Renting a Car in Provence: The Best Way to Explore Freely

Discover the beauty of the Luberon by renting a car in Provence

If you’re dreaming of Provence – lavender fields in bloom, golden light, hilltop villages, and coastal hikes – you’re not alone. The not-so-secret key to experiencing these places? Having your own car! Renting a car in Provence opens you up to exploring on your own time.

We usually avoid renting cars on our trips – we love public transportation and exploring by foot. But Provence is one of those places where having your own wheels lets you see more, do more, and explore more freely.

We spent four nights in the Luberon region of Provence, staying in the charming village of Goult. We booked a rental car from Avignon TGV for the duration of our Provence visit, and having a car transformed our entire experience.

Keep reading for our best tips and firsthand advice on renting a car in Provence.

Why You Need a Car in Provence

Trains and buses in France are generally excellent. But Provence – especially the Luberon – is a different story.

This region is all about charm on a small scale: quiet hilltop villages, winding country roads, hidden vineyards, and roadside farm stands you’d never stumble across without your own set of wheels.

Public transportation does exist here, but it’s limited, especially between the smaller towns. Getting from village to village would have meant long waits, rigid schedules, and a lot of time spent mapping out routes – especially on weekends when service is even more sparse.

By renting a car in Provence, we gave ourselves the freedom to roam. We could follow our curiosity, pivot plans on the fly, and stop whenever something caught our eye – a lavender field in full bloom, a village market, scenic viewpoints, and more.

Sure, we started most mornings with a loose itinerary, but some of our favorite moments came from the unplanned detours. That flexibility is part of what made our time in Provence so memorable – and why we recommend renting a car here without hesitation.

Renting a Car in Provence from Avignon TGV

We arrived into the Luberon region of Provence from Burgundy (Dijon) by train, but the same advice applies if you’re coming from Paris or Lyon (or even from the south, such as Marseille): take the train to Avignon TGV.

That’s the thing about renting a car in Provence – you want a car once you get to this region, but you likely don’t need a car before that point. The train is quick, scenic, and far more relaxing than a long highway drive.

Once you arrive into Avignon, you can rent a car right outside the Avignon TGV station. It truly could not be easier! Walk out of the station, and the rental car kiosks are right there.

We booked our rental car from Europcar via Expedia, and had a smooth pickup – within minutes, we were off, driving out of Avignon and into the heart of the Luberon. Booking through Expedia allowed us to compare prices across multiple car rental companies located right outside Avignon TGV.

As you consider rental car options, make sure you search for pickups at Avignon TGV – there are rental car sites located in other areas of Avignon, but choosing an Avignon TGV rental car site will allow you to pick up (and return) your car directly from the train station.

Returning our car was just as easy as pickup. After our visit to the Luberon, we were catching a train back to Paris, and no longer needed the car.

We simply dropped it off at Avignon TGV – dirt and all! – and waited to board our train north.

What to Know Before You Rent a Car in Provence

Planning to drive in Provence for the first time? Whether you’ve driven in France (or any foreign country) before or not, here are a few helpful things to know before you hit the road.

Is driving in Provence difficult?

Not really. Roads are well-maintained, signage is good, and traffic is typically light outside of city centers.

The main thing to be aware of is how narrow the streets can be in places. Take it slow, and don’t be afraid to pull off to let other cars by if needed.

Also, if you have the option, choosing to rent a small car can be helpful.

How much does a rental cost?

Costs for renting a car in Provence will vary based on rental car company, duration, type of car, and more.

That said, we found rental car prices here pretty affordable. We rented a Renault wagon (the smallest they could offer us) and paid just under $400 USD for 4 days, so about $100/day (plus the cost of fuel).

We found that price more than paid for itself with all the places we were able to explore.

Do you need to speak French to rent a car or drive?

Nope! We don’t speak French (aside from a friendly ‘bonjour’), and it was totally manageable.

Rental car agents at major stations like Avignon TGV usually speak English.

As for road signs, many are intuitive or similar to English equivalents, and a little prep (or Google Translate) goes a long way. If you’d like, you can check out French road signs in advance, so that you’re familiar by the time you hit the road.

It also helps if you’re traveling with someone – that way, one person can focus on the road, and the other can watch for signs, look out for turns, etc.

If you’re traveling solo, just be sure to review routes and road rules ahead of time, and use your phone to help with hands-free navigation while driving.

