| Pick-up location | Lyon |
|---|---|
| Rental locations | 94 |
| Airport locations | 23 |
Pros: The car was clean
Cons: It was not the kind of car we reserved. Pick up and drop off was confusing. staff was rude
Pros: The car was upgraded at no additional cost. It met all my expectations.
Cons: Finding the rental office was difficult. Very poor sign posting for rental offices. The printed copy of my contract was not available due to computer glitch. In the end, I paid, what I had agreed upon, so it worked out OK
Cons: charged a different price and for 2 days whent eh rental was one day.
No car
Pros: Nothing
Cons: Our flight was delayed and so they closed right before we landed. Then we went the next morning tu get our car and they gave it away
False promise
Pros: Nothing
Cons: The category of car i have rented was not available ( crossover ) and according to the employee at counter it is always like that !
As i was unhappy i checked with other car services and i cancelled the reservation with Enterprise as Europcar was happy to well serve me with the requested car category at a very good rate !
Pros: The car was upgraded at no additional cost. It met all my expectations.
Cons: Finding the rental office was difficult. Very poor sign posting for rental offices. The printed copy of my contract was not available due to computer glitch. In the end, I paid, what I had agreed upon, so it worked out OK
False promise
Pros: Nothing
Cons: The category of car i have rented was not available ( crossover ) and according to the employee at counter it is always like that !
As i was unhappy i checked with other car services and i cancelled the reservation with Enterprise as Europcar was happy to well serve me with the requested car category at a very good rate !
Pros: The car was clean
Cons: It was not the kind of car we reserved. Pick up and drop off was confusing. staff was rude
Cons: charged a different price and for 2 days whent eh rental was one day.
No car
Pros: Nothing
Cons: Our flight was delayed and so they closed right before we landed. Then we went the next morning tu get our car and they gave it away
Cons: I’ve requested a car with snow tires. Over the phone the rep had reserved a Nissan SUV with snow tires Thais was slightly above the originally reserved priced. However, at the counter, they only had an expensive Alfa Rome Thad has snow tires and added 20 euros per day to the quoted price.
Pros: Friendly staff, took me to terminal due to drop off detail
No insurance on car rental
Pros: Car was in good shape and clean. And AVIS service was good.
Cons: There was no insurance included in rental and I had to pay same price as rental for insurance. So in the end I paid double the amount I was promised while booking.
Pros: Staff in Lyon was helpful.
Cons: Location was a bit tricky to get to without a car.
105 dollars turned into 400
Cons: I would write a bigger review but honestly I don't want to waste any more time in this, basically we returned the car a day late because none of the Avis locations in Paris were open when the customer service said they would be, leaving us with a car to pay for parking overnite at a lot in downtown Paris, not cheap. The next day a worker barely and begrudgingly took the car in while complaining in French, and a few days later I find out I'm charged over 400 dollars for a car that was quoted on Kayak for a little over 100. I had a bad experience before with Europcar, now Avis is on my list as well. I will never use Avis or Kayak for a car rental again.
Pros: Had a great and spacious car for 5 people with luggage. The staff at the Lyon Airport Avis Location was very helpful even at 11:00PM.
GPS worked fine.
Gas consumption was good too.
Cons: The drop off fee is extremely high.
Cons: It was an older 2013 Mercedes with high mileage and well used. The horn didn't work and this almost caused us being hit by a car backing into our side.
Pros: Friendly staff, took me to terminal due to drop off detail
Pros: Had a great and spacious car for 5 people with luggage. The staff at the Lyon Airport Avis Location was very helpful even at 11:00PM.
GPS worked fine.
Gas consumption was good too.
Cons: The drop off fee is extremely high.
Cons: I’ve requested a car with snow tires. Over the phone the rep had reserved a Nissan SUV with snow tires Thais was slightly above the originally reserved priced. However, at the counter, they only had an expensive Alfa Rome Thad has snow tires and added 20 euros per day to the quoted price.
No insurance on car rental
Pros: Car was in good shape and clean. And AVIS service was good.
Cons: There was no insurance included in rental and I had to pay same price as rental for insurance. So in the end I paid double the amount I was promised while booking.
105 dollars turned into 400
Cons: I would write a bigger review but honestly I don't want to waste any more time in this, basically we returned the car a day late because none of the Avis locations in Paris were open when the customer service said they would be, leaving us with a car to pay for parking overnite at a lot in downtown Paris, not cheap. The next day a worker barely and begrudgingly took the car in while complaining in French, and a few days later I find out I'm charged over 400 dollars for a car that was quoted on Kayak for a little over 100. I had a bad experience before with Europcar, now Avis is on my list as well. I will never use Avis or Kayak for a car rental again.
