Renault or Peugeot car lease.

Last year I leased a Citroen for a second time through Autoeurope (6+ weeks). Much cheaper than a rental; the price includes a GPS, full insurance coverage, road assistance, additional eligible drivers for free. No issues, staff very helpful (Geneva).

There used to be a rental/lease cost break-even point of about 3 weeks. Looking at the information you provided, it looks like an excellent deal from 15 nights and more, and there does not appear to be a pickup fee for picking up outside of France.

I found the site to book directly, it called TT Euro Drive. For $50 extra you can cancel. Autoeurope doesn’t seem to offer that option. Question, where near the airport did you collect the car ? How did that whole process work ?

I've leased cars twice in France (I think they were both Peugeot). Both times it was easy and a great experience, even when I managed to scrape up the whole back side panel on one of them on a rock wall. No hassles when returning it ( leases offer full insurance coverage), they just took the keys and said "Thanks!". I also liked that you get a brand new car, no stains or nicks and scratches from previous renters. If you've found a price that works for you, I'd definitely recommend doing a lease.

Joe, don't know about Porto but pickup at the Basel airport was handled by the Europcar counter, car in the parking lot just outside. At Geneva, minibus picks you up on the French side, takes you to the pickup location about 15 minutes away. The paperwork process takes 5 to 10 minutes.

Give them a few days notice of the drop-off time.

Does the $50 cancellation fee cover you for up to the time of pick up?

Autoeurope lease cancellation:

"30 days and more prior to scheduled delivery - NO FEE
30 days and less if registered - €1000
30 days and less if not registered - €300
No Show/Canceling on date of delivery - FULL PREPAID AMOUNT OF CONTRACT, NO REFUND"

We've leased in France several times, Renaults via Renault USA, and Peugeots and Citroens through AutoEurope. Going through AutoEurope added an extra layer and one time we didn't get the correct information for returning the car. If you can lease directly through TT, the actual car-lease company, the information could be clearer. We never had any problems with Renault.

With the lease, you are the owner of the car for the designated period of time. You are covered by insurance. But if you have a little mishap and the car goes into the shop, you don't have usage of the car for those days. Once we had to replace the windshield--covered 100% by the lease insurance--but the car was out of use for the day. There is no replacement because you are the owner of the car. This is why you select the exact model that you want and pay up front. You can't ask for a larger or smaller car or different color when you go to pick up the car because the paperwork is in your name. It's not a rental.

This all has to do with some sort of tax reduction scheme that I never understood, and it's only for non-EU residents. As a French resident, I can't participate anymore...but I do drive a Renault.

To answer your last question: at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, TT sends a shuttle or a car for you. The cars are outside the terminal. At my local airport in the south of France, TT has a counter next to the rental agencies. We’ve picked up in Nice and returned card in Montpellier, in addition to CDG, but never Porto.

I also think the fee schedule posted above is probably valid with TT, too, since “ registration” means ownership registration. Once the vehicle is registered in your name, the consequences are higher.