Car Rentals at Poitiers Airport

Poitiers Airport is officially known as the Poitiers-Biard Airport, due to its location in Biard, and is approximately 2.4km, or 1.5 miles west of Poitiers, a city inland of the country’s western coastline. Poitiers is a commune of the Vienne department, and the airport of the city serves all towns and cities within the area. Although only a small airport, with just over a hundred thousand passengers per annum, several facilities are available for passengers and visitors, including the Poitiers Airport car hire companies. In a rented car is often considered as one of the best ways to travel France, and is certainly more private and convenient than bus services. Car rentals can also be quite affordable, if a little research is conducted beforehand.

The Poitiers Airport car rental companies are found within the single terminal building, and are nearby the arrival hall. They include Avis, Hertz, National, Europcar, Alamo, Easycar and Auto Europa, which are all internationally recognised companies ready to supply their customers with competitive rental rates and high quality vehicles. The rental counters of these companies are not open twenty-four hours a day, since that Poitiers is not a very busy airport, however, they are open at the times of arrival flights, in order to meet their customers. The vehicles belonging to the companies are parked in a car park on the airport grounds, within easy walking distance of the terminal. Passengers may be able to return their vehicle out-of-office hours, as often the companies have drop-off boxes for the return of the vehicle’s keys, however, for customers who do not wish to drive back to Poitiers Airport, one way hire services can be arranged, allowing the vehicles to be delivered to a different rental location. All details can be confirmed with your chosen car hire company.

A hired car can be driven to all parts of France, and in general, the road network of the country is considered to be very good, with major Autoroutes linking all the larger towns and cities. The Autoroute nearest to Poitiers Airport is the A10, and this road provides access from Poitiers to Tours in the north, passing areas such as Châtellerault, and from Poitiers to Niort. Poitiers is within an hour and a half’s drive from La Rochelle, a popular coastal area to the west, and is fifty minutes from Angoulême. To the south-east, Limoges is about 105km from Poitiers, and to the north-east, Châteauroux is about 109km. Other larger cities nearby Poitiers include Angers, about 117km to the north, Cholet and La Roche-sur-Yon. There are many wonderful attractions nearby Poitiers, and at all of the cities mentioned, and in a rented car is the best way to reach your chosen locations in good time. Vehicles hired may also be driven to other European countries, and on the islands of Corsica and Sardinia, as well as in the United Kingdom, provided that they are returned to the mainland. Your car rental company can provide further details regarding cross-border rentals.

For cheaper rental rates, reserve your vehicle as early as possible, and preferably online, from one of the websites which support reservations for the car hire company you have chosen. Car hire is similar to booking an airline ticket – the earlier the reservation the cheaper the rates charged. It is best to reserve any additional items of equipment required as well, for example, child seats or a satellite navigation system. These items will come with an additional expense, but are often essential, and well worth the few extra Euro. A child seat is required by law for younger travellers, and a GPS will help you to easily reach any destination. From the car rental companies at Poitiers Airport, hand controls for disabled drivers may also be available, and this equipment is rented free of charge. It is ideal for use by persons with a lower limb disability, and may include a steering wheel knob for additional assistance. Always reserve hand controls at least forty-eight hours prior to your arrival at the airport.

The Poitiers Airport car rental companies offer their customers a wide variety of vehicles, which come in all sizes, and are hired at varying rental rates. More affordable vehicles are generally those of smaller makes and models, with room for between four and five passengers, and an item or two of luggage. They could be similar to the Fiat 500, Opel Corsa, Citroen C3, Peugeot 207, Volkswagen Polo or Volkswagen Golf. Smaller cars are light on fuel, often considered as eco-friendly, and are a good choice for city driving or longer journeys, provided that they offer sufficient space for your luggage. Midsize cars are similar to the Renault Scenic, Renault Laguna and Peugeot 407, while larger cars, wagons and vans often include the VW Passat, Audi A4, Ford Mondeo Turnier, VW Passat Variant, Opel Zafira, Ford Focus C-Max, VW Touran, Ford S-Max, Ford Galaxy, VW Sharan, Citroen C8, Renault Espace and the Renault Traffic Combi, for nine passengers. Luxury and Premium vehicles may also be available, as well as SUVs and convertibles.

In order to hire a car from Poitiers Airport, the primary renter and all additional drivers will need to be at least 21 years of age, and to have a valid drivers license. Usually, the license must have been held for a minimum period of a year prior to the rental date. Most licenses are accepted, provided they are not printed in a non-Roman alphabet. In this case, an International Driving Permit may be required. Drivers under the age of 25 may not be permitted to hire vehicles from all available categories, and will pay higher rental rates for young driver insurance. A major credit card will also be needed for payment, and those generally accepted include American Express, Diners Club, Eurocard, Mastercard and Visa.

At Poitiers Airport, Avis, Hertz, Europcar, National, Alamo, Easycar or Auto Europa will be more than willing to assist with all further enquiries.