Everything you need to know about renting a car in Lyon

Let me be up front about renting a car in Lyon: if you plan to stay in the city, you don’t need a car.

But Lyon is surrounded by some rather fabulous countryside: the Beaujolais and Côtes du Rhône vineyards, the Golden Stones villages, fascinating small towns, and some of the most beautiful rural areas in France. To visit these, you’ll definitely need a car.

So yes, the city is glorious and worth your time, but what’s beyond it is definitely worth the drive.

Unless you drove here, to get out of the city, you’ll need to rent a car. France may have a fabulous public transport system, but it’s definitely urban-centered, leaving us country bumpkins out in the cold.

The gentle countryside outside Lyon requires a car ©OffbeatFrance

Should I rent a car in Lyon?

Yes and no. It depends.

Here’s when you DO need to rent a car in Lyon

• If you’re heading out of town to the vineyards or villages. 
• If you plan to explore outlying neighborhoods.
• If you tend to be out after public transportation shuts down. For example, some subways close at midnight on weekdays, or 2 a.m. on weekends. 
• If you’re traveling with others. A car can save you money, and will make things like moving bunches of luggage easier.

Gettng to villages like these requires a car

Here’s when you DON'T need to rent a car in Lyon

• If you’re planning to spend most of your time in the city core. Lyon has an excellent public transit system and you should take advantage of it.
• If you have no intention of leaving the city.
• If you’re not comfortable parking in tiny spaces or making your way up narrow, winding streets.

Preparing for your trip

For the purposes of this article, let's assume you’ve decided to rent a car in Lyon. What next?

The first thing to do is book your car rental as soon as you can!

Cars are at a premium around holidays so the earlier you book, the greater the availability and the lower the price. At the very least, book a few weeks ahead of time, especially if you have any specific requirements.

If you wait until the last minute, you’ll probably still find a car, but maybe not the one you want, and certainly not at the price you’d hoped.

Also, some months are cheaper than others. This isn’t a rule, mind you, but a trend. For example, prices tend to be highest in May, July and August, with the cheapest time in autumn and winter. I travel mostly in winter but the few times I've traveled in summer, I've been surprised at the price hikes and kicked myself for not reserving sooner.

Car rental companies in Lyon

Most rental companies are represented in Lyon, both the major ones and the smaller, off-the-grid, supermarket, second hand, owner-operated or car share networks. 

While these smaller companies can be economical and of great use to local residents, they usually require a good knowledge of the city, an understanding of French, a European driving licence, and a local reservation app at the very least. Cars will tend to be small (but not always), branded with the network’s colors or logo (sometimes), and will have to be picked up and delivered at specific locations, often a garage or a parking lot.

I prefer to rent from established car rental agencies, because of the guarantees they provide, like insurance and breakdown assistance, as well as car replacement should something go wrong. Some of the ones you probably know are Europcar, Sixt, Hertz, Avis, Enterprise and Budget.

I learned this through experience: I once rented a car from a smaller network and it died on me. Just died on the side of a country road... and when I called the company, I was told I would have to wait several hours for a tow truck and no, there wasn't an exchange car available. 

It was a costly adventure because while I did get my money back for the actual rental, no one compensated me for the loss of the night's hotel, for which I was a no-show. Lesson learned.

Many years later, I rented a car from one of the larger companies. I was having difficulty with all the electronics (it was brand new and my own car is an old, solid everything-is-manual) and was already more than an hour from the rental office, but I called and explained – they suggested I drive back and they exchanged the car on the spot. So yes, there are a few extra guarantees of service with larger established companies.

You'll find locations in several parts of Lyon, including my two favorite and most convenient ones, around the Lyon Part-Dieu train station, and at the Saint-Exupery airport location. I don’t enjoy driving in central Lyon so picking up my car on the outskirts or even outside town is my preferred option.

Arrivals at the Lyon Paart-Dieu train station ©OffbeatFrance

The hall of Lyon Saint-Exupery airport ©OffbeatFrance

Booking and payment: What you need to know

Every destination has specific driving rules, and France is no exception. While I’ve tried to include as much information as possible below, please do check your company’s rental conditions before you book.

