How Your Clients Can Save on Car Rentals in France

After earning my stripes in the reservation department here at Auto Europe, I’ve booked more than my fair share of car rentals in France. Before working in the rental car business, I had no idea how many vacationers visited the country annually and I often found myself shocked at just how popular the destination is for Americans. 

Even more shocking, though, was how drastically rental car rates could fluctuate based on a few seemingly insignificant variables. I quickly learned how to navigate a variety of car rental fees and how to help travelers and travel agents choose the most economical vehicle option for a given itinerary. Most importantly, I learned that a few simple tweaks to a reservation can yield considerable savings.

Hopefully, some of what I’ve learned will help you save your clients some serious dough: here are my top three insider tips to help you find your clients hidden savings on car rentals in France: 

Look Into Wagons and “Special” Category Vehicles

Bigger cars are generally more expensive and it’s always wise to aim for efficiency in securing your client the best deal; that’s a given. A lesser known fact, however, is that the wagon and “special” categories offer a great value and extra space without incurring a steep price increase. Along with the number of passengers, a deciding factor in what type of vehicle will best suit your client is the amount of luggage they’ll have in tow, and this is where wagon/special vehicles shine.

Sometimes a compact four-door just won’t cut it when you need a car for a family of three with luggage but, before your clients opt for a larger vehicle class, consider a wagon or “special” category (for example, a compact wagon or special as opposed to an intermediate four-door). There’ll be plenty of room for luggage and the savings are sure to be appreciated!  

Pick Up and Drop Off in Major Cities

Chances are, your clients will be flying into a major airport to kick off their vacation in France. Rental cars are readily available in big cities but sometimes it seems more convenient to hold off and pick up a car in a smaller destination en route; after all, it’ll cut a few days off of the rate, right?

While this may seem logical, picking up or dropping off a car in smaller, more rural, and especially “high-altitude” locations in France can incur extra fees that severely outweigh the cost of a few extra days on the rental rate, especially when dealing with automatic car rentals.

In addition, smaller locations will have a more limited selection of vehicles to choose from, making it difficult to secure the most economical option. Sometimes opting for a pickup or drop off in a smaller city may be worth it (depending on the details of the itinerary), but you’ll be most likely to find the best deals when you book your client in a major city.    

Check Rates for Three-Day and Weekly Car Rentals 

Setting the location factor aside; the shorter a rental is the cheaper it’ll be, right? Think again. While this may seem logical, shorter rentals aren’t always the most cost-effective choice. Three-day car rentals will often be cheaper than one or two-day rentals and rates are typically discounted on a weekly basis. If a longer rate proves to be the cheaper option but the car isn’t needed for the full duration, the car can always be returned early without any penalties. Once you decide on a suitable vehicle and location, it’s always worthwhile to check what the price for three, seven, or 14 days might be and you can sometimes book a longer rental to save your client some money.

Finding Your Client’s Perfect France Rental Car

Finding the guaranteed lowest prices for you and your client is what we here at Auto Europe do best, and our experienced reservation agents are always available to take your call. Whether you’re looking for a last minute deal on a car rental in Paris or a great rate on airfare, get in touch with us today to secure the greatest deals in travel transportation. Call Auto Europe anytime, 24/7 and toll-free at 1-888-223-5555, to see how much we can save you and your clients on their next trip abroad.