Want to discover one of the most beautiful regions of France, the Loire Valley, with its castles and vineyards... The easiest option is to rent a car to adapt your program to your desires.
Here is our complete guide to renting a car in Tours,
- rental places (train stations...)
- choice of car,
- choice of the car rental agency in Tours,
- find the best prices,
- insurance,
- driving tips,
- ...
Renting a car in Tours - introduction
- Tours is an excellent destination to discover the Loire Valley and its castles
- Your arrival in Tours can be confusing because there are 2 train stations - we explain everything in our tip 1
- Tours also has a small private airport with 2 rental agencies with very limited opening hours.
- You will find classic brands. The biggest agencies are Avis and Sixt.
- At the Saint-Pierre-des-Corps train station, the offices of the rental agencies are located just outside, on the square (see tip 16)
- And from this station, you can quickly get on the highway to leave the city.
- And returning the car is easy (see tip 20)
Take advantage of the offers on our preferred platform Discovercars
#1 to 3 - Choose your car rental agency in Tours (train station, airport...)
Tip 1 - Know where to rent and what agencies are available (station, city, airport)
The offer of rental cars in Tours is quite confusing.
Here's what you need to understand.
Tours has 2 train stations:
- The Tours train station is located in the city center
- The Saint-Pierre-des-Corps TGV (high speed train) station is located on the outskirts of the city
Trains from Paris arrive at the Saint-Pierre-des-Corps station.
But frequent connections allow you to reach both stations in only 5 minutes by train.
The easiest way is to rent a car at the Saint-Pierre-des-Corps train station.
The 2 main agencies are:
- Avis
- Sixt
- Europcar
- Alamo/Enterprise/National
It seems to us that Avis and Sixt are the 2 biggest agencies in the city of Tours, overall. Good choice of cars.
Some agencies are also scattered in the city like Hertz.
And there are also 2 agencies at the small airport: Avis and Europcar, but they are only open on certain days.
And finally, there are also rental companies south of Tours, in a suburb called Chambray-lès-Tours: Avis, Sixt, Rent-a-car...
Whether it is on platforms such as Discovercars.com or directly with the rental companies, always check the pick-up location.
Tip 2 - Compare prices and conditions
We always compare prices immediately at Discovercars.com.
It is one of the highest rated comparison sites in the market, and our favorite.
What we like:
- very good deals even with international brands
- a super easy to use platform that allows you to compare many brands
- many filters to find offers that match our needs: number of drivers, age, agencies...
- a very interesting insurance option that will cover you in case of damage to the exterior of the car - the reimbursement is very fast, we had the opportunity to test it after an impact on the windshield!
See their current car rental offers in Tours.
Tip 3 - Which rental agency to choose
There is no "best" rental agency.
They all have advantages and disadvantages.
To choose, we advise you to consider:
- Pick-up location (at the train station or in the city)
- availability of the type of car you need
- cancellation policy
- authorized mileage
- notes and opinions - but take with a pinch of salt - analyze negative comments. Is the agency really bad or is it people who didn't ask about the conditions beforehand (e.g. security deposit) or who didn't take out insurance?
On the Discovercars.com platform, each rental agency has a 10 point rating (given by real customers). You can use the filter to keep only the best.
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#4 to 7 - Choosing your rental car and extras
Tip 4 - What size car to choose
We advise you to choose a car that:
- has a trunk big enough for your luggage, so that it is not visible if you are on a road trip
- is not too wide, as some villages and old town centers have narrow streets and we don't want you to stress
- is not too long if you don't like to do slots. French parking spaces seem very small to Americans, Canadians and Australians.
Power level, no particular advice, the roads around Tours and in the Loire valley are quite easy.
Tip 5 - What transmissions are available
Most cars for rent in France have a manual transmission.
Some rental agencies have automatic cars, but few. We recommend that you book early.
At Discovercars.com, you can use the "Automatic Transmission" filter on the left, if this is a must for you.
Tip 6 - Child Seat Rules in France
Children under 10 years of age must be seated in a special seat in the back of the car.
Tip 7 - GPS
The GPS options offered by car rental companies are often very expensive. We do not recommend them.
Your best options:
Use your phone - but be careful!
If you have a phone, keep in mind that roaming charges abroad can be very high.
However, you can download a map in advance, when you are connected to the wifi, so you can navigate without spending money.
Don't forget your phone charger and holder to keep it comfortable!
