Nantes is a city in Western France, known for being a vibrant cultural hub thanks to its abundance of art installations and museums, its medieval history and its lively festival scene. Nantes is a perfect destination for tours and excursions, from museum hopping to boat tours and strolling through the Old Town. Although Nantes has a regular and efficient public transport system in place, you may find it easier and more convenient to hire a car. You can find a range of car hire options from Nantes, whether from the city centre or from Nantes Airport. If you are considering hiring a car, make sure you check out the offers and range of vehicles available on the Holiday Cars website.
At Holiday Cars, we pride ourselves on the ease of use and navigation of our site. We source and provide the best deals on car hire across Nantes and the rest of France, and we liaise and partner closely with some of Europe’s top car hire suppliers to bring you the best range of vehicles to hire across Nantes. Our site is also extremely easy to use, with helpful toggle tools and filters that you can use to narrow down and adjust your search for the perfect hire car. We also don’t charge any hidden fees or costs, giving you the assurance and peace of mind that you’ll only pay for what you expect to pay for. For the best quality car hire and range of vehicles in Nantes, choose Holiday Cars as your go-to car hire platform.
Driving Rules and Regulations in Nantes
Driving in Nantes is arguably no different to driving in any other French city, and you’re unlikely to encounter any problems when driving, however like any other city there are certain rules and regulations that you should be aware of and follow before you attempt to drive in the city. If you’re a tourist, it may be particularly useful for you to understand how to drive in Nantes before you begin any car journeys. Here are some of the top rules and regulations to know when driving in Nantes:
- Nantes, like many other French cities, is a Low Emissions Zone, meaning that before you drive you need to ensure that your car has the relevant and required Crit’Air vignette sticker. Normally when hiring a car, this is automatically included, but those who are driving their own car in the city need to obtain one themselves. If your car doesn’t have a Crit-Air sticker, you’ll likely be prohibited from driving through the city.
- Some of the roads connecting to Nantes feature tolls. When hiring a car, toll fees can usually either be paid for automatically via a built-in transponder, or added on at the end of your rental period.
- To drive in Nantes, you must be aged 18 or over which is the same as the rest of France. To hire a car in France, you’re usually required to be aged 21 and over, although this can vary between car hire suppliers. Bear in mind that some suppliers may also charge a young driver fee for anyone aged below 25.
- UK or EU drivers don’t need an IDP for driving in Nantes, although you may find it necessary to obtain one if you want to avoid any lengthy checks or any unwanted hassle.
Top Tips for Driving in Nantes
When driving in Nantes, whether with your own car or with a hire car, it’s important that you know the ins and outs of getting around the city. Parts of Nantes may be harder to drive in than others, and traffic is known to be particularly heavy, especially in the mornings or evenings during rush hour. When hiring a car, it’s important you remember to bring all the relevant documentation with you, which usually includes a valid credit card, a form of ID and driving licence, and any insurance or registration documents. You may also find it easier to obtain an IDP when driving, although this isn’t necessary for UK and EU drivers.
Nantes, as with many other cities in France, is a Low Emissions Zone, meaning that in order to be able to drive in the city, you need a Crit’Air sticker, which is a coloured and numbered sticker that, depending on the colour and number, indicates how many emissions your car produces. Vehicles with certain sticker colours and numbers may not be allowed to drive in Nantes. You can obtain Crit’Air stickers on France’s official government website.
Parking in Nantes – A Guide
Nantes has a number of main parking zones – red, blue and orange– where you can usually park for free on certain days of the week like Sundays, or at certain times of day. Usually, during the week, you have to pay for parking, which is normally affordable but can add up the longer you leave your car in the car park. On street parking is often difficult to find, and can also come with a hefty price depending on where you decide to park.
Hiring Your Car from Nantes Airport
Nantes Airport is a major hub for car hire, where you can find a wide range of vehicle types, makes and models. You can expect to hire a car from a number of trusted car hire suppliers at Nantes Airport, such as Budget, Sixt, Avis and Europcar, among others. Hiring your car from an airport location can often mean you find better deals on your car hire than if you decided to hire from a city centre location. Airports may also offer a wider range of car types and suppliers, and if you decide to hire a car from Nantes Airport, you can simply hop off the plane and straight into your chosen vehicle.
As car hire from Nantes Airport can be quite popular during certain times of year, we’d recommend booking your car hire online through Holiday Cars. Booking online can essentially mean you skip the queue and any lengthy in-person car hire processes and mounds of paperwork, and gives you the freedom to narrow down your search for the perfect car based on your preferences.
Types of Vehicles to Hire in Nantes
In Nantes, you can expect to find a number of car types, makes and models, from economy vehicles and SUVs, to luxury cars and minivans. The prices of cars in Nantes can vary, but the current cheapest one you can find via the Holiday Cars site is the Fiat 500, with a daily price of £45. The current most expensive car to rent in Nantes is the BMW X5, with a daily price of around £280 per day.