Essential documents you’ll need

• A valid driver’s license: If your valid license is from a country in the European Union, it will be valid in France. Otherwise, it should be written in French. If it isn’t, consider getting either an official translation, or an International Driving Permit. While you can usually get away with renting a car with your English-language licence from the USA or UK, for example, if you have an accident, your insurance may refuse to honor it, and the police may deem it isn’t enough. Your call.

• All other documents: These include your passport, a credit card (some agencies now accept debit cards but not all), and proof of insurance. If you don't have your own insurance, you’ll have to buy it from the rental agency.

International Driver's Licence or Permit

Additional fees to watch out for

Car rental insurance 

As I mentioned, most car rental agencies will make insurance available and I strongly recommend you buy it, unless you’re already covered.

Many of you are, whether through your own insurance back home or through your credit card. So please check.

Should you be involved in an incident, the lack of insurance might prevent you from returning home when planned, especially if it’s serious.

Taking a car across a border

Even though Lyon is in the center of France, the border isn’t that far away, and people often take a trip into Switzerland, for example, or into Italy.

Most companies will allow this for free, but not all, so make sure before you rent. It’s not just money, it’s also a question of insurance, because the car may not be insured for international travel.

Winter tires

Not all cars are equipped, but if you do need them, make sure they’re included in the price.

Automatic transmission

An automatic car may cost more so make sure you factor this is in.

Gas tank

Make sure you know whether you need to return the car with a full tank of fuel, or you might face an additional charge.

Your age

There may be an extra charge if you're over or under a certain age. You'll be able to check when you research, and every single company is different, and rules change.

Accepted payment methods

All leading car companies accept Mastercard and Visa, and some accept other, less common credit cards. Until recently, most did NOT accept debit  cards but this is slowly changing. 

Because each company is different, some may require a deposit, for younger or older drivers, for example.

When you search Discovercars, you’ll find a blue, clickable Rental Conditions link on the bottom left below each car rental description. Please make sure you check these carefully before you rent.

What kind of car should you rent in Lyon?

Not all cars are made equal. Nor are all cities and parking lots.

If I mention this, it’s because I’ve been caught out myself – right place, wrong car.

Like that village in which the streets were so narrow I had to reverse, squeeze out the door, and fold my rearview mirrors just to get through. You don’t want to be that person (although I’m sure my maneuvering amused the neighbors to no end).

Factors to keep in mind when renting

• Car size: Don’t go overboard, but if you do want something large, know that you’ll be sacrificing other comforts, like ease on smaller roads or tiny village streets. 

• Car types: That said, Lyon has a large enough selection of car categories that you’ll be able to find your perfect vehicle, everything from an SUV rental to a van rental along with a wide range of luxury vehicles. You can also rent electric cars, but bear in mind they may have limited autonomy range, and charging stations may be scarce in rural areas.

• Fuel efficiency: Especially if you’re from the US, you may shocked at the average gas price here; a car that gobbles up fuel might add a significant chunk to your travel budget.

• The terrain: If you’re planning on exploring countryside dirt roads, you might want something a bit sturdier than if you’re staying on toll highways. But if you plan on spending time on high-speed autoroutes, comfort and smoothness will be factors.

Manual vs. automatic?

This used to be a lot trickier but these days, automatic transmissions are becoming more common. 

There are plenty of horror stories of unsuspecting drivers picking up their cars and lo and behold, it’s a six-speed manual transmission!

If you want an automatic, make sure you specify that when you reserve, and don’t expect to arrive and request an automatic at the last minute. They’re popular with North American tourists, there aren't many of them, and they go quickly.

Special considerations

Renting a car in Lyon in winter

Laws in France require you to have winter tires or chains in your car in some departments, mostly those in mountainous regions. Your car rental agency should have equipped you with these, but check to be sure.

If you’re heading south to Provence, for example, you certainly don’t need winter tires if you stick to the autoroute. But if you want to cross the Alps and follow along Napoleon’s route, for example, then you will need to be equipped.

Some companies charge extra for winter tires, while others automatically change to winter tires when the season requires. Some also use all-season tires so you'll be all set. Each is different.

