Car rental in France

Use kayak.com. There's a check-box for auto transmissions. Some showed up for Tours, but disappeared with a Blois or Chartres drop. I was only looking at a close date. Play with it.

Thanks,Ed-appreciate your quick response.I will look at Kayak.

You will probably have to spring for a larger car such as the Mercedes C-Class or a large American vehicle like a Chrysler 300 or Chevy SUV to get an auto transmission. Whenever I rent in Italy, checking the "Auto" box, where applicable, has usually gotten me the C-Class, but I have also received a fairly large Chevy SUV. It's a crap-shoot. Try Sixt or Auto Europe. You also need to try to rent from a fairly major city and choose an airport or train station location, if possible, as those locations are more likely to offer cars with an auto transmission.

Automatic anywhere in Europe has been difficult for me. I rented a Citroen Picasso the last couple of times so look for that one. It comes in automatic (still more expensive) and a far cry from a Mercedes C class, a way far cry, but it's a good little car. For some reason it isn't ever listed as an automatic. I think because you can drive it both ways? I'd call and ask. Not sure. There were some buttons/levers I didn't understand. I just turned it on and didn't hit stuff and I was fine.

Anne I have found that renting an automatic in the smaller cities is difficult. Try autoeurope.com which sources their cars from many of the other rental companies. Also kemwel.com a European company that often comes in a slightly lower cost. Bobbie

Two years ago we wanted to rent an automatic car in a small French town (can't remember which one) but found that they had none available. Since neither my DH or myself can drive a stick we had to fly from Paris to Bordeaux and rent the automatic car there. Sorry, but if you want an automatic car then you will probably need to go to a "big" city to rent.

Why don't North Americans drive manual ? Wouldn't the cost of lessons be offset by the lower rental costs of manuals?

Thanks to all who provided helpful comments! I am happy to report that Auto Europe looks promising.Appreciate those who have taken the time to respnd.

I didn't read all the other responses but your chosen cities in which to rent and return could be your problem. We have always been able to get a Hertz car with automatic transmission. However, we have usually rented in Paris at CDG or in Nice. There is an additional cost for automatic transmissions but they are a lot easier to drive through the small hills towns. Are there any other cities that would be larger in which you could rent the car? Bonne chance!