| 
Car
Rental - South of France and Worldwide
Holiday Autos offers
the best fully inclusive car hire prices in over 4,000 rental locations UK and
worldwide. (Located at Nice Airport) Get cheap car hire quickly and securely online
with holidayautos.co.uk, the experts in online car rental.
Remember we have good rates on cars of all sizes to suit all needs - from small
'runarounds' to minivans and convertibles. So whatever the occasion, holiday autos
has the car to match.
Click on the logo below .jpg)
holiday
autos offer car rental in many locations in the South of France:
(subject to changes) Including Antibes -
Arles -
Avignon - Cannes - Juan
Les Pins - Marseillles - Monaco - Nice
- Saint Tropez
- Sophia Antipolis (airports,
stations, city centres) 
General
Driving Tips (some of this information supplied by Holiday
Autos)
Speed
limits :
Built-up-areas: 31mph/50kmh outside towns: 56mph/90kmh priority roads and toll-free
motorways: 68mph/110kmh toll motorways: 81mph/130kmh Speed
Cameras:  There
are more and more speed cameras in France (useful web site is
controleradar.org/) They usually have a warning sign a few metres or so before
you see the camera and it is often set on a dual carriageway in the central reservation
to capture traffic on both sides of the road. They are much nearer to ground level
than those found in Britain and Ireland. They are often located on motorways on
more dangerous sections particularly when the speed limit is reduced to 110 kmh.
Remember if you are driving a hire car your fine will be passed onto you by the
car rental company. Drink
and driving: Blood alcohol limit is 50mg - barely 1 unit of alcohol. (0.5
grams of alcolol per litre of blood) In the UK it is 0.8. Traffic
on major roads has priority. Where two major roads cross, traffic coming from
the right has priority as warned by the sign 'danger priorité à droite'. Where
there is no sign, give way to the right. Traffic
on a roundabout has priority and signs saying 'cedez le passage' or 'vous n'avez
pas la prioritè'. In some areas the old rule of traffic entering roundabouts having
priority applies so be cautious where there are no signs If
a driver flashes his headlights in France, he is generally indicating that he
has priority and you should give way. This can be confusing as in the UK it usually
indicates that a car is usually indicates that a car is letting you out. Stopping
for someone waiting at a zebra crossing is a fineable offence for holding up traffic.
The crossings indicate where is best to cross. Do
not overtake a tram when it is stationary with passengers alighting or boarding.
Traffic
lights don't show amber after red. Flashing amber means continue with caution. It
is compulsory for front and rear seat occupants to wear seat belts if fitted. Carrying
hazard warning lights or a warning triangle is compulsory. It is recommended
that visitors equip their vehicle with replacement bulbs. From July 2008
A reflective vest is also complusory (like in Italy, Belgium and Spain
- In Spain you must carry reflective vests for all occupants). Additional
driving Tips Driving
Licence: A
valid driving licence - If it is issued in the UK and the driver has passed his
/ her driving test at 17, you cannot drive a car in France till you are 18. The
minimum age for car rental is 21. Motor
Insurance: If
your vehicle
is registerd in the UK, you are not obliged to show an international insurance
certificate or green card, however proof of insurance may be needed so take your
insurance certificate showing fully comprehensive insurance. Vehicle
Registration Documentation: Take your vehicle registration document with you,
but don't leave it in the car (in case the car is stolen). If the car does not
belong to you you should have a letter of authority from the registered owner
and a copy of the registration document. Traffic
Lights: Traffic light sequences are like those in Ireland, Spain, Belgium,
Italy and many other European countries. They are unlike the UK in so much as
when the light has gone red, instead of going to amber, they go straight to green.