Age requirements

Minimum age for rental: Legally, a Lyon car rental requires you to be over 18 and have had your licence for over a year. But each company differs and the rental age is often higher, usually 21 or 25, and you must have had your licence for whatever time they specify, but usually at least a year. A few rare agencies have an even higher minimum rental age of 30! You may also have to pay an underage driver fee.

Maximum age for rental: Legally, there is no maximum. However, the decision of whether to rent is made by the car rental company. Some will rent whatever your age, others may charge a senior supplement, and others may not allow you to rent their cars at all.

How to know?

The first step is to click your correct age (the underlined age is clickable when you’re searching Discovercars).

Once you’ve searched and the list of available cars appears, the next step is to click Rental Conditions, and then click Driver Requirements. These will tell you everything you need to know – age limitations, validity of licence, and anything else.

Driver requirements will explain all the conditions related to the driver

A few final booking tips and tricks

• Book early, especially in high season. Not only will you have greater choice in rentals, but you'll be able to find a more affordable car as well.

• When you book with Discovercars, you’ll get the best rental cars at rates that are lower than industry, in some cases up to 70% cheaper, for the best deal.

• While you can sometimes choose different drop-off locations, this will usually cost you extra. The same goes for one-way rentals.

• If you plan on doing a lot of driving, check that your car includes unlimited mileage. Not all do.

Driving in Lyon

What it’s like to drive in Lyon

It depends on what you’re looking for.

The Lyonnais are skilled drivers, often having to navigate complicated streets and climbs like Fourvière Hill to get where they’re going.

That may be, but their skill is overshadowed by their impatience, manifested  by honking or by trying to gently convince you to move along by tailgating. I’ll be honest, much as I love Lyon, I’m no fan of its driving.

And, if you rent one on the outskirts of the city, you won’t need to worry about city drivers, since you’ll be bypassing them.

Lyon seen from Fourvière hill - it’s a dense city, full of traffic ©OffbeatFrance

Parking in Lyon

Parking inside the city can be complicated. It’s not as bad as Paris but spaces are scarce, parkings are expensive, and if you have anything larger than a compact car you’ll have to navigate deftly around pillars and walls.

There's also a height limitation on many parking lots and you ignore it at your peril (so make sure you know what height your car is!)

I'll never forget diving down a parking lot ramp behind a car that was "just a bit" too high – and watching it get stuck, unable to move either forward or backward, until an attendant finally appeared to dislodge the height bar... Rather embarrassing!

That said, some parking lots can be works of art, designed by architects who value form over substance.

You can also book some of your parkings online and pay by phone, which is convenient if you don’t have a smart card that works in France.

Tips for staying safe and legal

Driving in Lyon is no different than driving in the rest of France, but there are a few rules you should know before you hit the road.

• At a crossing, where there’s no hint of who has priority, the vehicle coming from your right has priority.

• You cannot use your cellphone unless it’s hands-free (no earphones allowed).

• You cannot drink and drive. Your drink limit is 0.5g of alcohol per liter of blood, which basically means one glass of wine for the average person. This isn’t an exact science, but fines are stiff and you’ll be putting yourself and others in danger if you overshoot, so best to err on the side of caution. 

• The speed limit on the autoroute is 130 kph (80 mph). On regular and rural roads, it varies between 80-90 kph (50-55 mph) so you’ll have to watch for road signs. And in urban areas it’s 50 kph (30 mph), unless signposted at 30 kph (18 mph). France has a lot of radars and if you trigger one, they will find you!

There are plenty of other driving rules you’ll need know before getting behind the wheel of a car, many of which make sense, along with a few which do not. I’ve summarized the main ones in this article.

Picking up and returning your car

Before you leave the rental agency

The first thing I do after finishing the paperwork is walk around the car with my phone and video the entire exterior. I open the trunk and then all the doors, and do the same. If I see the tiniest scratch or speck, I zoom in on it. That video has a date stamp (your phone knows when it was taken) so there’s no argument about whether that scratch was there before or whether you made it.

