Friends,
May - 2027, we had planned to pickup a rental car in Angers, meander down to Toulon and take a ferry over to Corsica for a week. Ferry back and drop the rental off at Toulouse airport. In reading the fine print on the Avis rental site, it says rentals can't be taken to Corsica. Anybody know the history around this? Anyway to get around it?
Thanks in advance, Joe
Posted by
Sioux Falls, SD, USA
3351 posts
Return car in Toulon, take ferry, rent car on Corsica.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
7536 posts
First of all, I suspect your plan doesn't really make sense (I'd simply fly to Corsica and rent a car there - that's what I did - and I bet it was a lot cheaper than what you're trying to do). So my first suggestion would be to reconsider your plan. Just fly there and rent the car. It's easy, and not expensive.
But to answer your question...
I've rented a LOT of cars throughout Europe and around the world in the past few decades. IME car rental contracts often include a boilerplate clause that prohibits taking the car on a ferry (not just ferries to Corsica, but ferries in general). When I've found that (a few times in different countries), I've asked them to simply wave that clause (re-do the contact with that language removed). In all cases they've done so without any argument or pushback. Not saying you'll get the same (maybe I've just been lucky), but you can ask. (Of course if you ask and they refuse, and you disregard that and simply go ahead with taking the car on that ferry, be prepared for consequences - many rental cars have GPS tracking devices so they'll know; they can enforce the contract by fining you).
If you can't get them to OK the ferry, and you really want to take a car on that ferry (have you checked what that's going to cost, round trip for the car?), fire them and find an agency who will let you.
Posted by
Citizen of the World
4006 posts
Good advice in the comments above.
If you were to drive from Angers to Toulon, you’re going to incur considerable additional charges such as French motorway tolls, potential traffic citations, parking and fuel costs. and then the cost of taking the car aboard the ferry.
These extra costs for renting a car, rather than taking a train or flying, will likely make the car rental more expensive than you think.
And then there is the fact that the insurance many car rental agencies offer at the counter may not cover you for any loss or damage occurring while the car is on the ferry. If the car breaks down on the island of Corsica, many agencies will hold you responsible. And that means you may be on your own for arranging any needed repairs along with the cost of the repairs and any “loss of use” costs the car rental agency hits you with. All these potential costs could easily run into the thousands of euros.
To avoid these potential vacation-wrecking scenarios , you could simply rent a car after arriving in Corsica.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
7536 posts
By the way, once you get to Corsica, you're going to wish you had more than a week there. It's stunning...
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
13835 posts
What I found for a r/t for 2 people/1 car is ~$400. Food extra Travel time 10hrs+
Do you really want to take a car with you vs a flight and a rental on the island?
Anybody know the history around this?
Suspect the rental company doesn't want the expense of flying someone to the island and having to bring it back on a ferry should something happen to the car while on the island. ( or having to ferry a tow truck to the island to retrieve an undriveable car)
Anyway to get around it?
Do not expect much help on that point
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