Car hire at Beauvais Airport

Car hire tips

• Book ahead, ideally at least 24 hours in advance. Many Beauvais passengers hire a car and availability can run out.
• Manual or automatic: most hire cars in France are manual. If you want an automatic, ask for one when you book; there may be none left at the desk.
• Tolls: many French motorways and bridges are toll roads. Ask whether the car has an electronic toll tag or whether you will have to pay at each booth.
• Pick-up and return times: check that they fit in with your flights.
• Don’t leave your own car in the hire car park: it is reserved for returning the rental companies’ vehicles and, if you use it, you will have to pay for parking. To park, see the airport car parks.

Driving in France

• Most rental companies require the main driver to be at least 21, and some charge a supplement for drivers under 25.
• You must have held your driving licence for at least one year.
• The drink-driving limit is 0.5 g per litre of blood (50 mg per 100 ml), lower than in some European countries. The safest option is not to drink at all if you are driving.
• Speed limits are shown in kilometres per hour.
• Children under 10 must travel in the back seats.
• At petrol stations, unleaded petrol is called sans plomb and diesel is gazole or gasoil. Many have automatic pumps with contactless payment.

Street parking

• On most streets parking is free unless signs say otherwise: if there are broken white lines or no road markings, you can park there.
• The sign Stationnement interdit means no parking, and Payant means you have to pay.
• Many towns have blue zones, marked with rectangular blue signs, where you must display a blue parking disc on the windscreen. The disc is sold in local shops and not displaying one means a fine.