Do you need to drive a manual (stick shift)?

Absolutely not. We always rent an automatic, and it’s one less thing to stress about when driving in a new country.

Automatics are less common in Europe, so book early to secure one, especially in summer.

Should you rent an electric car?

Electric cars are becoming more common in France, but many small towns in Provence don’t yet have reliable charging infrastructure. Our apartment rental host actually advised against it, and we were glad we stuck with a fuel car for peace of mind.

Still, as electric vehicles become more common, it’s likely even remote areas will start to have better charging infrastructure. We recommend checking with a local (which could just be a contact at the hotel or accommodation where you’re staying) for their perspective.

Do you need an international driving permit?

Search the Internet, and you’ll find some folks saying you need an international driving permit, and others saying you don’t. Honestly, we’re not sure there’s a right or wrong answer to this question.

If you’re not familiar with an international driving permit, it’s essentially a translation of your driver’s license into several languages.

You don’t need an international driving permit to rent a car. But some say it can be helpful if you get stopped by the local authorities. We didn’t, so we can’t say whether or not this is true.

That said, if you’d like peace of mind, it can’t hurt to get one before your trip. For what it’s worth, we did get international driving permits before driving in Provence. For those in the United States, they’re easy to obtain from your local AAA office, and they’re good for a year.

Other tips for renting a car in Provence:

• Download offline maps in Google Maps. You never know when cell service will go out, or WiFi, if you’re using a mobile hotspot device).
• Pay attention to fuel types. Diesel is common, and the wrong fuel can damage the engine. If you’re unsure, ask the rental car agency when you pick up your car.
• Keep some change and a credit card handy. You’ll likely need to pay for parking periodically in popular towns, as well as tolls if you’re driving on the highway at all. Having both some cash and a credit card on hand is helpful.
• Watch out for market days, when towns get crowded and parking is harder to find – but also more fun, if you enjoy a challenge! Plan ahead, arrive early, and pack your patience.
• Book in advance, especially in spring and summer. Provence is a popular region, and renting a car is quite common. Especially if you want an automatic and/or small car, reserve early to get the car type you prefer.
• Choose a smaller car. On that note, if you can book a smaller car (or the smallest car that’ll accommodate your group), you’ll have an easier time navigating narrow roads and tight parking spots.

How Renting a Car in Provence Opened Us to Adventure

Our visit to Provence was paired with a trip to Paris and Dijon, two places we didn’t need a rental car. When we first started planning our stay in Provence, we looked into exploring the area without a car. But we quickly realized we wanted to spend time – and stay overnight – in a small Luberon village.

This realization made the idea of using public transportation in Provence less appealing. In fact, if you’re keen on using public transportation here, your best bet is to base yourself in a city like Avignon or Aix-en-Provence, or maybe a town such as L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, which is still fairly well connected via bus.

Renting a car gave us the opportunity to stay in the tiny village of Goult. We were only a 45 minute drive from places like Avignon and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, but being able to wake up in and return to this charming hilltop village each day made our Provence experience special.

Even better, Goult had plentiful free public parking, making it easy to park after a long day of adventuring.

Aside from what renting a car in Provence afforded us in terms of home base options, we were also able to explore a number of places that would’ve been difficult without our own car, including:

• Exploring multiple Luberon towns, from tiny villages like Lumières, to more touristy spots such as Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.
• Driving past – and stopping at – as many fields of Lavender as our hearts desired (we visited in June).
• Wandering Roman ruins at Glanum, then going next door to roam the grounds of the psychiatric hospital where Van Gogh once stayed.
• Stocking up at local markets and grocery stores (we love exploring foreign grocery stores) without worrying how to carry it all back or when to catch the bus by.
• Taking a day trip to the Mediterranean coast for a stunning day hike at Calanques National Park.

This kind of freedom let us soak in the rhythm of Provence – not just check off sights.

Final Thoughts: Renting a Car in Provence

If you’re heading to Provence, renting a car might just be the single best decision you make. It gave us the freedom to shape each day as we went – to linger longer in villages we loved and to stumble into unexpected moments that became trip highlights. While public transportation has its place, there’s something uniquely liberating about having your own set of wheels in a region like this.

So go ahead, book that rental. Provence is waiting – and it’s even better when you can explore it on your own terms.