Rental car at CDG and on to Normandy
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Somewhere in the sky or a Marriott
Programs: 7mm DM, FC, Marriott PM (lifetime), HH Diamond
Posts: 749
Rental car at CDG and on to Normandy
Arriving at CDG from London on AF.
Renting a car from AVIS. They show locations at 3 different terminals as well as the train station at CDG.
Anyone know at which terminal we would arrive, or would a pick up at the Roissy train station be easier to exit the airport area and head to Normandy.
We are headed straight to Normandy for 5 days and will return from CDG.
We are staying in a lovely cottage near Honfleur in a village called Marais Vernier.
Renting a car from AVIS. They show locations at 3 different terminals as well as the train station at CDG.
Anyone know at which terminal we would arrive, or would a pick up at the Roissy train station be easier to exit the airport area and head to Normandy.
We are headed straight to Normandy for 5 days and will return from CDG.
We are staying in a lovely cottage near Honfleur in a village called Marais Vernier.
#3
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Greater CDG Area
Programs: DL DM; *A-Gold
Posts: 822
Arriving at CDG from London on AF.
Renting a car from AVIS. They show locations at 3 different terminals as well as the train station at CDG.
Anyone know at which terminal we would arrive, or would a pick up at the Roissy train station be easier to exit the airport area and head to Normandy.
We are headed straight to Normandy for 5 days and will return from CDG.
We are staying in a lovely cottage near Honfleur in a village called Marais Vernier.
Renting a car from AVIS. They show locations at 3 different terminals as well as the train station at CDG.
Anyone know at which terminal we would arrive, or would a pick up at the Roissy train station be easier to exit the airport area and head to Normandy.
We are headed straight to Normandy for 5 days and will return from CDG.
We are staying in a lovely cottage near Honfleur in a village called Marais Vernier.
#5
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Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: PHX and LIH
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We will be doing the same thing this summer - flying into CDG on AA and on to Normandy for a week.
It has been several years since I've rented a car in France. Is there anything I need to know? Is there any insurance coverage that is required by law or strongly recommended (by FTers, not the car rental company ). I also need to call my insurance company to get a refresher on what, if anything, they cover abroad. Are there any companies that are recommended or that we should avoid? Any other suggestions would be most appreciated.
It has been several years since I've rented a car in France. Is there anything I need to know? Is there any insurance coverage that is required by law or strongly recommended (by FTers, not the car rental company ). I also need to call my insurance company to get a refresher on what, if anything, they cover abroad. Are there any companies that are recommended or that we should avoid? Any other suggestions would be most appreciated.
#6
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Paris, France
Programs: United, TAP Victoria, AVIOS
Posts: 480
Firstly, I should be very cautious about driving any distance after an all night transatlantic flight. Fatigue is a major cause of traffic accidents. You might consider taking a train to your destination and renting a car the following morning.
Secondly, while there might be a US insurance company extending auto coverage to those driving in Europe, I do not know of one. Visa and MC offer free insurance for those paying for rentals with their respective credit cards. However, what is offered is somewhat limited and it is secondary insurance meaning you initially pay for any loss and the insurance arm of either Visa or MC will reimburse you. The reimbursement may or may not cover you total loss amount. There is also a lot of paperwork involved with claims of this type.
If you have an American Express card, consider signing up for the primary coverage they offer for as little as $25 per rental. If you should be involved in an accident, this coverage basically allows you to walk away.
For the rental itself, consider a quote from Autoeurope. Pricing is very competitive and you will always have an English speaking contact in the event of any rental problem - AE has a toll free number from anywhere in Europe. AE pricing, for US customers, does not include certain taxes or fees such as location surcharges, road tax, additional driver fees, or fees for cars with automatic transmissions (called an environmental fee). With any rental company, I suggest familiarizing oneself with the terms and conditions of the rental agreement; assuming nothing.
If you have not driven in France for several years, pay particular attention to the speed at which you travel. France has installed hundreds, more likely thousands, of radar cameras all over the country. The tolerances are very tight and personally, I always travel at 5km/h under the posted speed limit. The government has also increased efforts to collect on fines. Foreigners are no longer exempt from payments or from collection agencies.
