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 Montpellier – Gateway to the South of France
Founded in the 10th century by the Counts of Toulouse, the magnificent city of Montpellier has emerged in recent years as a first-choice tourist destination for visitors to the sun-baked south of France. This long-time trading port and forward-thinking academic centre is perfectly located a short ten-minute drive inland from some of the Mediterranean's sandiest beaches. Founded in the 10th century by the Counts of Toulouse, today's visitors can enjoy the city's rich legacy of ancient monuments and elegant townhouses in and around the Old Quarter, which is now a fully pedestrianised area. Over a hundred buildings are of historic interest and preserved as such, many of which are open to tourists.
Most newcomers choose to wander through Montpellier's narrow cobbled streets to see its impressive cathedral founded in 1364. After that, a leisurely stroll through the historic quarter takes you to the nearby Place de la Comédie (the perfect place for a relaxing coffee) before whiling away a few hours at the excellent Fabre Museum, home to one of the largest collections of French paintings outside Paris. Other city highlights include the Jardin des Plantes (internationally known as the Montpellier Botanical Garden) which was first commissioned by King Henri IV in 1593.
Besides day-tripping to Perpignan and Marseille, a car hire in Montpellier gives travellers the chance to combine a visit to the city with the thrill of enjoying a relaxing drive along one of Europe's most glamorous coastlines - the Côte d'Azur (otherwise known as the French Riviera. There are several interesting places within easy reach of Montpellier, most notably Béziers (a former Roman military centre) and the lovely city of Nîmes, about an hour's drive north-east on the A9. The charming fishing town of Sète approximately 30 kilometres to the south-west of Montpellier is the perfect spot for a pleasant al fresco lunch at one of the many waterfront restaurants.
Auto Europe is your best choice for a cheap car rental in Montpellier and elsewhere in the south of France. One of the world's leading car hire companies since 1954, we currently operate at over 28,000 locations in more than 190 popular destinations worldwide. We offer the flexibility of being able to collect your vehicle in a choice of convenient pick-up points, both in the city and at Montpellier Airport a few kilometres away. We strive to provide our customers the lowest rates on the market, paired with outstanding customer service. Book online now or ask our rental specialists for assistance and they will happily find you the best deal. For added peace of mind, check out what some of our previous customers thought on our Montpellier car hire reviews page.
For more information on renting a vehicle in Montpellier, click on the car hire related topics listed below:
| Suppliers | Car Hire FAQs | Travel Guide |
Where to pick up a car hire in Montpellier
We work with all the top global car hire providers, which in turn enables us to offer our many customers the best choice of locations in and around Montpellier and other popular destinations in France. You can pick up your vehicle at Montpellier Airport or in the heart of the city centre and be on your way in a few minutes. Just make a quick search in our booking engine and we'll find you the most suitable collection point for your low-cost car rental in Montpellier.
Montpellier Airport
Montpellier Airport, also known as Fréjorgues Airport, is an international airbase located 4.6 miles southeast of the city. It serves Montpellier and its region. It is the tenth most busy French airport operating mostly international flights. The airport is also popular with low-cost airlines flying to this trendy Mediterranean holiday destination.
The car hire desks are located directly outside the main terminal, opposite the Business Centre and Arrivals Halls and can easily be reached on foot. When you return your car rental please follow signs for the P6/P8/Car Rental parking garage.
Montpellier Airport (MPL)
Website: www.montpellier.aeroport.fr
Address: Aéroport de Montpellier–Méditerranée, D172, 34130 Mauguio, France
Telephone: +33 4 67 20 85 00
Montpellier Saint Roch Train Station
Formerly known as Gare de Montpellier, Saint Roch Train Station is the city's main rail and local public transport hub. Situated in close proximity to the Old Quarter, it is a principal stop on the south of France's busy regional line and connects with regular international services from Paris and several cities in neighbouring Spain and Italy.
Montpellier Saint Roch Train Station
Website: www.garesetconnexions.sncf
Address: Place Auguste Gibert BP 51238 34011 Montpellier, France
Telephone: +33 8 92 35 35 35
Montpellier Sud de France Train Station
Located just 6 kilometres (4 miles) from the centre, right next to the popular Odysseum Shopping Centre, Montpellier Sud de France Train Station is the high-speed addition to the city's excellent railway services. Opened in 2018, it is the terminus for frequent TGV routes in and out of Montpellier from numerous cities, including Paris Gare de Lyon (with a journey time of around 3 hours), Brussels, Lyon, Luxembourg, Toulouse, Nantes, Lille (both Europe and Flandres) and Perpignan.