Bring your own GPS
This way you know how it works and you can enter all the destinations in advance, which saves a lot of time.
PLAN YOUR TRIP IN
Loire Valley
The castles of the Loire Valley
Other places to explore
Practice
#8 to 10 - Car rental in Tours: the price
A budget: how much does it cost to rent a car in France
To give you an idea, Discovercars.com lists the following information:
- There are large variations throughout the year
- Average prices vary from 30 to 90 Euros per day
- The cheapest prices are usually for a trip at the end of the year
- The highest prices are from June to August
It is very easy to compare prices online on a platform. And if you're comparing between sites, don't forget to check for any hidden fees. You have to compare what is comparable with the same options and conditions.
Tip 8 - When to rent a car in Tours
As soon as you have chosen your dates, book the car!
Tours and the Loire Valley are very popular destinations, especially during July and August. No last minute offers in summer.
If you want to have a choice of cars and good prices, we advise you to rent your car as soon as possible.
Tip #9 - How to cut costs, find a cheap rental
First of all, let's be honest: you can't have it all, the ultra-low price, the best service in the world and the brand new car...
There is always a balance between price, quality and service.
To reduce the cost of your car rental in France, we advise you to:
- Book early
- Reserve a smaller car
- Choose a rental with no cancellation or with limited cancellation
- Return the car to where you picked it up
- Pay attention to the start and end times of the rental (usually charged in 24-hour increments).
- If you are renting for 6 days, check the price for 7 days - sometimes companies have a discount for one week rentals - but this is less and less the case
- Book with limited mileage
- Compare prices on Discovercars, they often have great deals.
Tip #10 - Factor in the cost of an extra driver
Decide in advance whether or not you will need more than one driver.
It is better to compare the prices with a 2nd driver included, to have a real comparison.
Some companies offer deals with an extra driver for free.
On the Discovercars.com platform, if available, it can be selected on the filters.
#11 to 13 - Conditions to rent a car in Tours
Tips 11 - Permits to rent a car in France
To drive legally in France (on vacation / short trip), you can use a standard international driving license, i.e. with:
- a license number,
- a photograph,
- a validity date,
- and written in Latin letters.
The following permits are therefore valid: EU, USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland...
But if you have any doubts, bring your international driving license. This gives you peace of mind.
Tips 12 - Age and years of driving
The legal age to drive alone in France is 18.
However, most car rental agencies in France :
- require you to be at least 21 years old
- require that you have held a driver's license in your home country for one year or more
- may add fees if you are under 25 or over a certain age.
It is best to make sure you read all the fine print.
On the Discovercars.com platform, you can enter your age range to see the limitations and additional fees right from the start:
Tip #13 - Credit card capable of handling holdback
We'll look at the insurance issue later.
But from now on, keep in mind that the agency will ask you for your credit card to hold a deposit (unless you have taken a no-deductible insurance).
This deposit is held on your card (until the car is returned undamaged), which limits your ability to pay (weekly or monthly limits).
So make sure to:
- Use another credit card for the deposit fee,
- or contact your bank before you travel to change your limits,
- or purchase comprehensive insurance with a 0 deductible.
Is this a concern for you?
See what is possible with the "security deposit" filter on the Discovercars.com platform:
#14 to 15 - Choosing your insurance
Tip #14 - What insurance should I take out?
The compulsory insurance in France is the civil liability insurance (RC - Third Party Liability). It covers personal and property damage to cars and other people's property and even medical expenses.
It is included in the price of the rental car.
But it is possible to take out additional insurance that limits your liability during the rental period and reduces the maximum amount you will have to pay in case of damage (sometimes down to 0).
This is theCollision Damage Waiver (CDW).
It's up to you to decide how much financial risk you're willing to take versus how much you're willing to increase the price of the rental.
Tip #15 - How to Buy Insurance
If you decide to take out additional "insurance" to reduce the cost in case of an accident, you can:
- Use your current insurance
Some credit cards and auto insurance offer rental car coverage. But read all the fine print to understand what is and isn't covered, because it is often very narrow. - Subscribe at the time of reservation
When booking, you have the possibility to select the options. The offers are most of the time better than at the counter.
On the agency sites, you get the dealer's insurance, but on the platforms, you get special insurance created by the platform.
For example, on Discovercars.com, they have their own "Full Coverage Waiver" insurance option. We find it very advantageous and use it.
