Renting a car with automatic transmission in Paris
In France the vast majority of cars have manual transmission. To my knowledge, most of the cars with automatic transmission are luxury cars. Is it possible to rent a car with automatic transmission in Paris at a decent price (e.g. a price close to cheap rental car with manual transmission)? I plan to drive around 1,200 Km around France for vacation over 5 days in early July (~July 2 to July 6), with 7 people including myself, Paris being the start and end points.
Best Answer
You could get a Smart Fortwo. It probably counts as an entry-level car and has an automated manual transmission, with no clutch pedal (you do need to press a button on the steering wheel to engage the higher gear). Won't seat 7, though ;-)
Small hybrid cars (like the hybrid version of the Toyota Yaris) could also be an option, although I am not sure whether you could easily rent one of those. No gearbox, whether automatic or manual on that one (same for electric cars obviously).
Otherwise, you can ask for a car with automatic transmission from many rental companies (just checked Avis, Hertz and Europcar). The smallest city cars won't have it but it's available starting with the compact car category (VW Golf), so nothing super-luxurious. You would need two of those for your party.
If you all want to be in the same vehicle, you will need a van. I guess you could get one with automatic transmission too but it's going to cost you in any case. Really, if you are travelling with 7 people and want to drive a lot, the price of the cheapest manual transmission cars is moot because you need a bigger car one way or the other.
Pictures about "Renting a car with automatic transmission in Paris"
Can you rent automatic car in France?
1. Re: Renting a car in France with automatic transmission? All french rental companies rent both manual and automatic cars.Are rental cars in Europe automatic?
Most rental cars in Europe require manual transmission, though automatic vehicles are available. "If you're planning to rent a car, make reservations early from the U.S. before you leave for your trip to ensure the best availability, especially during peak travel times," says Julie Hall, a spokesperson for AAA.Are rental cars automatic or manual?
The truth is, most rental cars in the United States are automatic, and companies usually do not offer manual transmission cars. This is reflective of the general situation in the auto market, where only about 10-13% of cars have manual transmission.Why is automatic car rental more expensive?
While the cost of automatic cars is usually higher by a small percentage that does not make up for the difference. What allows rental agencies to increase rental fees is that automatic cars are a specialized demand which is almost exclusively catered to tourists.Renting \u0026 Driving a Car in France: Guide for Tourists
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Tim Samuel, Tim Samuel, Tim Samuel, Lazaro Rodriguez Jr