How to Rent a Car in Paris

“The Château de Chantilly is located roughly one hour north of Paris. This magnificent estate rises dramatically out of a series of ornamental lakes and dense woodlands, safeguarding one of the premier collections of classical artwork in France.

“Historically, it also marks the precise culinary birthplace of authentic Chantilly whipped cream. For culinary and wine collectors, taking a vehicle north into the Champagne region to visit Reims is highly recommended. The historic city features a monumental Gothic cathedral, serving as the starting point for exploring sweeping Grand Cru vineyards and underground champagne cellars.” - Federica Brunini

For those looking to drive out a little further, or perhaps planning a road trip, there are other destinations worth considering, such as the coast of Normandy.

“While the previous destinations are accessible within roughly an hour, a dedicated multi-day road trip from Paris out to the coast of Normandy allows for a deeper exploration of historical coastal routes. Given the two-and-a-half to three-hour travel time each way, planning an overnight stay ensures a comfortable pace.” - Federica Brunini

Aside from Normandy, these trips can all be done in a day, meaning you can get back to Paris and enjoy the evening in the city, especially as the city has so much to offer.

“An exceptional, lesser-known cultural site is the Musée Bourdelle in Montparnasse. This preservation site marks the authentic art studio where prominent sculptor Antoine Bourdelle, a former assistant to Auguste Rodin, worked continuously until his passing.

“Visitors explore the original preserved atelier completely enveloped by monumental plaster casts and bronze sculptures. The property features a secluded interior garden cafe ideal for a private brunch away from mainstream tourist awareness.

“Positioned near the historic Montparnasse Cemetery, the museum offers a highly localised, verdant retreat within the Left Bank. It provides an immersive artistic experience that effectively transports you out of modern Paris.” - Federica Brunini
 

Before you rent a car in Paris, here are some suggestions on how you can get the best experience:

• The best thing you can do is book in advance and look for free cancellation rates, should your plans change.
• Review Enterprise’s vehicles and rates online, and check for any current deals.
• Choosing the right size car also means you won’t be paying for space you won’t use.
• Finally, sign up for Enterprise Plus, our loyalty programme, which can offer better rates and rewards.

You will also need to make sure that you meet Enterprise’s conditions to rent a car in Paris.

At Enterprise, those who want to rent a car in Paris need to be over 18 with a full driving licence. The type of car you can choose depends on how long you have been driving.

The minimum period for each vehicle type is:

• 1 year for Mini, Economy, and Compact (excluding Compact Elite).
• 3 years for Intermediate and Standard.
• 7 years for Compact Elite, Full Size, and Premium.
• 10 years for Luxury.
  
  

If you are under 25, you’ll need to pay an additional daily charge.
 

Along with essential information, such as what you’ll need to rent a car in Paris, there’s also plenty of other things worth remembering to get the most out of your trip.

1. Choosing a vehicle for when you need it

As Paris is a major city, it can be difficult to fit driving through it into your schedule. That’s why it’s always best to consider exactly when you need a car.

“If you want a car for short excursions outside the main cities, rent it on the morning of your departure rather than the day before. Return it as soon as you get back to the city, preferably at an airport or station branch, instead of navigating city centre traffic.” - Federica Brunini

 2. Parking in Paris and France

Just as driving in the city can be challenging when traffic is heavy, so too can it be stressful to organise parking. Some advanced planning can help keep costs down.

“Avoid street overnight parking as costs quickly accumulate. Plan your itinerary meticulously so you know exactly where to park the car during downtime.

“While hotels with dedicated garages are convenient, France also features numerous public parking areas where you can safely leave a vehicle long-term or overnight affordably.

“I highly recommend public parking garages, particularly those located beneath major transit stations or commercial centres. Shopping mall parking lots often permit overnight stays. You just collect the validation ticket and settle the balance the following morning.” - Federica Brunini

3. Avoiding street cleaning

It’s also always worth checking where and when you can park, especially as there can be risk of having a vehicle removed during street cleaning.

“Never leave a car on the street overnight because street cleaning schedules can catch you off guard. This is true in both Italy and France. Unknowingly parking on a street due to be cleaned will result in your vehicle being towed.

“If your car is blocking street-sweeping machinery overnight, authorities will impound it immediately.

“Municipalities in both countries routinely perform heavy street maintenance during the night. If you park on the wrong side or on an incorrect day, as schedules vary, you will face steep towing charges.” - Federica Brunini

4. Low Emission Zones

Travellers driving into Paris should be aware of the city’s low emission zones, which require cars to feature special stickers to avoid potential fines.

“There’s the Crit'Air certification requirement. Major rental companies like Enterprise generally handle this automatically, but it is worth verifying at pickup rather than discovering restrictions after entering the city.

“You should ask the rental agency to show you the required Crit'Air certification. You really need to check if those stickers are on the vehicle at the time of rental, or you can face heavy fines.” - Federica Brunini

5. Language and etiquette

Many travellers will relish the opportunity to learn a little of the language of the country they’re travelling to. Many will find that French locals certainly appreciate it if efforts are made to do so.

“The French highly appreciate any effort to speak their native tongue, even if it is just a few introductory phrases. 

“A mandatory social custom to remember is offering a polite greeting whenever you enter a boutique or business establishment. Greeting the shopkeeper with a clear ‘Bonjour’ is basic etiquette; omitting it is perceived as unelegant and poor manners.

“Even later in the day, ‘Bonjour’ operates as a universal salutation to establish a polite interaction.” - Federica Brunini

6. Dining times

Likewise, travellers should be aware of standard trading times, especially when it comes to dining.

“Standard dining hours in France are earlier than typical Italian customs, particularly when compared to southern Italy. Outside of core metropolitan zones, restaurant kitchens routinely close post-lunch by 2:30 PM and dinner operations wind down by 10:30 PM.

“French dining structures require much more explicit and formal reservation planning than Italian counterparts.” - Federica Brunini

 7. Cultural shifts in service

The same is worth considering when it comes to what to expect with service and opening times in France, whether it’s for restaurants or museums.

“The overarching service philosophy differs substantially. Italians frequently misinterpret the deliberate, unobtrusive nature of French waitstaff as cold or rigid. French hospitality prioritises discretion; servers avoid intrusive check-ins and standard table-side banter, focusing strictly on functional execution.

“Always double-check museum operations, speciality boutique schedules, and local grocery store hours beforehand to prevent sudden scheduling friction.” - Federica Brunini