Auto Europe
- Compare Companies for the Best Rates
- Free Cancellation up to 48hrs before Pick up
- No Credit Card Fees
- Available 7 Days a Week
- 28,000 Pick-up Locations Worldwide
Car hire in Lille – Gateway to North-east France
Nestling on the River Deûle in very close proximity to the Belgian border, Lille is the proud capital of the Nord-Pas de Calais region, one of the most picturesque parts of northern France. Easy to reach from either Paris or Brussels, and just 82 minutes by train from London, this exuberant university city is fast-becoming one of the most visited places in the whole of France.
A delight for tourists, its compact historic centre (known locally as Vieux Lille) is packed with first-rate attractions, such as the very ornate 17th-century Old Stock Exchange (La Vieille Bourse) and the excellent Hospice Comtesse Museum housed in a medieval building. Other must-see attractions in the Old Town include the city's striking Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille Cathedral and a museum dedicated to Charles de Gaulle, Lille's most famous son.
One of the city's main strengths as a tourist destination is its location close to Benelux in the heart of northern France. With a car hire in Lille, travellers can enjoy everything this wonderful city has to offer before embarking on an amazing road-trip to some of western Europe's best-loved places, such as Bruges, Ghent, Amsterdam and Luxembourg. It's also perfectly possible to visit the lovely beach towns of Dunkirk, Calais and Le Touquet and even the French capital, Paris (including Disneyland), less than 3 hours from Lille down the A1 motorway.
Auto Europe specialises in low-cost car rental in over 190 popular destinations, offering more than 28,000 convenient pick-up points in key towns and cities all over the world, including Lille. Book online now at the best rates through our state-of-the-art search engine or contact our highly-trained rental specialists for assistance and they will be more than happy to find you the best deal.
Getting around Lille and the rest of France is quick and easy thanks to the country's advanced network of roads and motorways. Please take a look at our France Driving Guide for advice and tips on ensuring a safe trip for yourself and your fellow passengers. You can also find out what other Auto Europe customers thought of their recent car hire experience in the city by reading the comments they posted on our Lille car hire reviews page.
For more information on renting a vehicle in Lille, click on the car hire related topics listed below:
| Suppliers | Car Hire FAQs | Travel Guide |
Where to pick up a car hire in Lille
As one of the car rental industry's leading companies, Auto Europe collaborates with all the world's top vehicle rental suppliers with an exhaustive choice of locations in Lille and many other key destinations in France. This means that by booking with us you'll be able to collect your car in the heart of the city centre and be on your way in a few minutes. Our state-of-the-art booking engine can help you make the right choice by letting you do a full search of the many car rental companies operating in Lille and elsewhere to find the best vehicle for your trip and the lowest price. All you have to do is key in your dates and an interactive map will come up with all the available car hire locations in Lille and its environs.
Lille Airport
Built a short time before World War II, Lille Airport (or Aéroport de Lille as it is known locally) is a small but very modern international airport handling over a million passengers each year. Besides dozens of domestic routes, it connects with a number of top European holiday destinations with various airline, including Air Algérie, Air France, Binter, easyJet, Nouvelair, Ryanair, Sky Express, Transavia, TUI, Twin Jet and Volotea. To pick up your vehicle, just head for the car rental desks located on the second floor just outside the Arrivals Hall.
Lille Airport (LIL)
Website: lille.aeroport.fr
Address: Rte de l'Aéroport, 59810 Lesquin, France
Telephone: +33 320 496 747
Lille Europe Train Station
Opened in 1993, Lille Europe Train Station (in French, Gare de Lille-Europe) is a French Railways-operated station in on the edge of the city centre. Serving the main high-speed railway of northern France, it primarily caters for international Eurostar and long-distance SNCF TGV services, although some high-speed regional trains also call at the station. Many leading car hire suppliers have theor offices either inside the ticket hall or in the main streets surrounding the station, such as Avis, Hertz and Europcar. Don't forget to have all your documents ready when you arrive to collect your vehicle, including your passport, driving licence and credit card in the name of the primary driver.
