Nice Car Hire

If you plan to stay for only a few days to a week in Nice car hire may not be necessary. In fact Nice has so much to offer within the city (indeed within just the beautiful Old Town) that you need not venture further. And like most busy cities, what with the traffic and difficulty parking, having a car can be a liability.

That said, if you have visited Nice city many times before, are staying for an extended break or are just plain adventurous then renting a car will open up the rest of the French Riviera (and beyond). So if you plan to rent a car - here are our Nice car hire tips:

Book in Advance . While there are a choice of car hire options across the city of Nice, it is risky to turn up to any one depot and hope they have the vehicle you want in stock. Take the stress (and potential language difficulty) out of the process and book online.

Choose the type of car wisely. For inner city motoring then something small and easy to park is useful (and economical) - but for serious driving in comfort it is usually better to book a car a little bigger than you initially think you need. You are likely to have quite a bit of luggage and also chances are you will do some shopping and it is good to be able to store all your belongings out of the way in the trunk of your car. Don't tempt the thieves. Having a car with a slightly bigger engine than the bargain-basement models is also useful - you often need a bit off acceleration to nip past other cars on the twisty coastal roads. We would heartily recommending you book a car with air conditioning or climate control. This will not usually be standard on the cheaper grades of car hire. Perhaps a convertible would be good along Nice sea front or how about roaring up to the Monte Carlo casino in a Ferrari!

Decide on your pick up and drop off points. For people arriving by airplane then the airport usually makes the most sense. But you may only need your car for a few days in which case a city centre pick up or drop off will be better for you. Our recommended Nice car hire online booking websites also offers you the option of picking up or dropping off at the train station as well as two other city centre bases (one right near the sea front).

Book your Extras in Advance too. Will you need: Child seats, snow chains, satellite navigation, cellphone hands free kit etc? At peak times car hire extras can be in high demand. It's much better to book them in advance. Also it is often cheaper to book extra drivers in advance online - share the driving ... that way everyone can get to taste some of the local wines!

Check your documents. Double check you have your driving licence (all named drivers) and that your credit card has enough credit to allow you to pay your (refundable) deposit. You will also likely need your booking reference number and care hire voucher if you booked online. Remember your road map too.

Get an Online No Obligation Quote Here

We always use one of these two online Nice car hire expert companies and recommend them. Typically U.S. and Canadian travellers get the best deals from "Essential Travel" and other nationalities get better deals from "Holiday Autos".

U.S. and Canadians get a free quote on Nice car hire here

Other nationalities get a free quote on Nice car hire here

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