However they go from green to amber to red to stop traffic. You will often find
that at night or at other quieter times some traffic lights flash amber from every
direction. This means that no one has a right of way, but all drivers must proceed
with caution. Seat
Belts: It is complulsory to wear seat belts in front and rear and children
under ten years old are not allowed to travel in the front seat (unless there
are no seats in the rear). In the rear they must use a proper restraint system
- bolster cushion. If you are driving with a dog, it is advisable to harness the
dog in using a special dog harness. A dog like a human that is not secure in the
back can cause serious injury(or death) to the front seat people if it is not
secured by a harness. Warning
Triangles - First Aid Kits - Fire Extinguishers - Headlight convertors: These
should always be carried - many manufacturers issue them as standard. In the event
of a breakdown this should be displayed as well as hazard warning lights. It is
recommended that a first aid kit be carried - again many manufacturers issue them
as standard and a fire extinguisher. If you are driving a right hand drive car,
you should put convertors on to stop dazzling oncoming drivers. 
Motor
cyclists: Motorcycles over 125cc must use dipped headlights during the day.
A crash helmet is compulsory for driver and passenger. Motorways
- Autoroutes: The motoway network in France is excellent. The majority of
the country is covered by pay autoroutes and in most places they accept credit
/ debit card payments at the pay points (Tolls) Péage. In many city areas the
autoroute will be free in the zone around the city (not in Nice for example) and
you will stop at a Péage to collect a ticket and stop at another at then of that
section's toll road to pay. Most autoroutes are very well served by fuel stations,
some with hotels. Approximately every 15 kilometres you will find an Aires - This
is rest area with parking, tables and chairs for picnics and toilets, but no fuel.
There are normally emergency telephones on the autoroute network every 2 km. These
are orange and marked SOS. It
is illegal to drive on a French motorway at less than 80km/h (approx 50 mph) in
the fast lane. Fuel:
Petrol - Essence | Unleaded - Sans Plomb (Green on pump handle)| Diesel -
Gazole (Black on pump handle)| LPG - Gepel/GPL| Please note that most larger petrol
stations will accept credit cards, however many of the automated ones will only6
accept a French one. Drink
Drive laws in Italy Update.
Italy Magazine's March 2009 edition reports that the new Codice della Strada (The
Highway Code) has stated that if you drink more than three glasses of wine or
more than one brandy you will not pass Police alcohol tests. Apart from having
the driving license suspended up to a year, the vehicle can also be confiscated
and sold by the state. Take
great care if you take the car you rent in the South of France into Italy for
the day. SEE
ALSO Identifying
car hire cars in France HERE -------------------------------------------
Warning
from Car hire Rental companies On
a recent visit to France the car hire company had included a very useful "Warning
for renters" in French and English. If
you are hiring a car these days it is well worth considering the following advice
on vehicle security: -
When
returning the car you should hand the car keys to a uniformed member of staff
at the rental desk. DO NOT leave the keys in the car. DO NOT give the keys to
anyone, particularly in the return car parking area. If you do not follow this
return procedure you may be liable for the full value of the vehicle if it is
stolen. -
When you leave the car unattended (for example at a petrol filling station) always
take the keys with you and lock the doors. -
As
a precaution, when driving in some city areas, it is suggested you keep the doors
locked and the windows closed. -
Do not leave personal belongings on display in the car. -
When parking, if possible leave the car in a secure, well lit parking area
Thanks
to Alamo, National and Citer car rental for this information - July 2009
New:
Renting
a van in the UK/Europe and looking for van hire excess insurance from insuremyvan.com?
Click
Here SEE
ALSO:
Driving
in France and Monaco Too
much luggage causes Holiday disputes says Holiday Autos - August 2010 Holiday
Autos New Look Website - March 2010 Cancellation
insurance for car hire - Blog February 2010 Top
tips for cheaper car hire Useful
tips for a great car hire experience when hiring a car Useful
tips when hiring a van
-------------------------------------------
Before
you rent a car, have you thought about car rental excess insurance? 
-------------------------------------------
You
will need Travel insurance for your holiday in the South of France  or
Looking
for a hotel for your holiday in the South of France? - Use the search facilty
below
___________________________________________
jml
are members of the National
Landlords Association (NLA) in the UK
and Riviera
Business Club (RBC) in the Côte d'Azur France 
Enjoy
your stay in the South of France ....
| 