Lille Europe Train Station
Website: Lille Europe Train Station
Address: 1 Place François Mitterrand, 59777 Euralille, France
Telephone: +33 8 92 35 35 35
Lille Flanders Train Station
Lille Flanders Train Station (Gare de Lille-Flandres) was inaugurated in 1842 and is a terminus for SNCF (French Railways) Intercity and regional trains. It also caters for regular high-speed services (TGV) between Lille and the French capital, Paris. Several international car hire companies have office in the streets surrounding the station, including Sixt (1 place François Mitterrand), Europcar (Bd de Turin), Enterprise (Face Au Casino Barriere) and Avis (45 Rue de Tournai). To be able to pick up your vehicle as quickly as possible, please have all the necessary documents ready, such as your rental voucher, coverage details, driving licence, etc.
Lille Flanders Train Station
Website: Lille Flanders Train Station
Address: Place des Buisses, Lille, Hauts-de-France, 59000 France
Telephone: +33 8 92 35 35 35
Book with the best car hire suppliers in Lille
Auto Europe is a leading international car hire company currently offering a vast selection of convenient pick-up and drop-off locations in 190 different destinations around the world. Thanks to our many years of experience dealing with all the global and local car rental companies, we can offer you the best standard of service and cheapest prices on the market.
 |
 |
.jpg "Europcar Car Hire Lille") |
 |
Should you require additional information about the car hire companies we work with or their policies, for example out of office pick up or questions regarding age restrictions, our car rental specialists are just a phone call or e-mail away and happy to assist you.
Frequently asked questions about renting a car in Lille
This section features the most frequent questions asked by people booking a car hire in Lille. Scroll down for important tips relating to a wide range of essential car hire topics, such as credit cards, coverage, tolls, traffic and much more. If you need any more information, please contact our reservations team for assistance and they will be happy to help you with your reservation and assist you with your travel itinerary.
Do I need a credit card to rent a car in Lille?
Yes, a credit card is always required when you rent a car in Lille. This is because the local car hire supplier will need to block a specific amount on the card in case the vehicle is damaged or stolen during the rental period. This security bond is promptly returned once the car is returned intact. Please note that neither debit nor prepaid cards are accepted in Lille. It's also worth bearing in mind that, due to the high value of luxury and premium cars, the local supplier might ask you to provide two credit cards in the name of the main driver, rather than just one. It's easy to check which type of credit card you can use to pick up your vehicle; just click on the blue and white info icon (i) once you have selected your preferred car hire supplier where you will find all the necessary payment information. For more tips on paying for your car hire in France, please consult our credit cards and deposit blog post on the subject.
What insurance do I need for my car rental in Lille?
When booking a car hire in Lille and elsewhere in France with Auto Europe, you can rest assured that all the prices you see quoted in our search engine results include fire insurance, liability, collision damage waiver (CDW) and theft protection (TP). However, some parts of the vehicle such as the mirrors, tyres etc. are not included, which is why we strongly recommend our Full Damage & Theft Protection coverage for a small additional cost which can easily be added with a simple click of the mouse at the time of check-out. Please note that the price of this package may vary according to the location, rental duration, car category and supplier.
It’s very easy to find out what coverage is included when making your reservation. After selecting your desired travel dates and destination followed by your chosen supplier, just click on the blue and white info icon (i) and you’ll find all the specific coverage specifications such as the mileage allowance, CDW, theft and liability insurance. Should you decide to purchase coverage from the local car rental company when you arrive to collect your vehicle, please bear in mind that Auto Europe cannot refund any locally-bought insurance charges or fees, even if the policy proves to be surplus to your requirements. For more info, please take a look at our car hire coverage blog post, along with our car hire insurance article.
How is the traffic in Lille?
