Car Rentals at Paris Orly Airport

Orly is one of the largest of the French Airports serving the country of France, and is located just a few kilometres south of Paris, the capital city. The airport is named ‘Orly’ due to its location alongside this commune, and has the official airport code of ORY. Paris Orly is the second largest airport in France, with about half the number of passengers served by Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, which is approximately 25 million per annum. It is also the airport that handles the majority of domestic passengers out of all the airports in the country. The airport has extensive facilities, including several car hire companies, and many of the Orly car rental companies are internationally recognised.

The car rental companies at the airport are found in both terminal buildings, and in convenient locations for arriving passengers. Located some distance apart are the Paris-Orly South and Paris-Orly West terminals, and they can be easily accessed by using the Orlyval automatic light rail system. This is a free service that enables passengers to quickly transfer between the terminals, as well as to the railway station in Antony. However, the car hire companies generally have counters in both terminals. They include Hertz, Avis, Sixt, National, Auto Europa, Easycar, Alamo, Dollar, Thrifty, Budget and Europcar.

Once passengers have collected their luggage, they can go directly to the car hire company of their choice to make a reservation, or to collect their vehicle if a booking has already been made. At Paris Orly Airport, it is recommended to reserve a vehicle as early as possible, as it is a very busy car rental location. Cars can be hired from various online websites, or by contacting the car hire company directly, over the telephone. In France, the majority of car rental companies expect their primary renters to be at least 21 years of age, and to have a valid drivers license from their home country. The license must also have been held for at least a year prior to the rental date. Although most licenses printed in English are accepted, foreign renters may need an International Driving Permit as well as their local license. A major credit card, such as American Express, Diners Club, Eurocard, Mastercard or Visa will be needed to pay for the rental, and the primary renter should arrange for adequate vehicle insurance. Some of the car hire companies will offer all-inclusive rates which will cover collision damage waiver and theft protection insurance, while all quotes will usually include third party liability insurance.

At the Paris Orly Airport car hire companies, passengers can hire vehicles ranging from small models ideal for just two people, such as the Smart for Two, or larger vans similar to the Mercedes Vito which can seat up to nine people. Smaller vehicles have lower rental rates, and may be similar to the Opel Corsa, Ford Ka, Volkswagen Golf or Renault Clio, while larger sedans, such as the Opel Insignia, VW Passat and Renault Laguna have more room for luggage. In Paris, estates can also be hired, as well as more elegant vehicles, which are classed as Premium or Luxury cars, and which are usually of a Mercedes, BMW or Volvo model.

When you reserve a hired car from the airport, be sure to include any additional items of equipment needed for your journey. A child seat(s) will be essential if you have young children, or a baby, and a satellite navigation system is ideal for anyone unfamiliar with the Paris area. Many car hire companies even include a GPS unit in the price of some of their vehicles. Other rental options include one way hires, that enable the customer to collect their vehicle from the airport, but deliver it to another location, either in Paris, somewhere else in the country, or even to another country. One way hires are usually free of charge if returned within France. Disabled drivers also have options at many of the car hire companies, such as the use of hand controls. Hand controls are free of charge, but should be reserved in advance.

In a rented car, driving in the centre of Paris is not really recommended, as traffic can be very heavy, and parking spaces hard to find, however, a car is the ideal form of transport for travelling the outskirts of the city, and for driving to nearby towns and cities. If you do drive in Paris, a few car parks are available, as well as metered parking on the streets. However, be sure to avoid all red routes, and do not park in the same place for longer than 24 hours, unless you are in a legitimate parking area. Always obey all road rules, which include wearing seatbelts and staying within the speed limits. Drivers should also not talk on cellular phones when operating a vehicle. The speed limits in Paris are as follows:  110km/h or 70mph on motorways and highways, 90km/h or 55mph on open roads and 50km/h or 30mph in urban areas.

The Paris Orly car hire companies can assist you with all further car rental enquiries, and will be happy to provide a suitable car for your journey in this wonderful region of France.