Campervan rental in France

Campervan Rental France

France, located in Western Europe, is the largest country in the European Union and consists of both Metropolitan France and overseas territories. Metropolitan France shares land borders with Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, and Italy, whilst the overseas territories are located in America as well as in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. More specifically, these include French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Mayotte, Réunion, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, Saint Barthélemy and New Caledonia.

A campervan rental in France means you are free to enjoy its magnificent natural landscape and rich cultural heritage. France has it all, from mountains to beaches, agricultural plains to woodland, and even castles and historic monuments, meaning that it is the most-visited tourist destination in the world.

Survival guide

Hello! → Bonjour !

Goodbye → Au revoir

Please → S’il vous plaît

Thank you → Merci

You’re welcome → De rien

Sorry → Excusez-moi

Price of a meal for two people in a mid-range restaurant = €50

Price of a local beer (0.5 L) = €6

Price of a cappuccino (standard size) = €2.80

Price of a bottle of water (0.33 L) = €1.60

It is the country where the sun never sets: France crosses 13 different time zones. In fact, the time zones of the overseas territories range from UTC -3 (French Guiana) to UTC +12 (Wallis and Futuna).

There is only one "stop" sign in Paris

There is an infinite number of cheese varieties: according to the magazine "Profession Fromager" in its "Guide to raw milk cheeses", published in 2002, there are 1,600 different product varieties. This figure only concerns one category of cheese.

Camping in France

Before you rent a RV in France, make sure to know the camping regulations. Camping in France is regulated, meaning you are allowed to camp on any land as long as you have permission from the owner, for private land, and permission from the town or municipality for public land. However, there are some areas where you will not be allowed to camp, when unsure ask the local town council for guidance. It is important to respect the rules on camping and the parking of recreational vehicles in France. The best places for camping are national and regional parks and nature reserves (Cévennes, Pyrenees, Mercantour, Ecrins, Armorique, Vercors, Landes, Auvergne, and Loire-Anjou-Touraine). As far as wild camping is concerned, each park has its own specific regulations.

Driving in France

Motorways: France has one of the best motorway networks in Europe. If you choose to rent a campervan in France, please be aware that these roads have tolls, but this also means that they are very high in quality and extend across the entire country, except for Corsica and central Brittany.

A general rule at toll booths: Each motorway has different pricing. The exact price to pay will depend on the route taken and the distance traveled. Category 1: the vehicle is less than 2m in height and its gross authorized weight is less than 3,500 kg (generally the case with smaller camper vans). Category 2: the vehicle is between 2m and 3m in height and its gross authorized weight is less than 3,500 kg (generally the case with larger camper vans). Category 3: the vehicle is more than 3m in height and its gross authorized weight is less than 3,500 kg (generally the case with overcab-type vans)

Traffic in France drives on the right side of the road (steering wheel on the left).

Annual events in France

Here are some events that might interest you if you are thinking of renting a campervan in France:

• Tour de France: a road cycling competition crossing the whole country and one of the most-watched events in the world. It takes place over 3 weeks in July.
• Bastille Day in Paris on 14th July: featuring a parade on the Champs-Élysées, a concert (often at the foot of the Eiffel Tower), and a majestic fireworks display.
• The Cannes Film Festival: an internationally renowned film festival taking place in Cannes across 12 days in May each year.
• The French Open is held at Roland-Garros in Paris from late May-June and is one of the 4 Grand Slam tournaments.
• The Vieilles Charrues Festival in Carhaix in July. This is the largest festival in France, welcoming nearly 200,000 people each year.
• Hellfest, one of the biggest hard rock and metal festivals in the world. It takes place in Clisson in June.