As Lille is at the crossroads and only a short drive or a train ride from Paris and Brussels, you may expect a slight increase in traffic at rush hour, but it should not be a reason for concern. The city has fantastic road connections with the neighbouring cities and towns. Eurotunnel's Calais Terminal is about 70 miles to the east of Lille. Paris can be reached with a car hire in Lille in approximately two hours, while Brussels is only 90 minutes away.
Where can I park my car hire in Lille?
On-street, unlimited and even free parking options are available in the city of Lille. Free parking for your car hire can mostly be found near metro and bus stops. On-street parking in the centre is divided into two zones. The orange zone, slightly more expensive than the green one, also has a shorter time limit for parking. Car parks, on the other hand, provide unlimited parking, and are available both in the centre and on the city´s outskirts. You may take advantage of the free car parks available along the metro network. Lille, Villeneuve d'Ascq and Lomme Park and Ride car parks offer not only free parking throughout the week, but also security cameras for 24-hour surveillance from Monday to Saturday. The city can be easily reached either by the Citadine bus or metro.
Do I need to pay tolls when driving my car hire in Lille?
Yes, depending on where you go or where you are coming from. When you see the autoroute peage sign, it means that you are on or about to join a tolled motorway, and a blue sign with the letter 'A' before a number indicates which motorway you are on. For instance, the A-1 motorway between Paris and Lille is tolled. Drivers must take a ticket at the toll booth before joining the motorway and pay the required amount when exiting based on the distance travelled. Methods of payment include cash (always best to carry some with you and head for the toll booths marked with green arrows), Mastercard or Visa. Please note that no cash is accepted at toll gates marked with the logos of these credit cards. You can get a Toll Tag for all the motorways in France and then use the special 'T' toll-gate lanes instead of stopping to pay each time. Some of the special 'T' lanes allow you to go through at 30kph. Click here for more information on how to calculate the cost.
Do I need an emission sticker for my car hire in Lille?
Eventually, yes. Lille had planned to implement a ZFE (Zones à faibles émissions - low emission zone) in January 2021 but due to the Corona pandemic, the city's authorities decided to postpone the beginning of the ZFE to the end of 2024 when the minimum standard will be Crit'Air sticker 3. The areas in question will be Lille-Hellemmes, Lomme, Sequedin, Haubourdin, Loos, Faches-Thumesnil, Ronchin, Madeleine, Saint-André-lez-Lille, Marquette-lez-Lille and Lambersart.
Can I drive my car hire in Lille into Belgium?
Yes. Travel is permitted into all Western European countries but all countries of travel must be noted at the time of booking. Please note that a border- crossing fee will most likely apply which must be paid locally at the time of pick-up.
Lille Travel Guide
Lille, the historic capital of Flanders, is a city of fine dining and first-rate cultural attractions. Highlights include world-class fine arts museum, a mgnificent avant-garde cathedral and Charles de Gaulle's birthplace. The first place to see is its bustling main square, the Place du Général de Gaulle, which is surrounded by stately Renaissance and Baroque Flemish buildings with Neoclassical façades. After that, we recommend a stroll through Lille's historic quarter, the charming Vieux Lille where many of the city's main attractions exist.
Best day trips with my car rental in Lille
Bordering Belgium and within easy reach of the many picturesque towns and villages embroidering the English Channel, Lille is the ideal place to enjoy a few days' wonderful city sightseeing before heading off with your car rental in Lille to enjoy the many splendours of the French countryside.
For clients wishing to explore further than the city of Lille, it is also possible to undertake a road trip and return the car rental in another city, a so called one-way car hire, which will allow for extra flexibility. You can also save money at the same time as sharing the driving with a friend of family member by taking advantage of our regular Free Additional Driver offers.
Arras
With its lovely old churches and arcaded squares, Arras (less than an hour's drive south-west of the Lille on the A1) is an excellent day-trip option. A major highlights is the former Benedictine monastery of Saint-Vaast, which now houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts with a vast art collection, from medieval sculptures to Dutch and French masterpieces. During World War I, the entire around Arras was the scene of heavy fighting and now commemorated by several military cemeteries and memorials, including the site where the famous Battle of Vimy Ridge took place April 1917.