Cons: It was an older 2013 Mercedes with high mileage and well used. The horn didn't work and this almost caused us being hit by a car backing into our side.
Pros: Easy pick up and drop off.
Cons: Some items were left in car from previous driver.
Pros: Everything
Cons: Nothing
Pros: Service, staff
Cons: Indication for drop off
Pros: Friendly, knowledgeable staff
Cons: Slow check-in process. Waited 25 minutes for staff to finish with 2 customers ahead of us.
Cons: Eleven thousand euro deductible - ridiculous
Apart from slowish pick up, very good otherwise
Pros: Good choice of cars in the class
Cons: Pick up was quite slow. Perhaps they needed one more person at the desk.
From Lyon to Nantes and 10 days in between
Pros: The price was excellent for a last minute rental. Pick up was very easy. The car wasn't as clean as I would expect it to be but neither is my car so no big deal. Absolutely no problems with car for the 10 days that I had it. I was very happy overall and would go back to budget.
Cons: I was very clear with the rental agent on picking up the car in Lyon and dropping it of in Nantes by the train station. I tried to drop it off on a Sunday, as planned, but the rental office was closed. I then had to go to the airport to return the car which cost me a taxi ride back to the train station. This delay caused me to miss my original train so I then had to buy a new train ticket. I was not happy needless to say.
Pros: Like the car and the service
Cons: The block deposit on the visa without informing the customer, still waiting for cash return 533$ after 12 days.
Faultless experience
Pros: Value for money
Cons: Bus to the car rental area
Pros: The entire pick up and return process was quick. The staff who assisted us were very helpful and professional. Great experience overall.
Good value
Pros: Good size car for price
Staff very helpful, despite being busy
Pros: Easy pick up and drop off.
Cons: Some items were left in car from previous driver.
Pros: Everything
Cons: Nothing
Faultless experience
Pros: Value for money
Cons: Bus to the car rental area
Pros: The entire pick up and return process was quick. The staff who assisted us were very helpful and professional. Great experience overall.
Pros: Service, staff
Cons: Indication for drop off
Pros: Friendly, knowledgeable staff
Cons: Slow check-in process. Waited 25 minutes for staff to finish with 2 customers ahead of us.
Apart from slowish pick up, very good otherwise
Pros: Good choice of cars in the class
Cons: Pick up was quite slow. Perhaps they needed one more person at the desk.
From Lyon to Nantes and 10 days in between
Pros: The price was excellent for a last minute rental. Pick up was very easy. The car wasn't as clean as I would expect it to be but neither is my car so no big deal. Absolutely no problems with car for the 10 days that I had it. I was very happy overall and would go back to budget.
Cons: I was very clear with the rental agent on picking up the car in Lyon and dropping it of in Nantes by the train station. I tried to drop it off on a Sunday, as planned, but the rental office was closed. I then had to go to the airport to return the car which cost me a taxi ride back to the train station. This delay caused me to miss my original train so I then had to buy a new train ticket. I was not happy needless to say.
Pros: Like the car and the service
Cons: The block deposit on the visa without informing the customer, still waiting for cash return 533$ after 12 days.
Good value
Pros: Good size car for price
Staff very helpful, despite being busy
Cons: Local taxes and fees ended up being nearly two thirds of the cost, which I had pre-paid online and did not expect to owe anything else once I showed up.
Good Experience
Pros: The car was dependable and fuel efficient
Cons: No complaints
Rip off
Pros: Car and service ok
Cons: I was suprsed on arrival that car was no assurance but when rented i pay full assurance and i get certificate from aliance thatt all is fully covered but onnmy surprise i have to oay additional 150€ on top to vover insurance so newer again
Pros: The return was streamlined and easy. Treatment by customer service was professional.
Cons: Local taxes and fees ended up being nearly two thirds of the cost, which I had pre-paid online and did not expect to owe anything else once I showed up.
Good Experience
Pros: The car was dependable and fuel efficient
Cons: No complaints
Pros: The return was streamlined and easy. Treatment by customer service was professional.
Pros: Easy pick-up. Simple, helpful directions to get out of town.
Cannot change the driver name.
