Car rentals in France: users provide feedback on sector

Drivers in France are generally happy with rental car services, although some issues persist and high prices can frustrate them, according to a new survey by a major consumer association. 

UFC-Que Choisir polled users of rental car services in France about a number of areas including price, contract issues, assistance in the event of an accident etc and looked at the prices of 10 rental companies.* 

The market is expanding in France, with around six million drivers using a rental car in France each year – most of them national or international tourists.

Overall, satisfaction rates were good, with 78% reporting being overall satisfied with the service. 

This was higher at certain locations such as supermarkets, including E.Leclerc (86%), ‘U’ and Carrefour (88%). 

Supermarkets were seen as having cheaper rates, with E.Leclerc in particular being some 33% cheaper than traditional car-rental companies. 

However, they can be located in less convenient areas, often in hypermarkets far out of city centres – impractical for tourists.

Read more: Growth of French car hire means more choice for second-home owners

Several problem points 

Drivers gave particularly high scores to vehicles themselves, with a satisfaction rate of close 90% over the cleanliness and operability of the cars. 

However, when it comes to customer services, scores begin to fall, particularly for aspects such as the pick-up and drop-off process that can be plagued with issues.

One major problem was the inventory of the vehicle, with 22% of drivers responding that they had an issue with this and / or that it was incorrectly carried out.

Furthermore, 16% of people reported an issue with their rented vehicle in some way, and of these, around half were dissatisfied with the rental company’s response over the matter.

Nearly one in ten said they had issues recovering their deposit, with part or all of it withheld.

Read more: Letters: French vehicle hire is a minefield

Price variations 

A range of prices were also recorded, particularly from established rental brands. 

For example, Sixt was up to 63% more expensive than rival Rent-a-Car when hiring a smaller citadine (vehicle mostly used to drive in cities).

At the same time, although companies such as Rent-a-Car and Ada may offer lower headline prices, they potentially offer less value depending on a driver’s requirements as they limit the mileage drivers can do before charging additional fees. 

They also generally offer fewer options, both in terms of contract types and types of car available to rent. 

Finally, an insurance excess payable in the event of a claim can affect final prices so drivers may opt for waiver cover to address this which can impact the overall rental price for a car. 

For example, despite the basic rental cost being more expensive than some rivals, Sixt offers some of the lowest insurance for rental drivers which can help balance the overall cost. 

Average rental insurance across all companies is around 35% of the base price of a rental, making this a significant cost factor. 

Not all companies offer waiver cover which means drivers still have to pay in the event of a claim although there are third party companies which can offer this service. 

*1,606 readers of the UFC-Que Choisir consumer magazine responded to a survey, sent from March 13 to 23, 2025 by newsletter and on social networks. UFC-Que Choisir looked at car rental companies Ada, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, E.Leclerc Location, Rent-a-Car, Sixt – as well as two sites for renting cars privately (Turo and Getaround).