Compare Paris Airport car hire

Yes, Paris's roads get busy, but a rental car can still be an asset in the French capital, helping to unlock the outer city and surrounding region. Providing you avoid rush hour, you'll have easy access to further-flung attractions such as Versailles and the countryside of Oise-Pays de France.

Language: French | Currency: Euro (€) | Avg. Flight time: 1 hr 15 mins

You can hire a car from the main terminal buildings at Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Paris-Orly (ORY), with both airports served by a range of vehicle rental operators. You’ll find most of the big rental car companies operate from both airports, including Avis, Hertz, Alamo and Budget. Simply book your car hire from a Paris airport in advance, turn up with your driving licence, code from the DVLA and a credit card then get behind the wheel.

The centre of Paris also has plenty of booking offices, with clusters found at the Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est railway stations, in Montparnasse and at Le Parc des Princes.

If you're arriving at Charles de Gaulle, which sits 15.5m (25km) north-east of Paris, take the A3, A1 and N1 road arteries into town. From Orly, 8.5m (14km) south of the city centre, take the A106 and A6B north. Journey times will vary according to the time of day and levels of congestion on the main artery roads into the city centre.

Car rental companies that have desks at Paris's CDG and/or ORY airports include:

• Avis (Tel: +33 8 21 23 07 60)
• Budget (Tel: +33 8 25 00 35 64)
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (Tel: +33 8 25 16 12 12)
• Europcar (Tel: +33 8 25 35 83 58)
• Firefly (online reservations)
• Hertz (Tel: +33 1 39 38 38 38)
• Sixt (Tel: +33 8 20 00 74 98)
• Interrent (Tel: +33 8 92 23 02 26)
• Alamo (Tel: +33 8 26 10 24 27)
• Advantage (online reservations)
• Dollar (online reservations)
• National (online reservations)
• Thrifty (online reservations)

Driving in Paris can be a pleasurable experience, despite what you may have heard; many of the capital's main roads are wide, well maintained and suitably signposted.

However, brave the cobbled back-streets and busiest intersections at your peril. Arrive at a bottleneck at peak times and you'll have little choice but to sit and enjoy the scenery. It's wise to avoid the Boulevard Périphérique inner ring road if you can.

Parking can be a frustration in Paris, too. There are plenty of cars, but not so many on or off-streets bays. If you're planning to rent a vehicle, it's worth booking a hotel that has its own car park.

There are underground lots and pay-and-display street parking areas dotted around the city, but you can expect to face competition for spaces from other drivers.

Palace of Versailles

Driving time: 35 minutes

The iconic Palace of Versailles is one of the most exquisite examples of French 17th century art and architecture. This great royal château, with its grand Baroque features and beautiful landscaped gardens, remains one of the country's pre-eminent tourist destinations. The Hall of Mirrors, the King's Grand Apartments, and the Hamlet – a model village built for Marie Antoinette – are among the palace's must-see attractions.

Disneyland Paris

Driving time: 35 minutes

Disneyland Paris has been welcoming families for more than a quarter of a century. Located due east of the capital, it's a vast and colourful playground with more than 50 rides and attractions, including Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril, Phantom Manor, Pirates of the Caribbean and the emblematic Sleeping Beauty Castle. You're only going to keep the kids entertained? Sure. We believe you!

Rouen

Driving time: One hour 40 minutes

Rouen, the charming capital of Normandy, boasts soaring Gothic churches, traditional cobbled streets and medieval half-timbered houses. An inland port on the River Seine, the historic city is the region's cultural, historical and gastronomic epicentre. Rouen Cathedral, a major source of inspiration for the impressionist Claude Monet, dominates the old town’s distinctive skyline. From Paris, the city is a direct drive north-west along the A15, D14 and A604 highways.

1. If you're driving in Paris in 2018, you’ll need quite a lot of gear – make sure you’re equipped with your passport, driving licence, proof of rental, headlamp beam deflectors, a warning triangle, spare light bulbs, breathalysers and a high-visibility vest.
2. When you escape central Paris and get out onto autoroutes, remember that speed limits are weather-dependent. In dry conditions you can go up to 80mph (130km/h), but in the wet this is reduced to 70mph (110km/h).
3. We think it's odd that anyone does this in the first place, but don't be tempted to drive wearing headphones. It’s been illegal since 2017 and is punishable by a €90 on-the-spot fine.

Fair fuel policy

A fair fuel policy (also known as full-to-full or same-to-same) means you’ll only pay for the fuel you use. All car rental deals compared on TravelSupermarket come with a fair fuel policy, so you can book your hire car safe in the knowledge there will be no nasty surprises at drop-off. More information on TravelSupermarket’s commitment to fair fuel policies can be found here.

No hidden fees

All rental deals compared on TravelSupermarket include mandatory fees (for example, one-way and young driver surcharges) in your rental quote at the time of booking, meaning you’ll know the full price of your car hire upfront.