Bergues
Still surrounded by parts of its original medieval walls, the lovely town of Bergues (a 50-minute drive on the A25) is a place of winding canals and several unique attractions. Chief among these is the belfry, protected by UNESCO and considered one of the finest in the country. With its unusual open design, it has 50 bells that chime on the hour, every hour to the delight of locals and visitors alike. Another must is the town's excellent fine arts museum - the Musée du Mont de Piété - which occupies an exquisite 17th-century building housing fine displays of paintings and drawings by Flemish and French masters.
Dunkirk
Located 75km north-west of Lille on the A25, Dunkirk (known locally as Dunkerque) is the most northerly town in France and the perfect day-trip option for visitors looking to get the best out of their car hire in Lille. Besides being an important port and ferry terminal for boats travelling across the English Channel, it was the scene of a dramatic military rescue during World War II when hundreds of Allied boats brought their troops back across the water to safety.
Abbaye de Vaucelles
A remarkable 12th-century abbey, the Abbaye de Vaucelles is a leisurely 90-minute drive due south of Lille on the A1 and A26. Founded by Saint Bernard, it was one of the largest Cistercian monasteries in the world when it was first built in the 12th century. Classified as a historical monument, today's visitors can see the former Monks' Quarters, chapter house, scriptorium, sacred passage, oratory and chapel. They can also enjoy a stroll through the abbey's to admire the orchard and rose garden.
What to do in Lille
Once an industrial powerhouse, the enchanting city of Lille is France's fifth largest metropolitan area and its most northerly. It has been continually inhabited since as early as 2000 BC, with the first mention of the city dating back to 1066. Don't miss the Old Town with its narrow, cobbled streets before spending some time at the Palais de Beaux-Art, one of the best museums in the whole of France.
- Lille Cathedral: With its striking contemporary-style façade, Lille Cathedral (full name Basilica of Notre Dame de la Treille) is a stunning mix of both old and new architectural styles having taken more than 150 years to complete. The last cathedral of the 20th century to be built, it is the result of traditional construction techniques and avant-garde technologies.
- Old Town: Full of flamboyant French and Flemish architecture, the Vieux Lille (Old Town) is usually the first port of call for most visitors to Lille. There's nothing better than taking a stroll through the cobblestone streets passing stylish designer shops, gourmet restaurants, elegant old buildings and several fascinating museums. At Christmas time, visitors can spend time at the Christmas Market and take a ride on the ferris wheel in the main square.
- Palais de Beaux-Art: Inaugurated in 1892, Lille's Palais de Beaux-Art is one of the largest galleries in France, and second to only the Louvre in Paris. The collections boasts numerous 15th- to 20th-century paintings including works by Rubens, Van Dyck and Manet. Other attractions are the rare pieces of porcelain and faience (pottery), along with a fine array of classical archaeology, medieval statuary and 18th-century scale models of the fortified cities of northern France and Belgium.
- Musée de l'Hospice Comtesse: Bursting with history, the Musée de l'Hospice Comtesse is a formidable museum housed in a hospital founded in 1237. The collection includes tapestries, sculptures and porcelain retrieved from an old 17th-century Flemish convent.
- Eglise Saint-Maurice: This beautiful Gothic church founded in the 14th century is one of the most delightful churches in France. Distinguished by its harmonious interior featuring five aisles and 36 tall columns, the church is also greatly blessed by its sanctuary decorated with 17th- and 18th-century paintings by Lille artists. The nearby Eglise Sainte-Catherine on Rue Royale also boasts an exceptional piece of art in the north aisle - the Martyrdom of Saint Catherine - painted by Rubens in 1615.
Useful links
- Home
- Car Hire Destinations
- France
- Lille