Marseille Hire Car Tips, Experiences & Comparison

DISCOVERING Marseille WITH A HIRE CAR

Travellers who spend a few days in Marseille experience a city that couldn’t be more multicultural.

There you can stroll through streets where you will find exclusively Arabic shops.

In other areas, Asians have settled. Of course, there are also typical Provençal markets in Marseille.

At the harbour you can taste the southern French fish soup Bouillabaisse, which tastes nowhere as good as in Marseille. And those interested in culture will find numerous museums and magnificent churches.

But not only Marseille is worth a trip, also in the surrounding area there is much to discover. This can be done easily with a hire car. We have put together a few tips for renting and travelling.

Receiving the car

Numerous rental agencies can be found in the parking lot outside the airport. Follow the signs or ask at the information desk. However, you should make sure that your rental company is also located at the airport before making a reservation.

Because there are also providers whose station is only near the airport. If you have booked with such a hire car company, you sometimes have to wait a long time for a shuttle to take you to the station. So you lose precious travel time.

Choosing the right car

In Marseille, even in multi-storey car parks, the parking spaces are tiny. Rent the smallest car possible to park your car easily. But you should also consider how much luggage you want to take with you on your trip, so that the boot of your hire car is big enough

Hire car prices

Hire car prices in Marseille are in the mid-range. However, during the high season in summer, there can be a shortage of hire cars. And that’s also when the prices go up. You can usually get the cheapest deal if you book the hire car well in advance of the actual trip and use our price comparison.

hire car price comparison Marseille

Insurance

In the traffic chaos of Marseille, a small accident can happen very quickly. You are on the safe side if you have booked a car with comprehensive insurance without excess. Also pay attention to the amount of coverage for liability. It should be at least one million euros.

Because if people are injured in an accident or several vehicles are involved, this sum is quickly reached. If the sum insured of your rental company seems too low, you have the option to take out a so-called Mallorca policy and provide further protection. The Mallorca policy is offered by numerous insurance companies. Let yourself be advised.

Minimum age

Few rental companies in Marseille rent their cars to drivers under 21. And older drivers up to 30 are often only allowed to book certain vehicle categories. In addition, drivers under 25 are often still charged an additional fee. Check out your rental company’s terms and conditions before renting the car.

Accessories

A navigation device will serve you invaluably in the winding streets of Marseille. To ensure that it is available on the day you pick up your car, you need to make a reservation well in advance. The same goes for other accessories, such as a child seat.

Language barrier

Many French people have a hard time with the English language. To avoid misunderstandings at the hire car station, make a note of the telephone number of the French head office of your rental company before you travel. There you can ask for translation help in case of need.

Bail

Be careful to book with a rental company that only blocks the deposit on your credit card. After all, if the amount is actually charged, it can sometimes take a long time for the money to land back in your account after you return the car.

Free kilometers

If you just want to explore Marseille and the surrounding area, you may want to book a cheaper hire car with limited mileage. However, if you also want to go to the enchanting Côte d’Azur or the hinterland of Provence, you should definitely take a car with all kilometres free. Because the landscape is so fantastic that you will probably drive significantly more kilometres than planned.

Customer Satisfaction Hire Car

Most customers are quite satisfied with the rental companies in Marseille. However, some find fault with the external condition of the vehicles and others have had discussions about the level of fuel in the tank when returning the vehicle. If you notice any defects in your vehicle, such as scratches or dents, you should always have it confirmed in a fault report.

Then you can’t be held liable for any damage you didn’t cause when you return the vehicle. Also, only book with rental companies where you can pick up the car with a full tank and return it with a full tank. This is the cleanest and most transparent solution for everyone.

Safety Hire Car

Even quite old hire cars in Marseille are usually roadworthy. Nevertheless, you should test the car’s lights before your first drive and still do a little brake test in the hire car company’s parking lot.

Sights in Marseille

Notre-Dame de la Garde: Magnificent church with a view
The Notre-Dame de la Garde is a good starting point for a first stroll through the city. The church in the neo-Romanesque-Byzantine style was built between 1853 and 1864 and impresses already from the outside with its magnificent black and white striped facade. Inside, the splendor continues. Especially the beautiful mosaics cast a spell over the visitors. If you leave the church then again, you enjoy a magnificent view over Marseille and surroundings.

Station Quarter: Experience the Marseille of yesteryear
Adventurous visitors should now direct their steps to the station quarter. In the alleys around it, Marseille still shows its rough and unadorned side. In Arabic shops you can buy all the delicacies of the Orient or admire ostentatious gold jewellery in the shop windows. On the streets you will hear the languages of different countries. But if you still want to experience the untamed Marseille, you should hurry. In the city centre, attempts are being made to redevelop Marseille in a luxurious way. Poorer people are being pushed out to the outskirts of the city.

Old harbour: enjoy delicious bouillabaisse
Before you set off in your hire car to the outskirts of Marseille, you should still visit the old harbour. Alongside magnificent yachts, you will find the Miramar restaurant there. In the Miramar you can taste the probably best bouillabaisse of Marseille and thus of whole France. The pleasure is not cheap. For a portion of the legendary fish soup, you will be asked to pay 63 euros. But for that you get an experience served that you will not forget so quickly.

Suggestion of a round trip

Bandol: Fantastic red wine
First drive to Bandol by hire car. In just under an hour you will be there. A small town awaits you from where you can take wonderful walks along the coast. Back in town, don’t miss filling the trunk of your hire car with a few cases of what is probably the best red wine grown in Provence. The red Bandol in particular will make wine connoisseurs’ eyes light up.

Grasse: capital of perfume
Next stop on your trip could be Grasse. In less than two hours, you will be there. In Grasse you can visit a perfume factory where you will learn how the delicious fragrances are made for which Provence is famous. It is not for nothing that Grasse has the unofficial title of “capital of perfume”.

Aix-en-Provence: pure Provence
Before you park the car in Marseille again, you should pay a visit to Aix-en-Provence. Your hire car will take you there in less than two hours. During the drive you can enjoy the beautiful landscape. Many consider Aix-en-Provence to be the most beautiful city in the region. Stroll through the picturesque streets and don’t miss observing the lively yet relaxed city life on the terrace of a café. It will now only take you half an hour to drive back to Marseille. Once you have parked your hire car, you can take in the impressions of your tour with a glass of pastis.

Conclusion

For a round trip with a hire car, Marseille is an ideal location. Not only in the city, but also in the surrounding countryside there is a lot to discover. And all destinations are easily accessible by hire car. Our practical price comparison will help you to find the right hire car for you at a reasonable price.