France Car Hire - Information on France

General Information on France

France is one of the most important countries, not only in Europe, but the world as a whole. It is not surprising that France is also the one of the world's most popular tourist destinations. Car hire visitors can choose from a variety of attractions...the museums and culture of Paris, the landscapes that inspired the Impressionists in Provence, cathedrals that took decades to build, and the chateaux of the Loire valley. Different regions of the country are quite distinct from one another, so one visit is often not enough to see all that this country has to offer. Hiring a car on your visit to France is a must, most towns have tourism facilities, and are extremely well developed.

General Information

Entry Requirements
No problems for european visitors, arriving via ferry or air we can provide car hire from most locations. U.S. citizens do not require a visa to enter France for visits of less than three months. Most popular entry point for visitors is Paris - Car hire we have cars from most airports and terminal locations in Paris - at the best prices! Pets are allowed to enter the country as long as they have valid rabies vaccination certificates, issued in French by a nationally licensed veterinarian of the departure country. Pets must be vaccinated at least 30 days but less than one year prior to the date of entry.

Local Time

France is I hour ahead of London and 6 hours ahead of Eastern Time, in the United States and Canada. All France car hire booking times are displayed in local times.

Language

French is the official language, but English is widely understood in major cities. When hiring a car from France Car Hire you can be assured of help with language at the booking location desk. Please make the effort to speak French, basic politness goes a long way!

Electricity

220 V, 50Hz. The Continental two-round-pin plug is standard.

Business Information

Currency
Car Hire must be paid for via a Credit Card, we do do accept cash. Banks are generally open on weekdays from about 9:30 a.m. to 6:00, Monday mornings can be a problem, most are open on Saturday mornings, and most close between noon and 2. Some banks charge a commission for money exchanges or cashing travelers checks.

General Business Hours
Museums: Typical museum hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m., with lunchtime closings from noon to 2 p.m. common. Many museums are closed Tuesdays and Sunday mornings. Restaurants: Lunchtime is 12:30 or 1 p.m. Dinner is generally around 8 p.m. Shopping: Normal business hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m., often with a break between noon and 2 p.m. Large stores in big towns typically do not close for lunch. Small stores may open before 9:30 a.m. and close later than 6.

Value Added Tax - 19.6%

Seasons

Spring
Average spring temperatures for Paris: 43-60 F and 6-16 C. For Marseille: 46-64 F and 8-18 C. The best month to visit Paris is May.

Summer
Average summer temperatures for Paris: 57-74 F and 14-24 C. For Marseille: 61-82 F and 16-27 C. Summers tend to be pleasant in Paris but can be downright hot along the Mediterranean.

Autumn
Average autumn temperatures for Paris: 46-60 F and 8-16 C. For Marseille: 50-67 F and 10-19 C. Autumn, when the crowds go down and the tempurature stays up, it is a good time to visit France.

Winter
Average winter temperatures for Paris: 34-44 F and 1-6 C. For Marseille: 36-51 F and 2-11 C. While the thermometer dips in Paris, temperatures stay mild in southern France.

Helpful Translations

Car Hire Agency - agence de location
Detour - detour
Diesel - Gasoil
Embassy - ambassade
Entrance - entree
Exit - sortie
Expressway - autoroute
Forbidden - defense d'entree
Highway - route nationale
Hospital - hopital
Petrol Station - Station Service
Motor oil - huile
One-way - sans unique
Parking - parking
Police - police
Police station - gendarmerie
Sorry - pardon
Toll - Peage
Toll Road - route a peage
Unleaded Fuel - essence

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