Montpellier Sud de France Train Station
Website: www.garesetconnexions.sncf
Address: Rue de la Fontaine de la Banquiere 34000 Montpellier, France
Telephone: +33 8 92 35 35 35
Book with the best car hire suppliers in Montpellier
Auto Europe is a top international car hire company with almost seventy of experience providing its many customers with the right vehicle at the right price. We offer a vast choice of convenient pick-up and drop-off locations in over 190 different destinations around the world. Thanks to our many years' 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 in Montpellier and all other parts of France.
 |
 |
.jpg "Europcar Car Hire Montpellier") |
 |
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 Montpellier
This section features the most frequent questions asked by people booking a car hire in Montpellier. 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 Montpellier?
Yes, always! Credit cards are an essential requirement when you rent a car in Montpellier or anywhere else in the world for that matter. Your selected car hire supplier will hold an amount on your credit card (called an excess) for the value of the cover and this deductible amount is immediately refunded once the vehicle is returned. It can be a shock when travellers arrive to collect their vehicle only to find their debit or prepaid card being refused, so please make sure you have a major credit cards (namely Visa, Mastercard, Diners or American Express) in thename of the main driver and with enough credit to cover the excess. In the case of luxury category cars, the local car hire company might ask for a second credit card, also in the primary driver's name due to the high value of such cars. You'll find all the information you need on credit cards (and which ones are acceptable) on the Auto Europe website at the time of making your reservation. Just select your dates, destination and preferred vehicle/supplier and click on the blue and white info icon (i). For more information, please check our dedicated blog post covering the six most important things to know about credit cards and deposits prior to your arrival in Montpellier.
What insurance do I need for my car rental in Montpellier?
All our rates for car hire in Montpellier include the minimum legally-required coverage as standard, including Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), Theft Protection (TP) and Third Party Liability. Not every part of the vehicle is covered, which is why most Auto Europe customers click the box just before check-out to add our very popular Full Damage & Theft Protection for a little more money. All the most relevant details regarding car hire coverage is easily accessible on the Auto Europe website by clicking on the blue and white info icon (i).
If the worst happens and you need to make a claim when driving your cheap car hire in Montpellier, please note that you must pay the car rental supplier first then claim the amount back from Auto Europe. When making a claim, it's essential that you provide all the required documents in order to receive your refund as quickly as possible.
Be warned that some car rental employees try to supplement their income by selling additional insurance despite the fact that many customers don't need it. But these additional coverage policies are totally optional and normally surplus to requirements, plus Auto Europe will not be able to refund any of the money for them at the end of the rental period.
For more information about Auto Europe’s coverage policies, please contact our rental specialists for assistance and they will be happy to provide you with all the information you need. Please also read our blog post on the subject, which provides a general overview of the types of car hire coverage available.
How is the traffic in Montpellier?
The traffic in Montpellier is generally ok but the rush-hour is heavy year-round heavy with occasional congestion on the A9 motorway (exacerbated by intense summer weekend tourist traffic), so please be sure to pick the quiter times for touring the city by car. The local motorway system is also a busy hub for traffic moving between Paris, Italy, Spain, Cevennes and the Massif Central region. The historic quarter of Montpellier is now a traffic-free zone but due to its compact size, many of the sightseeing attractions are easily accessible on foot. Only the tram has access to the city centre so visitors can easily stroll around the Old Town and visit as many of the attractions they want in total peace.
Where can I park my car hire in Montpellier?
The city has several excellent options for parking your low-cost car rental in Montpellier, some of them quite unique. For instance, there are numerous Tram+Ride facilities at the end of tram lines 1 and 2 (electrified trams are the only modes of public transport alowed into the historic centre). There are also many public car parks in nd around the inner city, one of the cheaper options being the Polygone Shopping Centre parking area. As in most large cities, the centre is the most expensive place for on-street parking, with the whole district divided into red zones (the most expensive), orange zones (normal rates) and yellow zones (the cheapest). There's a large car park near the Montpellier Saint Roch Train Station which is very centrally located and close to many of the city's top tourist attractions.
Do I need to pay tolls when driving my car hire in Montpellier?
Yes. The tolled A9 motorway that connects Spain with the rest of Europe is the main motorway artery that runs past Montpellier. Expect to pay a toll also for using the A7 from Montpellier to Aix-en-Provence. The autoroutes can be a very quick way of getting around the region but often at the expense of attractive scenery, for which it's always best to use the minor roads. Visitors with enough available time might prefer the untolled D routes that criss-cross the Montpellier region between many of the nearby coastal towns and villages.. Montpellier, Marseilles and Nice are the most popular destinations for many visitors, which are all linked by tolled motorways.
Do I need an emission sticker for my car hire in Montpellier?
Yes. Starting this year, Montpellier will implement a low emission zone (ZFE) designed to gradually introduce a progressive amount of local traffic restrictions until a total ban on diesel comes into force in the year 2028. The two-phase plan starts in the heart of the city on 1 July 2022, expanding across the entire city in 2026. Car drivers will have to comply with the ZFE by purchasing a Crit'Air sticker, which is assigned to their vehicle. If you need drive into the city centre for any reason during your stay, please check with your local supplier before collecting your car rental in Montpellier.
