Car Rentals at Perpignan Airport

Perpignan Airport serves the city of Perpignan, as well as many other towns in the Pyrénées-Orientales department of France, and handles around 400,000 passengers per annum. Passengers arrive at the airport from local destinations, as well as from areas in the United Kingdom. Some are tourists and others are business professionals. Arriving passengers will often need some form of transport to either reach their hotel or place of business, or to explore all the wonderful attractions of the area. A rented car from one of the Perpignan car hire companies is considered to be most convenient, and can be quite affordable if all options are considered. There are several car rental companies at the airport.

The airport can also be referred to as the Llabanère Airport, and is officially known as the Perpignan-Rivesaltes Airport. It is recognised by the airport code of PGF. Although the passenger terminal can accommodate up to 700,000 passengers per annum, it is not very large, and passengers have no trouble finding all the facilities they require. In the main airport area there are shops and a bar/restaurant, and cash machines are available. As passengers exit the arrival area, they will see the car hire companies of the airport, which include Avis, Europcar, Hertz, Budget, Alamo, National, Easycar, Auto Europa and Sixt. Their hours of operation generally correspond to the schedules of the arrival flights of the airport, but it is best to confirm with your chosen car hire company. It is recommended to book your hire car in advance of your arrival, as often the best rental rates are given for early reservations, and for online bookings. It also brings peace of mind knowing that your ideal car is ready and waiting for you at the airport.

At the Perpignan Airport car rental company of your choice, you will need to show a valid driving license that has been held for at least a year prior to the rental date in your country of residence. For certain vehicle categories, two or even five years of driving experience will be required. For the majority of smaller to medium sized vehicles, the drivers will need to be 21 years of age or older. Larger vehicles, or luxury cars and convertibles will require the drivers to be 25 years of age or older. A driving license in English is usually accepted, but sometimes, especially when the document is printed in a non-Roman alphabet, an International Driving Permit will be required. Although 21 is the minimum age requirement (or even just 18 for some car rental companies), persons younger than 25 will pay higher rental rates, for young driver insurance. This is a small amount applicable to each ‘underage’ driver, and each day of car hire, usually up until a maximum of ten rental days.

Insurance is often optional, but recommended, as it will protect you should the rented car be in an accident, or be stolen. Collision damage waiver and theft protection are sometimes included in the rental quote, but third party liability insurance and fire insurance are almost always included. Other items which could be covered in the price are VAT, all licenses and fees associated with the rented car or location, breakdown assistance and unlimited mileage. Surcharges for young drivers, additional drivers and equipment rented are not included. Child seats can be hired, as well as satellite navigation systems, and from Perpignan Airport, hand controls for disabled drivers are free of charge. Payments for car hire are made with a major credit card, for example, American Express, Diners Club, Eurocard, Mastercard or Visa.

Your rented car at the airport will be parked in the P2 car park found nearby the terminal building, and the parking bay number at which the vehicle can be found will be printed on your reservation booklet. The cars begin the rental period with a full tank of fuel, and should be returned empty if fuel is purchased upfront, or full, if fuel has not been purchased. There is no petrol station at the airport, therefore ensure that you stop at a fuel station nearby, otherwise there will be additional charges for the re-fuelling of the vehicle by the car hire company. Vehicles will be returned to the same car park, marked as ‘Park Louers’ as you enter the ground of Perpignan Airport. One way hires may also be possible to arrange, and are convenient for all who would prefer to deliver their vehicle to a different car rental location, either in the country of France or in another European country. Spain is just forty kilometres from Perpignan, and the city is often a thoroughfare for motorists travelling to this country. The cities of Figueres and Girona are nearby, and Barcelona is just under a two hour drive away. The main road closest to the airport is the A9, leading south into Spain, and north up to Narbonne, and towards Beziers, Montpellier, Carcassonne and Toulouse.

Vehicles hired by the Perpignan Airport car hire companies come in all shapes and sizes, and are usually arranged and chosen by car category, however, some companies may allow certain vehicles to be booked by their exact make and model. Categories available often include Mini, Economy, Compact, Intermediate or Midsize, Standard, Premium, Luxury, Van and SUV. Premium and Luxury vehicles are ideal for passengers who need a more elegant vehicle for business functions, and are usually of Mercedes or Volvo makes. Mini and Economy cars have the cheapest rental rates, and are similar to the Renault Twingo, Opel Corsa, Ford Fiesta, Citroen C3 and Peugeot 207. Family-sized cars are similar to the Citroen C5, Mercedes C Class, Renault Laguna and Renault Scenic, and Vans are particularly suitable for groups of travellers, as they seat seven, eight or nine passengers. They include the Opel Zafira, Citroen Grand Picasso C4, Citroen C8, Renault Espace and the Rental Traffic Combi.

All further enquiries can be made to the Perpignan car hire company of your choice.