Observations on car rental in France

A triangle and a hi vis vest are required in France - in the inside of the car because you are not allowed to put on the hi-vis on the roadside and not allowed to dig in back of the car for the triangle.

As far as the fuel goes, go with the cheapest (black) grade. It should be fine. And anyone at the station should be able to get the cap open for you. Have fun!

Be careful using a black hose or black nozzle if you want petrol. Black is usually diesel.

We rented from Europcar 2 weeks ago. The safety kit was in the car, right on the backseat, the gear shift had marking but they weren't lit up for night driving. One thing I wasn't expecting was the agent we got the car from said he needed an International Driving permit. France wasn't on the list of countries that you need one in so we didn't get one. I was a bit nervous she wouldn't give us the car but she did. As far as gas, we had a Fiat diesel and the gas tank door had the type of gas written right on it.

Sorry to hear about your experience but not surprised. I spent 37 years in the auto industry and very early in my career I came to wish that my company would stop selling cars to rental agencies because of the sad condition of many of the cars I rented on trips. The condition of the car you get from a rental company is a total crap shoot depending on what company you rent from and where you pick it up. Some are good and some are terrible. As to the absence of a manual, it may have been stolen by a previous renter or the rental company may have removed it when they first got the car to make sure they would have one to put in it when they resold it. Being retired I have the luxury of taking long enough vacations that I can lease and not have the rental car headaches.