Car Hire in Toulouse

About Toulouse

in the southwest of France lies an extraordinary, very colorful, and fascinating city - Toulouse. It is very different from Paris, Lyon, and Marseille, but this city has its own flight of fancy. The city is harmoniously interwoven with different cultures and traditions. Toulouse is one of the most photographed places in the world. This is not at all surprising, as the historic city center is not only a favorite spot for tourists from all over the world but also a place for slow strolls by locals. And why is Toulouse also called Pink City? Toulouse got this nickname because of its narrow streets and brick architecture, which give the city a special charm. Finally, the food here and in the rest of the Midi-Pyrénées region, of which Toulouse is the capital, is among the most interesting in France.

You can explore Toulouse on foot, and you can also rent a bike, which is free for the first 30 minutes. However, if you want to explore more of the south of France, then we recommend renting a car. Renting a car in Toulouse is easy and allows you the freedom to drive to other beautiful places nearby.

Basic info and car hire in Toulouse

• Location: city, capital of Haute-Garonne département, Occitanie région, southern France.
• Population: 471.941 (2018) 
• Official language: French
• Currency: Euro ( EUR)
• Weather:  At Toulouse, the summers are warm and mostly clear while the winters are cold and partly cloudy.
• Holidays in Toulouse:  Toulouse is known for its many events that take place, hosting around 1000 events a year, which makes it one of the most diverse cities in France.
• Internet coverage: Hotels, bars, restaurants, and cafes offer Wi-Fi.
• Road conditions:  In the Southern part of France you will experience one of the more attractive explorations by car, also the road is in excellent condition.
• Car hire in Toulouse: It is popular to hire a car at the Toulouse-Blagnac airport as well as at the Toulouse - Matabiau Railway station, everywhere you will find a wide selection of vehicles through various rent a car companies. It's best to make a car booking 3 to 8 weeks before your desired pick-up date - this way you ensure the lowest car hire price. Alternatively, it is possible to find a great last-minute car hire deal.

 Driving in Toulouse

There are three major French roads in France: Autoroutes, National Roads and departmental roads. Autoroutes is the fastest option and in English, this road is called a highway, motorway or freeway depending on where you are coming from. Department roads is a good choice if you are not in a hurry and also want to enjoy scenic routes. It's a good choice for exploring new towns along the way and getting a glimpse of the vast French countryside, as this road mostly passes through towns and villages. National roads are the usual shortest routes between major centers such as ports, cities, and airports.

The best time to visit Toulouse is in the spring and summer. This is mainly due to the weather, but also because the city becomes more lively at this time of year.

• Age limits: 21  (Minimum age may vary according to car hire companies. A Young Driver fee will apply to drivers under 25 years of age. To hire a car, it is required that a driver has held a license for more than one year) .
• International Driving Permit:  Yes, if your driver's license is not clearly identifiable as a Driving License, eg, it is in a non-Latin alphabet (eg Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, Japanese). 
• Additional papers:   Identification (passport),  a valid driving license, and valid proof of insurance. (It is advisable to buy insurance at the car hire agency in case your policy doesn't cover you while driving in France). 
• Additional requirements:  Warning triangles, spare wheels are required as well as hands-free equipment with hearing aids are required when talking on the phone while driving.
• Children in the car:  All car occupants must wear a seat belt. Children under the age of twelve, or taller than 4ft 11in / 1.50 meters, may travel in the front passenger seat. 
• Driving side of the road:  Right. 
• Lights:  Headlights are turned on at all times (day and night). 
• General speed limits:  80 mph / 130kph on the Motorways, 49 mph / 80 kph Main roads Outside Built-up Areas, and 31 mph/50 kph within Built-up Areas.
• Parking suggestions: Mostly all parking lots are chargeable where the average price per hour is around GBP 1,90/ € 2.20.

What to see in Toulouse

Toulouse is one of the most beautiful cities in France. Known as "La Ville Rose" because the city has many tall buildings built of pink bricks and this is also the reason why it is difficult to compare Toulouse with any other city. Toulouse also offers many museums that explore the cosmos, prehistory, ancient art, nature, and also Gothic. Add to that the amazing shopping, and you have a great destination. The Capitol is without a doubt the city's main attraction. The impressive architecture features a pink facade and many elegant columns. La Cathédrale Saint-Etienne is a strange and interesting mix of styles spanning five centuries.
Due to Toulouse's position as the main aeronautical center in Europe, La Cité de l'Espace is a must-see for all science, air, and space lovers. Discover the wonders of the city by river rather than on land with Toulouse Croisières' Parisian-style tourist boats, which make their way to Garonne River.