Leasing a vehicle for one month in the south of France

Kate, I'm leasing a car for 6+ weeks later this year (Citroen through Autoeurope.ca). The price breaking point of rental versus lease was a little over 3 weeks for my particular model (midsize auto, full insurance coverage). If you can get cheap full coverage insurance elsewhere, or you are willing to accept the standard basic rate, then rentals may still be a bit lower.

My lease is already about 5% more than when I booked.

Sorry, not heard of Turo. Edit, just read a little about it - looks like an airbnb for cars. I wouldn't touch it.

If you have a premium credit card that offers primary insurance for the period of your rental, it will likely be cheaper to rent. Auto insurance can be a determining factor.

We leased several times when we were visiting France for many weeks through either Renault Eurodrive or AutoEurope leasing. You have to arrange it in advance because you take ownership of a new car, so the company arranges for the paperwork to be in your name. Whether you lease through AutoEurope or Renault, all cars come from this company TT, Pick up and drop off are at airport offices usually. In the south, you have at least Toulouse, Montpellier, Marseille, Nice with TT offices. Yes, I liked that full insurance was included. Once when a pebble cracked the windshield, the insurance had the 500-euro repair made the same week. I know that many overseas French people who come back to visit in the summer lease their cars.

we leased a car a few years back and found it to be a good experience. But we picked it up near CDG airport, so I do not know about doing this in the south of France. Peter

Before moving to France we leased a car through Renault for a six week visit. As noted above, it was a little more than 3 weeks into the lease that it became cheaper than renting. Overall a very positive experience. I backed into a rock wall in a parking lot at some castle in the Dordogne and there was no charge to fix the taillight thanks to the included insurance.

The car was picked up at Orly airport and dropped off at Bordeaux-Mérignac airport.

I think the best way for you to assess your particular situation is to go to the websites of the various companies doing this -- several have been mentioned above -- and see what your options are for pickup and drop off in southern France. I would think Marseille Marignane airport might be the most likely but there may be other sites as well.

We leased a car arranged through Auto Europe leasing from Marseille airport in August 2022. It was very easy. One further benefit besides the insurance is extra driver is no additional cost. Regular car rental usually adds a daily charge for that and it can really add up.

It's been a good while, but we leased for 3 weeks in Marseille and returned it at CDG. It was a very good choice for us. I would stick with a known company. Check with Autoeurope for a comparison. The previous posters comments are right on.

Thank you so much for all of your experience and advice! It's been so helpful.

I second using credit card provided insurance. I have rented a car many many times and never once paid it.

All premium cards in Canada provide it. Also look up any discount codes provided by the credit card. Some of the premium ones have discount codes with Avis or Hertz.

I don’t have any experience with car leasing in France, and don’t know the costs… but I’ve booked a small car rental for a month from Sixt, with pickup from Marseille airport, that is about 50 euros per day including full insurance (no deductible), 24/7 breakdown assistance, and second driver. I’ve rented from Sixt several times in the past and had great experience. Is a lease less expensive than that?
And I’d be wary of insurance coverage from credit cards- at least, I’ve heard that they can be difficult to deal with, requiring police reports, etc, for any claims.

I believe, Roger, that you got a better deal than I have. I've looked at a lease that works out to about $60 per day. Not great. The only bonus, in my mind, is that I don't get hit with added costs and insurance once I arrive. Last year, for a one-month rental car, I paid $100 per day, when you took all insurance and zero deductable into account. Perhaps I do this wrong every time, but it seems that renting a car is the most expensive part of traveling to Provence.

Thank you to everyone who has written with their suggestions!

Visit Avis.ca and look up your destinations. If you have an infinite Visa card, they provide good deals with a code you can find in the benefit guide. I am looking at renting for 4 nights in Provence and the price I am getting is $250CAD for an automatic and $220CAD for manual. Don't need insurance as it is covered by the credit card.

I dinged a car once to the cost of $2k CAD and insurance covered it no questions asked. I just had to fill out the form and the rental location and provide my credit card insurance info.

@kate, the price I mentioned was about 50 EUROS per day, so that’s certainly CA$60 (actually, more than CA$60) per day. But, surely your other daily expenses for accommodation, and maybe also for meals (if you’re dining out) are more than that. I find it hard to believe that car rental (or lease) is your major expense while in Provence. Good luck, have a good vacation.