Montpellier Travel Guide
Stylish, historic and very hard-working, Montpellier is one of the most appealing but less-visited cities in the sunny south of France. A centre for culture, art and traditional French cuisine, it offers visitors the perfect mix of an authentic French city in close proximity to the many attractions to be found on the Mediterranean coast.
Best day trips with my car rental in Montpellier
For day-trips we recommend visiting some of the towns and villages located along the French Riviera, or in the picturesque Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France. Before embarking on your trip, it's always best to familiarise yourself with local driving regulations and make the most of your stay with a cheap car rental in Montpellier. For travellers looking to go even further during their visit, it is also possible to undertake a road-trip and return the car rental to another city with a One-way Car Hire which offers a greater degree of freedom and flexibility. Furthermore, you might also want to share the driving with one of Auto Europe's popular Free Additional Driver offers.
Maguelone
You can't leave the Montpellier area without visiting the magical island of Maguelone just 15 kilometres south of the city. This thin strip vineyards and fine sandy beach is linked to the mainland by a causeway. Its key attraction is its magnificent cathedral which was consecrated in 1054 in the Romanesque style with a cavernous interior notable for its high ceilings and a very simple decorative style.
Nîmes
Set in the foothills of the Cévennes Mountains, Nîmes is one of the most attractive cities in the south of France and a very popular day-trip option for people looking for places to go with their car rental in Montpellier. The city's rich ensemble of ancient buildings is protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, including the Arènes de Nîmes, one of the orld's best-preserved Roman amphitheatres.
Béziers
Boasting a prime location on a hillside overlooking the Canal du Midi, Béziers (an hour's drive from Montpellier) is a charming city with much to see, including two historic churches and a 12th-century cathedral. Don't miss the Musée des Beaux-Arts, an excllent fine arts museum with an extensive collection of 19th-century paintings.
Sète
Situated at the foot of Mont Saint-Clair, Sète is an atmospheric port town in the region of Occitanie, about 30 kilometres south-west of Montpellier. Its Old Town (the Vieux Port) dates from the time of Louis XIV and features many interesting buildings and architectural highlights. The views of the town and Mont Saint-Clair from the Môle St-Louis are magnificent.
What to do in Montpellier
One of southern France's lesser-known but highly-valued tourist destinations, Montpellier is a thriving cultural centre with an abundnace of first-rate museums and galleries, most notably the Musée Fabre, which houses one of the best collections of French paintings outside Paris. If the summer heat gets too much, head for the Jardin des Plantes, the oldest botanical garden in the country.
- L'Écusson: Montpellier's enchanting Old Town (nown locally as L'Écusson) comprises a groupof walled medieval quarters surrounding the Place de la Comédie, very much the heart of the city. This star attractions here include the Musée Fabre, Cathédrale Saint-Pierre and the Place de la Canourgue. Don't miss the chance to take a selfie in front of the impressive Arc de Triomphe (many French cities have them) which leads through to the historic Promenade du Peyrou, one of the most popular walking areas in Montpellier.
- Planet Ocean: Fittingly located at Montpellier's Port Marianne, the Planet Ocean plunges visitors into an exciting world of ocean-themed adventures. Visitors can discover more than 400 diverse species, including coral reefs, penguins, sharks, stingrays, clownfish, frogs, geckos and iguanas. At Planet Ocean, families with young children can enjoy learning about the world's different aquatic habitats, such as the North Pacific, Polynesia and nearby Mediterranean.
- Fabre Museum: Home to one of the largest collections of French paintings outside Paris, Montpellier's main art museum (the Musée Fabre) houses a vast array of important French 19th-century, modern and Impressionist paintings. Besides works by some of the best locally-born artists, the collection also features works by many Old Masters, including Botticelli, Poussin, Rubens, Raphael and Delacroix, among many others.
- Jardin des Plantes: Founded in 1593, the Jardin des Plantes is the oldest botanical garden in France. Highlights include several tropical greenhouses and a 200-year-old ginko tree. Other highlights include a terraced park full of 100-year-old magnolias and a stately statue of Louis XIV and Arc de Triomphe, both of which were erected in his honour).
- Saint-Pierre Cathedral: Dating back to the 14th century, Montpellier's impressive Saint-Pierre Cathedral has an imposing fortress-like façade featuring two striking medieval towers. The simple interior has a Gothic atmosphere and visitors should look out for the amazing canopy porch supported by two monumental cylindrical pillars (4.55 metres in diameter) which formerly bore the coat of arms of Urbain V.
Useful links
- Home
- Car Hire Destinations
- France
- Montpellier