The second thing I do is figure out how the car works: wipers, lights, radio, GPS. These aren’t things I want to experiment with once I’m on the highway, so best to know where everything is while still in the parking lot.

The final thing I check is the gas tank. If I’ve been asked to return it full, I want to make sure it’s full when I take the car. Fair is fair.

Make sure you know the return procedure: Does the tank have to be full? Do you have to return it during office hours? Where is the mailbox to drop your keys? What papers do you need to leave with the keys? Anything you need to know is best learned now − and don't forget to add the agency's emergency number to your phone before you go.

When you return your car

If you’ve damaged the car, you should report it immediately by phone to the agency as soon as it happens and follow their instructions. 

That’s a rare occurrence, however, and you’ll usually be returning a near-pristine car. Have your video ready just in case, and be sure to acknowledge any obvious damage you’ve made to the car.

Best road trips from Lyon

Renting a car gives you the joy and opportunity to strike out on your own and explore tiny roads and villages that are barely visible on your maps. 

If you don't know where to start, here are several destinations you must add to your itinerary when visiting Lyon, if you have a day or more to spare.

• Aix-les-Bains – a delightful spa town on the shores of the Lac du Bourget
• Annecy – nicknamed the “Venice of the Alps” and often called the prettiest town in France
• Beaujolais – the world-famous vineyard just 45 minutes from Lyon
• Dombes – a collection of tiny picturesque ponds along an alluvial plain, and right next to the Bresse, which produces the best chicken in the world
• Evian-les-Bains – the famous home of bottled water, right on Lake Geneva
• Pérouges and Yvoire – medieval villages listed among the most beautiful villages in France
• Vienne – a town south of Lyon known for its massive Roman ruins
• Other vineyards – beyond the Beaujolais, you can also visit the Coteaux du Lyonnais, the Côtes du Rhône region, and the Bugey, nearer the Jura mountains

The medieval village of Pérouges, a half-hour drive from Lyon

Yvoire, another delightful village within driving distance of Lyon

Before you go…

Lyon is a wonderful city that deserves plenty of time, but it is also home to unique countryside destinations, especially vineyards and stunning villages, which can only be reached by car and which deserve a leisurely trip at your own pace.

Make sure you give yourself at least one day (or several if you can) to leave the city behind and explore our amazing surroundings, whether it’s with your own vehicle or one you've rented.

Did you enjoy this article? I'd love if you shared it!

🇫🇷

Bonjour! I’m Leyla! I was born in Paris and now live in the bucolic mountain foothills of Eastern France between Lyon and Annecy. 

I'm rediscovering my own back yard after years of living abroad in Canada, Spain and Switzerland as a journalist and a diplomat － and I'm loving every minute.

Passionate about history and culture, I’ve created Offbeat France to seek out my country’s mysteries and legends, less-traveled destinations, along with plenty of food stops and many castles － I am French, after all!

Read more!

🇫🇷

What's New!

• 

1. The Best 5-Day Luberon Itinerary For Exploring Its Hilltop Villages

   Mar 17, 25 04:41 PM

   This 5-day Luberon itinerary includes the area's most beautiful hilltop villages, historic sites and markets, with tips on where to stay and eat.

   Read More

2. The Nîmes Arena And Its Forgotten Roman Treasures

   Mar 17, 25 04:40 PM

   The Nîmes Arena hides lost treasures, secret tunnels, and eerie legends—but beyond it you'll discover stunning Roman ruins that make Nîmes a true “French Rome.”

   Read More

3. Bayeux, France: Vikings, Conquerors And The Roar Of Tanks

   Feb 25, 25 05:38 AM

   Discover Bayeux’s rich history with its unique tapestry, medieval cathedral, WWII museums, and charming old town, plus easy access to the D-Day beaches.

   Read More

4. 9 Famous French Love Stories That Rattled History

   Feb 10, 25 06:32 AM

   Discover 9 famous French love stories that shaped history—from royal affairs to revolutionary romances, these passionate tales changed France forever.

   Read More

5. How To Make The Best Of One Day In Marseille

   Jan 14, 25 07:46 AM

   Only have one day in Marseille? No matter - here's my guide to your perfect day in the Phocaean City.

   Read More