Cons: I lost my driving licence so we wanted to put my sister as driver with her name her driving licence and her credit Card. Because we arrive at 11:01 and the reservation starts at 11:00. They couldn’t modify our reservation. So we had to pay another one in another rental agency
Cons: I set a pick up time for 1pm, but the service location closed at 1 and did not open again until 2 hours later.
I wasn't able to pick up my car and it was dollar's fault
Pros: Nothing
Cons: Clicking "get directions" redirected me to another location in the city which turned out to be on break for 2 hours at pickup time. When I was break was over they told me to go to a different branch. Getting there took another hour so I was 3 hours late in total and they wouldn't let me pick it up. Horrible service overall which almost ruined my trip.
Pros: Car was economical & comfortable; clutch was a bit tricky
Good rental, very nice people in Lyon and fast
Pros: Pickup was excellent, very nice in Lyon. Car was ok, never found cruise control until last day, did not shift smoothly.
Amazing customer service
Pros: I was pleasantly surprised that Dollar at the Lyon airport was actually Hertz. This was not indicated online and I worried that it either did not exist or was far away from the airport. The staff was super friendly and most helpful. The car was clean and obviously a newer model.
Cons: I called the general number ahead to inform that my flight was delayed and that I would pickup the car a day later. The agent on the phone changed my reservation and in the process more than doubled the price from about 400 Euros to over 1,000 Euros. Luckily, the agent at the counter understood the situation, made a couple phone calls and corrected the reservation.
Cons: when we returned the car in Lyon it was difficult to find the drop off location as there was no sign.
Pros: simple checkout
Seamless service
Pros: Everything went seamless
Cons: Dollar brand is sign not displayed because the service is provided by Hertz on behalf of Thrifty on behalf of Dollar !!! but the shuttle driver was helpful with this point.
Cons: Sort of difficult to locate since the Dollar is in the Hertz building. They refused to speak a word of English. The process was fine but for the drop off it was a little weird. It was after working hours and the building was entirely sealed off. We had to park the car in the street next to the agency and draw a map on the return slip. I did not feel very secure doing that but we absolutely had to drop it off that evening. Everything worked out ok.
Free upgrade and Fantastic Service
Pros: Extra special attention from agent who checked us in and out. She gave us tips on the local wineries and more. At the end, she was most attentive and helped us get to our next destination.
Pros: Easy pick-up. Simple, helpful directions to get out of town.
Pros: Car was economical & comfortable; clutch was a bit tricky
Amazing customer service
Pros: I was pleasantly surprised that Dollar at the Lyon airport was actually Hertz. This was not indicated online and I worried that it either did not exist or was far away from the airport. The staff was super friendly and most helpful. The car was clean and obviously a newer model.
Cons: I called the general number ahead to inform that my flight was delayed and that I would pickup the car a day later. The agent on the phone changed my reservation and in the process more than doubled the price from about 400 Euros to over 1,000 Euros. Luckily, the agent at the counter understood the situation, made a couple phone calls and corrected the reservation.
Pros: simple checkout
Seamless service
Pros: Everything went seamless
Cons: Dollar brand is sign not displayed because the service is provided by Hertz on behalf of Thrifty on behalf of Dollar !!! but the shuttle driver was helpful with this point.
Free upgrade and Fantastic Service
Pros: Extra special attention from agent who checked us in and out. She gave us tips on the local wineries and more. At the end, she was most attentive and helped us get to our next destination.
Cons: I set a pick up time for 1pm, but the service location closed at 1 and did not open again until 2 hours later.
Good rental, very nice people in Lyon and fast
Pros: Pickup was excellent, very nice in Lyon. Car was ok, never found cruise control until last day, did not shift smoothly.
Cons: Sort of difficult to locate since the Dollar is in the Hertz building. They refused to speak a word of English. The process was fine but for the drop off it was a little weird. It was after working hours and the building was entirely sealed off. We had to park the car in the street next to the agency and draw a map on the return slip. I did not feel very secure doing that but we absolutely had to drop it off that evening. Everything worked out ok.
Cannot change the driver name.
Cons: I lost my driving licence so we wanted to put my sister as driver with her name her driving licence and her credit Card. Because we arrive at 11:01 and the reservation starts at 11:00. They couldn’t modify our reservation. So we had to pay another one in another rental agency
I wasn't able to pick up my car and it was dollar's fault
Pros: Nothing
Cons: Clicking "get directions" redirected me to another location in the city which turned out to be on break for 2 hours at pickup time. When I was break was over they told me to go to a different branch. Getting there took another hour so I was 3 hours late in total and they wouldn't let me pick it up. Horrible service overall which almost ruined my trip.