Secondly, while there might be a US insurance company extending auto coverage to those driving in Europe, I do not know of one. Visa and MC offer free insurance for those paying for rentals with their respective credit cards. However, what is offered is somewhat limited and it is secondary insurance meaning you initially pay for any loss and the insurance arm of either Visa or MC will reimburse you. The reimbursement may or may not cover you total loss amount. There is also a lot of paperwork involved with claims of this type.
If you have an American Express card, consider signing up for the primary coverage they offer for as little as $25 per rental. If you should be involved in an accident, this coverage basically allows you to walk away.
For the rental itself, consider a quote from Autoeurope. Pricing is very competitive and you will always have an English speaking contact in the event of any rental problem - AE has a toll free number from anywhere in Europe. AE pricing, for US customers, does not include certain taxes or fees such as location surcharges, road tax, additional driver fees, or fees for cars with automatic transmissions (called an environmental fee). With any rental company, I suggest familiarizing oneself with the terms and conditions of the rental agreement; assuming nothing.
If you have not driven in France for several years, pay particular attention to the speed at which you travel. France has installed hundreds, more likely thousands, of radar cameras all over the country. The tolerances are very tight and personally, I always travel at 5km/h under the posted speed limit. The government has also increased efforts to collect on fines. Foreigners are no longer exempt from payments or from collection agencies.
#7
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Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
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We will be doing the same thing this summer - flying into CDG on AA and on to Normandy for a week.
It has been several years since I've rented a car in France. Is there anything I need to know? Is there any insurance coverage that is required by law or strongly recommended (by FTers, not the car rental company ). I also need to call my insurance company to get a refresher on what, if anything, they cover abroad. Are there any companies that are recommended or that we should avoid? Any other suggestions would be most appreciated.
It has been several years since I've rented a car in France. Is there anything I need to know? Is there any insurance coverage that is required by law or strongly recommended (by FTers, not the car rental company ). I also need to call my insurance company to get a refresher on what, if anything, they cover abroad. Are there any companies that are recommended or that we should avoid? Any other suggestions would be most appreciated.
The only thing to watch out for when renting is to make sure you have unlimited kilometers. Sometimes they sneak in a cheap rate which only allows 200km per day, but that is usually when you pick up in one location and return to another. If you are picking up and dropping off at CDG you should be ok, with Avis or Hertz at least.
#9
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Paris, France
Programs: United, TAP Victoria, AVIOS
Posts: 480
Drive carefully and avoid exceeding the speed limit.
#10
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DAY/CMH
Programs: UA MileagePlus
Posts: 2,474
Some of the radar cameras are noted with signage but certainly not all (and I am not referencing mobile cameras). It is now illegal to have a GPS which shows the position of radar cameras. Fines, if caught with a GPS showing radar locations, can be heavy.
Drive carefully and avoid exceeding the speed limit.
Drive carefully and avoid exceeding the speed limit.
#11
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TomTom a récemment rencontré le Comité Interministériel de la Sécurité Routičre et obtenu de nombreux éclaircissements nous permettant de proposer une solution 100% légale de Zones de Danger pour la majorité de nos produits.
As for the fines, its a scale of not so much for less than 10kph over the limit and goes up from there. I think it's less than €50 for the low end.
#12
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Nearly all? Hah! How can you not notice all the people flying past you at 150kph and higher? There are many places in France where those of us who live here know there's no radar and we feel free to drive as fast as we feel safe. I tend to drive pretty fast in certain areas but still lots of people go faster than I do.
#13
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DAY/CMH
Programs: UA MileagePlus
Posts: 2,474
Nearly all? Hah! How can you not notice all the people flying past you at 150kph and higher? There are many places in France where those of us who live here know there's no radar and we feel free to drive as fast as we feel safe. I tend to drive pretty fast in certain areas but still lots of people go faster than I do.
#14
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Paris, France
Programs: United, TAP Victoria, AVIOS
Posts: 480
I think that overall, speeding on the autoroutes is done far less often than it once was. Even if one knows the position of all marked and unmarked cameras, there are always the mobile cameras or police patrols with hand-held radar guns.
Traveling at speeds greater than those posted can be dangerous and ultimately, the time advantage gained can be minimal.
Traveling at speeds greater than those posted can be dangerous and ultimately, the time advantage gained can be minimal.
#15
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As for the danger issue, I count that as rather silly on the wide open countryside autoroute. I'm not trying to convince you to drive faster mind you, you should only go as fast as you safely can. But don't claim that those people driving faster than you on the autoroute are unsafe.