Best Car Hire Charles de Gaulle Airport

Things to be Consider Hiring a Car at Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG)?

First things first; although you may be eager to head out and explore the beautiful French countryside, you should do a quick check for damage to the car and report any found to the hire company (make sure it’s documented). This is to avoid any later charge for the damage. Also, return the car with the same level of fuel as when you received it. Otherwise, the company could charge you for this fuel at an inflated price.

Driving is on the right hand side of the road in France, and make sure you understand all the pertinent driving laws and drive responsibly just like you would at home. It’s not really advised to drive in Paris as it can be very stressful if you haven’t driven in France before and public transport links are excellent, so hire a car if you plan to drive out from the city.

CDG hosts six providers of car hire throughout its premises. The largest companies such as Avis and Hertz have desks in several terminal buildings. Although you can hire a car upon arrival, you can save a lot of time and money by booking in advance online.

Driving costs and Potential Destinations

With an average price of unleaded petrol of €1.43 per litre in France, a medium-priced vehicle such as the Smart for Two which gives 67 miles to the gallon would mean an approximate fuel cost per 10 miles of €2.14.

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Before You Go

To hire a car from any of these providers you have to be at least 21 years old (some companies will not hire to under 25s). You have to produce a valid Driver’s Licence which you have held for at least one year. If you are from within the European Union, you can use your own country’s Driver’s Licence, but if you are travelling from Asia, Africa, Australia and some parts of the Americas, you must provide an International Driving Licence which has to be obtained in your home country before arrival in France.

How to Buy Car Insurance

When hiring a car you are usually provided with a Collision Damage Waiver and/or Theft Waiver along with the price. This covers you for a claim in case of any damage, but is not true insurance as you would still need to pay an excess of up to £1000. You can buy excess insurance from the hire company, but savings can be obtained by going to an independent company such as insurance4carhire.com, which also covers you for parts such as the tyres, roof and windows which typically will not be included in the provider’s insurance.

General Information & Tips on Car Hire

Charles de Gaulle is the major airport out of 14 which serve Paris and is France’s largest international airport. It is also the second busiest airport in Europe (after London Heathrow) in terms of passenger traffic. It lies 25 km (16 miles) to the north-east of Paris, over a sprawling 12.5 square miles area which covers three départementes and six communes. It makes an excellent base from which to hire a car to explore the capital or further afield throughout France. There are three terminals which are connected to each other and to the railway station and car parks by the CDGVAL light rail shuttle, a free service. Terminal 1 is the oldest and comprises a striking ten storey building surrounded by satellite buildings. Each floor is reserved for a specific function. The second floor houses shops and restaurants. Escalators hang suspended through the central space, their interesting design seeing them often featured in films. The other terminals offer similar services although they have a more traditional design.

Usefull Information

There is also an Information Helpline on +44 (0)844 892 0322.

Other useful contact numbers for Charles de Gaulle Airport:

General Contact Number for CDG Airport: +33 (0) 170363950

Medical Centre (24/7): +33 (0) 148622800

Police (24/7): +33 (0) 148623122

Customs (24/7): +33 (0) 148626285