Find your perfect hire car in Toulouse
Our Toulouse car hire services can be found the moment you arrive at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, a quick 15-minute drive from the city centre. We’re also conveniently located at Toulouse Matabiau Train Station, right in the heart of Toulouse. Wherever you collect your hire car, our friendly team will check you in quickly and efficiently so you can get on and enjoy your trip.
Known as La Ville Rose (the Pink City) owing to its terracotta-hued buildings and blushing brick churches, Toulouse’s pretty medieval quarter is its chief draw. It’s also the unofficial gastronomic capital of France. Beyond the city, discover soaring mountains, idyllic beaches and acres of historic charm. Our flexible return options mean you can rent a car in Toulouse and drop it off in another destination at the end of your stay.
Your top rental locations in Toulouse
Avis services in Toulouse
Our car rental offices in Toulouse offer a selection of vehicles ideal for city driving, business trips and longer journeys. You can choose a practical city car for navigating Toulouse, a comfortable sedan or an SUV offering more space.
Additional equipment is also available including GPS, child seats plus additional driver options.
Ahead of your Avis car rental in Toulouse, you can enjoy discounts of up to 10% on your booking plus fast-track service and exclusive offers when you join Avis Preferred, our free loyalty scheme.
Toulouse car rental FAQs
Can I pick up my rental car in Toulouse and return it to another location?
Yes. One-way car rental with Avis makes travel easy. You can collect your car in Toulouse and return it to another Avis office in France or elsewhere in Europe depending on your travel plans.
What are the age requirements for hiring a car in France?
The minimum age to rent a car in France is 21. A young driver surcharge may apply to drivers under 25, and certain premium vehicle groups may have higher age restrictions.
Is it worth hiring a car in Toulouse?
A rental car in Toulouse makes it easy to reach various sites around the city of Toulouse itself as well as getting to hotels, shopping centres and attractions in the region without depending on public transport. You can also travel further afield to cities like Albi, head south to Provence or south west to the Pyrenees.
What type of vehicle should I choose to get around Toulouse?
A compact car is useful for local trips and short stays. For families or groups with several pieces of luggage, an SUV or minivan can offer more comfort.
What is parking like around Toulouse?
A range of parking options are available around the train station, hotels and tourist areas. Some areas may have restrictions, especially at peak times. If you are staying outside the city with your hire car, Toulouse has convenient park and ride facilities around the perimeter with links to the metro network.
Top tips for driving in Toulouse
If you are driving in Toulouse for the first time, you'll find roads are generally free flowing, but traffic can be heavier during peak morning and evening rush hour periods. The streets in the medieval heart of Toulouse are narrow and can get congested. It’s worth noting the city’s low emissions zone came into effect in 2022 and to drive in this zone, you must have a Crit’Air sticker on your windscreen. This will be provided with your car and the friendly rental team at Avis Toulouse are on hand to offer advice.
Motorways in the region are subject to strict speed limits and some sections may be charged. Before hitting the road, remember to check the traffic conditions and any environmental restrictions applicable in certain urban areas.
If you are driving in France for the first time, it’s helpful to familiarise yourself with French road rules. Some key points include:
- Speed Limits: Generally, 50km/h in urban areas, 80km/h on two-lane regional roads, and 130km/h on motorways (110km/h in rain).
- Overtaking: Drive on the right and overtake on the left.
- No Headphones: It is strictly forbidden to use headphones or earbuds while driving.
Exploring Toulouse with your hire car
Toulouse is cut into two halves by the Garonne, which meanders into the famous Canal du Midi. The city dates back to the Iron Age, when it was a key trading post between settlements in the Pyrenees, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. Now the bustling capital of southern France’s Occitanie region, its narrow, historic streets and the University of Toulouse’s prestigious grounds provide hours of rewarding wanderings through the city.
Pale pink churches, charming townhouses and peach-tinted shop fronts are scattered across La Ville Rose, while the elegant Basilica of Saint-Sernin sits at its heart. This is the biggest Romanesque structure in Europe and is more than worthy of its UNESCO World Heritage status. Pilgrims used to stop off here on their way to Spain’s holy Santiago de Compostela.
It wouldn’t be a visit to one of France’s main foodie centres without enjoying some hearty French cuisine. Cassoulet (bean and pork stew), saucisse de Toulouse (pork sausages) and garbure (cabbage and chicken soup) are the key players in Toulouse’s traditional menus. Toulouse also has a buzzing live music scene as well as the Orchestre National du Capitole at the celebrated Théâtre du Capitole.
Road trips from Toulouse
Toulouse is the gateway to the snow-capped Pyrenees mountains. Leave the city behind and drive up into the peaks, which stretch for more than 430km along the Spanish border. Hikers can unearth dramatic walking routes that circumnavigate glassy lakes and tumbling waterfalls. For something more energetic, sweep down the slopes of the popular Superbagnères, Peyragudes or Mourtis ski resorts, all within two hours’ drive from Toulouse.
While Toulouse certainly has its fair share of culture, budding historians will enjoy the stone-clad citadel of Carcassonne, a 90-minute drive from Toulouse. At the heart of the Languedoc region, it’s a spectacular medieval fairy-tale town that’s steeped in old-world charm.
Car rental in Toulouse provides easy access to the beautiful bays that skim the south east coast. The sleepy enclaves of Argelès-sur-Mer and harbourside Sète are both approximately two hours drive from Toulouse, with endless private beaches and coves awaiting discovery further afield.
From soaring peaks to sparkling Mediterranean shores, you can traverse the South of France’s most inviting landscapes when you rent a car with Avis in Toulouse.
Why choose Avis for your Toulouse car hire?
- Fully flexible
Enjoy fee-free flexible booking with full cash refunds and no vouchers.
- Fully flexible
- Savings on coverage
When you choose Avis Inclusive you can experience total peace of mind with no extras or surprises. Pay one upfront price for free Roadside Assistance Plus and 25% discount on comprehensive zero-excess cover.
- Savings on coverage
- Loyalty benefits
Join our free loyalty programme Avis Preferred, and benefit from priority service, discounts and more.
- Loyalty benefits
- Faster collection
Save time at the counter by registering your details in advance with our simple and free QuickPass. You could be on the road sooner than you think.
- Faster collection
- VIP treatment
Get priority counter service on collection with Avis Preferred. At our larger locations you can use our Avis app to go straight to your car where the keys will be waiting for you.
- VIP treatment