.

Tip 6 – Autoroutes have tolls, so be prepared to pick up a ticket at some point, and pay before you exit. Sometimes you may even go through several different toll booths. If you don't have cash, look for the sign that depicts a person to find a booth with an attendant. (I find that the roads in France are well maintained, so I don't mind a toll when I get such nice driving conditions.)

Tip 7 – Parking spaces are narrow, so smaller cars are great. Parking garages in large cities are designed for small cars. (Even with an economy car I've been in some tight spots!)

Tip 8 – Speaking of tight spots, there are many lanes in the country that are little more then one car width. Some lanes in villages are one lane only, and not all have signs, so drive carefully and slowly in these little villages and hamlets, and enjoy the scenery. They are really quite fun to explore. Realize the road in the village hasn't changed since before the automobile was invented, it's only been paved.

Tip 9 – I love a roundabout! First, traffic usually flows pretty well around them, second, if you don't know which way to go, you can always go around again and take a second look at the road signs!

Those in the roundabout have the right of way, so merge carefully. Some roundabouts have more than 4 exits. Most have 2 at minimum. Sometimes there is an inner and outer lane. The inner lane (nearest the center) is for cars going beyond the 1 or 2 exit of the roundabout. The outer lane (nearest you) is usually exiting right away. The French are great about signaling to exit.

Tip 10 – If you are going to be driving a little or a lot, I recommend that you invest in good maps. If you don't know the language, it is easy to forget the name of the place you are looking for when you are reading so many town names, especially without a navigator. Usually route signs show the next 2 or 3 towns and Toutes Directions (Other Directions). So if you know you are on the right road, going the right direction, just follow Toutes Directions until you see the sign for the place you want.

You can now rent cars with GPS so that may be helpful, as well.

Tip 11 – Warning! Driving in the mountains on a foggy day is not recommended, by me. Turn around and go somewhere else, I say!

I was pursuing one of my hobbies, trying to find a Meteorology Museum, and ended up on a narrow road winding up a hillside, in dense fog. I could not find a place wide or safe enough to turn around in my little compact car, there was a mountain to the left and a drop off to the right. I encountered several cars coming down fast, and definitely added a few grey hairs, but the tourist bus, I saw at the top just about did me in. The saving grace there was I didn't meet it on the way up!

Tip 12 - Most guide books will show you what some of the road signs look like. Stop signs are the same as in the USA.

Tip 13 - If someone flashes their lights at you, usually 2 or 3 times, that is a warning that there is police activity ahead, whether it be an accident, speed trap, disabled vehicle, or other activity. So wave at them in thank you when you pass, and slow down a little if approaching a curve in case it is just around the bend.