Car Rentals at Montpellier Airport

Montpellier is one of the most important airports in France, as it serves the third most popular region for tourism, and is rated as the tenth largest in the country in terms of passenger traffic. It is also the largest airport in the Languedoc Roussillon region, which boasts all varieties of attractions, from skiing resorts to golden beaches. The airport is officially known as the Montpellier-Méditerranée Airport, or as the Fréjorgues Airport, and has the IATA code of MPL. The best way to visit the attractions of the area is by rented car, from one of the Montpellier Airport car hire companies. The car rental services at the airport are provided by internationally recognised companies, and they offer a wide range of quality vehicles and competitive rental rates.

The airport, located just 7km from the city centre of Montpellier, and in the Hérault department of France, consists of two terminal buildings that are well equipped for the needs of its passengers. Departure proceedings mainly take place from the upper level, while arriving passengers will enter the building on the ground floor. The arrival and departure areas are found on opposite ends of the concourse. Flights generally arrive at the airport between 05:30 and 23:00, and the car hire companies are open during these hours as well, to meet all arrival flights and their passengers. The Montpellier Airport car rental companies include Hertz, Avis, National, Sixt, Auto Europa, Easycar, Europcar, Alamo, Budget and Thrifty. Their rental counters can be found in the arrivals hall, and their vehicles are parked nearby, in the P1 airport car park.

The majority of the car hire companies have their vehicles arranged into various car groups, and they are therefore booked accordingly, however, Hertz allows their customers to reserve their vehicle by specific make and model from three categories. This is perhaps one of the reasons why Hertz is so popular. Hertz is one of the largest and longest standing of car rental providers in the world, with over ninety years of experience. Auto Europa is another company with thousands of rental locations, and a long history of excellent service. Sixt is well known for their innovative services which allow customers to more easily expedite the process of car rental, especially if they are holders of the Sixt Express Card, and Avis is an all-round favourite choice of many in need of leisure or business vehicles. National, Europcar and Alamo form the largest car rental network in the world, and provide quality services at all large airports in Europe and beyond. National specializes in business rentals, whilst Alamo is more prevalent for vacation rentals. Budget is a superb choice for lower rental rates, and Thrifty offers their customers a variety of unique services, including the ‘Wild Car’ category and their Blue Chip Rewards Program.

Regardless of which car rental company you choose at Montpellier Airport, you are sure to receive a vehicle which is in excellent condition, and one which you can trust to take you safely to all your destinations. The smaller car models are generally cheaper to hire, and are found in the car groups of Mini, Economy and Compact. They could be similar to the Renault Twingo, Opel Corsa, Citroen C3 and Peugeot 308. Other popular vehicle categories include Intermediate, Standard, Premium, Luxury, Fullsize and Van, and many of the vehicles offered within these categories are of a larger size ideal for families and groups of travellers. The cars of the Luxury and Premium categories, such as the BMW Series 3 and Mercedes Classe E, are ideal for business renters who require a more elegant vehicle. Examples of some of the larger vehicles at the Montpellier Airport car hire companies include the Citroen C5, Renault Laguna, Renault Scenic, VW Passat, Opel Zafira, Renault Espace, Citroen C8 and the Renault Traffic Combi with room for nine. SUVs and Convertibles may also be a rental option.

Along with their vehicles, customers can hire various items of equipment, for example, satellite navigation systems, child seats, luggage racks and even hand controls for disabled drivers. A navigation system should be considered by all who are unfamiliar with the road network in and around Montpellier, and a car seat will be needed for the younger members of your family, as the law in France requires all in a vehicle to be secured by seatbelts. This airport location is fully equipped for the comfort of disabled travellers, and the car hire companies have various options for their needs as well. Hand controls can be requested for drivers with a lower limb disability, and persons unable to drive can register a free additional driver for the vehicle, and still be the primary renter. From Montpellier Airport, hand controls are free of charge, and should be reserved in advance. It is also recommended to reserve all items of equipment needed as early as possible.

The renter of a vehicle from the airport should be at least 21 years of age, and have a valid drivers license. Local driving licenses are accepted, provided they are printed in a Roman alphabet and prove that you have been driving for at least a year prior to the rental date. Licenses in a foreign language, or in a non-Roman alphabet, may need to be accompanied by an International Driving Permit for translation purposes. Young drivers (under the age of 25) will pay higher rental rates for young drivers insurance, and may not be able to hire vehicles from certain categories. For payment of the vehicle, the primary renter will use a major credit card, for example, American Express, Diners Club, Mastercard, Eurocard or Visa. From Montpellier, one way hires can be arranged, which allow the customer to return their vehicle to a different rental location. One way hires may need an advanced reservation, and may incur additional charges.

Carefully consider the vehicles, services and rental quotes offered by the Montpellier Airport car rental companies, and try to reserve your vehicle as early as possible in order to secure the lowest rental rates. Over the internet is most convenient, and often an online booking discount will be included.