We tested Discovercars insurance after an impact to the windshield. Like all platform insurances, we had to pay the rental company ourselves for the damage repair (this is one of the reasons for their low price), but we filed all the paperwork directly afterwards and the reimbursement by Discovercars was full and fast. No worries!
- Subscribe at the counter to the car rental
This is the most expensive option. - Purchase travel insurance
Purchase travel insurance that includes comprehensive car rental insurance from one of the traditional insurance companies.
#16 to 18 - Recovering the car
Tip 16 - Access to the rental companies at the Tours / Saint-Pierre-des-Corps train station
It is very easy to pick up your car from the Saint-Pierre-des-Corps train station.
Just follow the signs showing a car with a key on top.
You then leave the station and find yourself on a large square.
On the right you will find different stores with rental agencies.
Tip #17 - Check your vehicle at pickup
Although scams are not common, they do happen.
For peace of mind, we advise you when you take over the car:
- Take a detailed tour of the car either with an agent or with the form. If they don't give you anything, take a look around anyway and go back to the counter if you notice anything.
- Take pictures of any problematic details (scratches, dents...). Even if they tell you it's too small to count.
Don't forget:
- roof the exterior of the car to detect dents and scratches.
- the roof - this is often forgotten, but it may be checked when you return.
- the underside of the bumper
- the back of the mirrors
- the condition of the tires
- the spare wheel
- the interior (especially the seats)
- Fuel level and mileage (which must match the record)
Tip #18 - Make sure the mandatory equipment is in the car
In France, the following equipment must be available in the car:
- Warning triangle
- Reflective vest or jacket for at least 1 person
- Spare tire (recommended - but not required)
A LITTLE MORE patience
All the photos, maps, information, good addresses to make your stay in the Loire Valley a success, will soon be gathered in a single ebook!
If you wish to be informed of the publication of our guide on the Loire, register:
#19 to 20 - Return the car
Tip #19 - Refueling
More and more agencies now have a system where you have to return the car with the same level of fuel (not full to full but same to same).
It's very annoying, but it's more manageable for them.
Therefore, you need to understand how much the car consumes and how many kilometers/miles you have left, if you don't want to waste money.
Tip #20 - Return the car
Each agency will tell you where to return the car.
It is in the parking lots around the Saint-Pierre-des-Corps train station. There are signs.
If, like us, you like to have peace of mind, drop the car off during opening hours. This way, the controls are validated in front of you.
If this is not possible, take pictures of the car before you drop it off.
Don't be stressed. If you've hired a reputable company and follow the rules, everything should go smoothly.
#21 to 25 - Driving in the Loire Valley
Tip #21 - Understand traffic rules and conditions
Here are the essential French rules of conduct:
- Right-hand traffic
- Seatbelt is mandatory for all
- If an intersection does not have a sign or ground sign, you yield the right of way to the person coming from your right (see Tip 23)
- Tolerated blood alcohol level of 0.05%.
- You are not allowed to turn right at a red light, as is possible in some countries
- The horn is only allowed in case of immediate danger (but the French like to forget this rule)
Tip #22 - Observe speed limits
The speed limits indicated in the red circle, normally:
- 30 to 50km/h in the city,
- 80km/h on roads between cities,
- 130km/h on highways
Be careful, there are a lot of radars in France.
Tip #23 - Know the French "Priority on the Right
Attention!
This is a rule that confuses many people.
Many intersections have a light, stop sign or yield sign. It's classic and easy.
But in some French cities, many crossings may have no indication. We then apply priority to the vehicle coming from the road on the right (even if this road seems much less important).
Tip #24 - What to do if you damage the car
If you damage your rental car, start by contacting the car rental agency.
Then it depends on the insurance option you choose:
- basic insurance: you will have to cover the damage up to your deductible.
- full coverage with the agency: check with them and the damage should be covered.
- Discovercars.com insurance: contact them and provide all the information (within 28 days of the car deposit). They will reimburse you for the fees and costs associated with the damage, if warranted.
- your own insurance company: contact them and provide all the information. They will reimburse you for the fees and costs associated with the damage, if they are justified.
Tip 25 - What to do in case of an accident
If people are injured or if there is a conflict, the emergency number in France is 112:
The best order of action is
- contact the emergency services (only if there are injuries)
- contact the police (only if there are injuries or a conflict)
- contact your rental company.
But don't stress, take your time and enjoy the scenery!
