If you want to travel on your own in France, a car is a great option. Renting a car will allow you to reach out-of-the-way towns and avoid taxis if you plan on staying out long after the subway system has closed or the buses have stopped running. Finding a rental car in France is not that much different to renting one in America, as long as you plan in advance for it.
Rent a car before you go to France. This can be done online, through travel agencies or as a package along with your plane ticket and hotel rental. One of the main benefits of renting before you travel is that you will be able to get a discount for booking the rental as part of your travel package, rather than renting a car on your own.
Make sure you have an international driving license in addition to your state one. While not everybody requires one in order to allow you to rent a car, some companies (especially in small towns in France, where English is not widely spoken) may ask for an international license (which is basically a translation of your local one) in order to provide you with a car.
Use an American company, such as Alamo or RentACar for easier booking (see Resources below). Since these companies have offices in almost every city in America, you can simply book the car there and then pick up the vehicle once you arrive in France.
Rent a car at the airport if you are arriving in Paris and will not be leaving the country. If you plan on driving to other European countries, you may be better off renting a car beforehand to avoid trouble when filling out paperwork in a foreign language.
Bring your passport. Not only will you need it to prove your identity, but also your age. Visitors must be at least 25 years old in order to rent a car in France.