Cons: when we returned the car in Lyon it was difficult to find the drop off location as there was no sign.
Cons: I wasn't clearly informed of the "Young driver" surcharge of 37€ which is more expensive than the rental itself. I discovered it on the bill itself and found it unfair after 7 years of driving. Called customer service that was unfriendly and received an automatic email as a response to my complaint.
good value and service
Pros: excellent car (diesel Ford Fiesta), ease of rental, helpful staff
Fast and efficient
Pros: Good service
Fast reception
Cons: I was not pleased with status of snow tires. We asked for chains but were told none existed for cars our size. Of course, we got stuck one night going up the mountain. A tow truck came after a call to the Thrifty emergency numberand we bought snow chains from him. He told us we would not be charged for the tow since we bought the snow chains, but of course if showed up on the bill at drop off and no one there was compotent enough to be able to deal with it.
Nice Staff
Pros: This facility at 102 Ave Jean Juares is easy to find and easy to get to. I rented a manual transmission Fiat 500, the car was in excellent shape and the staff member that helped me was very helpful. There's a gas/petrol station about 500m away at 116 Rue de Gerland so that you can fill up before returning the car.
Cons: The cost of gas/petrol in France, but I can't blame Thrifty for that. It's just something you learn to live with. Whatever you do, don't ever use the Hertz/Thrifty facility at the Gare Part-Dieu as it's impossible to find.
Cons: I purchased insurance through kayak for 9USD but when I picked the car up they didn't recognise that insurance and said I wouldn't be covered unless I bought their 30 euro package, which I did to cover myself.
Audi, they said after hours drop off for the car was acceptable, all you had to do was put the key in the box. However when I tried to drop off the car, the gate to the car yard was closed and they didn't give me any swipe card to access the gate. This caused a lot of stress, and none of the Lyon offices would answer their phone. We ended up leaving the car parked on the street and then depositing the key in the box. They should have explained how to drop off the car after hours.
Cons: I was not pleased with status of snow tires. We asked for chains but were told none existed for cars our size. Of course, we got stuck one night going up the mountain. A tow truck came after a call to the Thrifty emergency numberand we bought snow chains from him. He told us we would not be charged for the tow since we bought the snow chains, but of course if showed up on the bill at drop off and no one there was compotent enough to be able to deal with it.
Cons: I purchased insurance through kayak for 9USD but when I picked the car up they didn't recognise that insurance and said I wouldn't be covered unless I bought their 30 euro package, which I did to cover myself.
Audi, they said after hours drop off for the car was acceptable, all you had to do was put the key in the box. However when I tried to drop off the car, the gate to the car yard was closed and they didn't give me any swipe card to access the gate. This caused a lot of stress, and none of the Lyon offices would answer their phone. We ended up leaving the car parked on the street and then depositing the key in the box. They should have explained how to drop off the car after hours.
| Most popular car type | Economy |
|---|
Economy (Audi A1 or similar) is the most frequently booked hire car type in Lyon.
Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car rental companies in Lyon are Alamo (8.7, 6472 reviews), Enterprise (8.5, 12814 reviews), and National (8.2, 3673 reviews).
Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best hire cars near you.
Lyon is a maze of narrow and ancient cobbled streets and alleyways that would suit an economy or compact car. Renting a smaller car means you get a practical and easy-to-park vehicle, ideal for driving through the busy roads of Lyon. If you’re planning to go further afield and into the neighboring mountains, then an SUV would be the perfect car for your road trip.
In Lyon, the speed limits in urban areas are 31 mph, lowered to 18 mph in residential areas. On the free roads between major cities, the speed limit ranges from 55 mph to 68 mph. On toll roads, the limit is 80 mph, unless the road is wet, in which case the speed limit lowers to 68 mph.
Petrol in Lyon can be twice as expensive as in the United States. On average, you can expect to pay €1.49 per liter (which is about $6.39 per gallon). For cheaper gas, you should visit the hypermarkets located on the outskirts of Lyon where you can save at least 5%.
When it comes to parking in Lyon, you should anticipate paying using machines in the large parking lots. During lunch hours (from 12:00 pm until 2:00 pm), it is free to park. Lyon also has several underground parking garages, as well as street parking that is pay-and-display. On Sundays and public holidays, most of the short and medium-stay street parking is free.
