Paris,
the capital of France is one of the trendiest and most modern cities
of Europe. It attracts many tourists from around the world. Many
people visit Paris for business trips on a regular basis. These
people may be from across the Atlantic or they may be Europeans.
Paris has a good network of roads. It is well connected by the metro
and has an efficient waterways system. It has one main airport about
twenty –three kilometers from the city. The main railway station
is the Austerlitz and Lyon. All stations are connected to the metro.
One can hire a car from any of the several auto rentals available
at the airport or at the railway stations. This is a convenient
form of transport in case one is staying for a long period and has
a fair idea of the geography of the city.
Before
hiring a car in Paris, one must be aware of the driving rules and
regulations of the city. France has about 800 km of toll roads and
one has to pay toll rates on these routes depending on the distance
traveled. One drives on the right side of the road in France. The
speed limit is 130km on the toll roads, 110km/h on non-toll roads,
90km/h on other roads and 50km/h in a city. The fines for speeding
are heavy, ranging from 900 francs for over speeding by 30km/h to
5000 francs for more serious offences. If a person pays immediately,
the fine is reduced to 600 francs. Both front and back seat passengers
must wear a seat belt at all times. Children under ten years of
age must sit on the back seat on a special chair. The fine for not
wearing a seat belt is 150 francs.
One
cannot drink and drive in France. Auto companies can refuse to rent
a car to a person who seems drunk. The penalty for drunk driving
is between 900 francs to 30,000 francs if the alcohol level exceeds
0.05%. If a person agrees to pay on the spot, the fine is reduced
by one third. If the driver feels that he is not at fault, he can
pay a deposit, depending on the offence and get a receipt for it.
When driving in France, it is advisable to have a comprehensive
vehicle insurance cover.
The
traffic on a roundabout gets first preference and traffic on a main
road gets preference. Other important rules to be considered are
that the legal age for driving is eighteen years. One must drive
with a permanent national license. In addition to this, one may
need an international driver’s permit to drive in France. One must
not overtake on a road with a solid single central line and not
stop on open roads. One must use sidelights only in a stationary
car and adjust the car beams for a right hand drive. One must park
only in permitted areas to avoid paying heavy parking fines.
Auto
rental europe agencies take bookings over the Internet. One
can select the desired model of the car and confirm the dates during
which the car is required. Most companies like Avis, Budget, Auto
Europe car rental; Thrifty and Hertz list the details of rentals
depending on the requirement and the car model. One can get attractive
discounts if one books for an entire week. There are discount rental
sites like www. BreezeNet.com. This site compares the rates of many
rental companies and suggests the best deal for a person depending
on his requirement. It gives details like addresses and timings
of car rental companies in Paris. This is a big help for a person
arriving in Paris for the first time. It also gives details like
where to get the rental vehicle, presence of breakdown service,
the model of car available, accepted modes of payment and terms
of returning the rental car. Some companies charge extra if the
drop off point of the car is a different place.
It
gives helpful tips and answers common queries on the website. It
suggests that a business traveler can get a discount weekend package
if he books for the whole week. Similarly, a tourist can get a discount
on a weekly deal if he has booked a car for the weekend. Some companies
offer discounts to senior person that must be availed of. Other
helpful details include tips on what credit and debit cards are
accepted by most rental companies. One must check the bill for extra
charges levied before making a payment. These charges include taxes
and vehicle leasing fees and increase the rental by almost twenty
percent. One must guard against such tricks to avoid being duped
in a foreign country. In case of an accident, one must inform the
rental company for a replacement. Next, one must inform the police
and get a signed report from them. This must be done within a day
or sooner if possible. This is necessary to claim damages or to
pay damages. One must keep copies off all auto
rental europe documents to claim insurance charges.
One
can make an Internet booking on sites like www.simpleautorentals.uk
and www.autoeuroperentals.com. The website will give a voucher after
the booking is made. One must be clear about the cancellation or
rescheduling charges taken by these sites. They require advance
information of any such change in case one wants a refund from them.
In order to collect the rental vehicle one needs to carry one’s
passport and driving license as proof of identity. In case of any
problems, one must contact the customer service centers of the auto
rental europe agencies and quote one’s booking reference number.
One must check with them about early or late returns of the car.
Some companies levy extra charges for longer rentals. Therefore,
auto rentals in Paris are greatly simplified due to the presence
of rental companies over the Internet. This can help one plan one’s
trip down to the last detail so that one is comfortable even in
a foreign country.
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