Bordeaux car rental guide
Top 10 Car Rental Companies in Bordeaux
The best car rental companies in Bordeaux are Sixt, Hertz, Avis. Prices start from €25/day for an economy car, the minimum age is 21, and airport pickup adds about 13%.
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Ranked comparison
Top 10 rental companies in Bordeaux
Ranked by customer rating, price transparency and pickup convenience. Each opens a pre-filled search.
#1
Sixt
Editor’s pickFull-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from €300Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From€27/day
all-in estimate
View Sixt deal
#2
Hertz
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from €300Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From€28/day
all-in estimate
View Hertz deal
#3
Avis
Top ratedFull-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from €300Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From€27/day
all-in estimate
View Avis deal
#4
Budget
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from €250Min age 21Free cancellationAirport
From€25/day
all-in estimate
View Budget deal
#5
Europcar
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from €300Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From€26/day
all-in estimate
View Europcar deal
#6
Enterprise
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from €300Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From€29/day
all-in estimate
View Enterprise deal
#7
Alamo
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from €300Min age 21Free cancellationAirport
From€26/day
all-in estimate
View Alamo deal
#8
National
Full-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from €300Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From€30/day
all-in estimate
View National deal
#9
Citer
Local pickFull-to-fullUnlimited mileageDeposit from €200Min age 21Free cancellationAirportDowntown
From€22/day
base rate
View Citer deal
Prices are indicative market estimates · Last checked 2026-07-20 · 2 public sources (DiscoverCars + market data)
Price guide
Prices by car type in Bordeaux
| Car type | From / day | Example | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | €25 | Renault Clio | 4 |
| Compact | €30 | Opel Corsa | 5 |
| SUV | €48 | Dacia Duster | 5 |
| Minivan (7-seat) | €65 | Volkswagen Touran | 7 |
| Luxury | €95 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 5 |
Pickup locations
Where to pick up a car in Bordeaux
Airport — Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (BOD)
About 12km (7 miles) west of the city center; all major rental brands operate directly from the terminal, with shuttle service to some off-airport lots.
Downtown — Bordeaux city center / Gare Saint-Jean
Desks near Gare Saint-Jean train station are a natural pickup point for travelers arriving from Paris or continuing straight into the Médoc and Saint-Émilion wine regions without doubling back to the airport.
Fees
Fees at a glance
| Fee | Typical amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Airport surcharge | ~13% of base rate | BOD (Mérignac) airport pickup |
| Young-driver fee (21–24) | €15–25/day | Drivers under 25 |
| Additional driver | €7–12/day | Per extra driver |
| Crit’Air sticker | €3.62–3.77 (official price) | Required for driving inside the ZFE-m (low-emission zone), active 24/7 within the Rocade ring |
| One-way fee (Bordeaux ↔ Toulouse / Biarritz) | €80–200 | Different pickup/drop-off city |
| Refundable deposit | €300–500 | Standard hold at pickup |
Local intelligence
Things to know before renting in Bordeaux
- Bordeaux’s ZFE-m (low-emission zone) is active 24/7 within the Rocade ring road — non-compliant vehicles face a €68 fine, and tourists should buy the official Crit’Air sticker (€3.62–3.77) directly, not from unofficial resellers charging up to €30.
- The historic UNESCO center (Saint-Pierre, Place de la Bourse, Saint-André Cathedral) is fully walkable and served by tram lines A/B/C/D — 25 park-and-ride lots ring the city for drivers who’d rather leave the car outside the center.
- The Médoc wine route (Route des Châteaux, D2) stretches 80km through Margaux, Pauillac, Saint-Julien and Saint-Estèphe — public transport is virtually nonexistent, and a car (or guided tour) is considered essential.
- Saint-Émilion is reachable by train from Gare Saint-Jean (35–60 min, €5–10), but a specific château outside the village center still typically requires a car or tour — the seasonal bus 304 (€2.60) only runs April to early November.
- Most budget-tier rentals across Europe come with manual transmission by default — request automatic explicitly when booking if needed.
- One-way road trips are common on the Bordeaux–Biarritz Atlantic route (~2h via Arcachon) and Bordeaux–Toulouse (under 3h) — both feed naturally into multi-day itineraries.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about renting a car in Bordeaux
Do you need a car in Bordeaux city center?
No — sources agree the historic center is fully walkable and the tram network (lines A/B/C/D) covers the rest. One commercial guide put it bluntly: "There’s zero need to have a car in Bordeaux."
Do I need a car for Médoc wine tours?
Yes, in most cases. The Route des Châteaux stretches 80km with almost no public transport — forum users describe it as "definitely need a car" to move between Margaux, Pauillac and Saint-Julien.
Can I visit Saint-Émilion without a car?
Yes, by train from Gare Saint-Jean (35–60 min, €5–10) — but if you want to visit a specific château outside the village, you’ll still need a car, taxi or organized tour.
What is Bordeaux’s ZFE and do rental cars need a sticker?
Bordeaux’s low-emission zone (ZFE-m) runs 24/7 inside the Rocade ring road. Most rental fleets carry Crit’Air 1–2 vehicles (compliant), but confirm with your rental company and buy the official sticker (€3.62–3.77) directly from the government site if needed.
How far is Arcachon and the Dune du Pilat from Bordeaux?
About 65km/1 hour by car (A63→A660→N250), plus another 15 minutes to the dune itself. Parking fills up before 9am in summer, so arriving early is recommended.
Can I do a one-way rental from Bordeaux to Biarritz or Toulouse?
Yes — Bordeaux to Biarritz is about 2 hours, and to Toulouse under 3 hours. One-way availability and fees vary by company, so confirm at booking.
Nearby trips
