Motorhome & Campervan Hires in France – FAQs

Our location, near the town of Sens is easy to access by car and well serviced by regular trains from Paris.  For full details on how to get to our depot, visit this page: https://francemotorhomehire.com/holiday/info/find-us/

Yes, we offer free car storage at our secure compound for the duration of your hire.

No, all hires must start from our depot due to insurance restrictions.

Our motorhomes can be taken to any current European Union Member Country and Switzerland, where they remain covered by our insurance and by our roadside assistance policy. It may be possible to take them to non-member countries but we would need to consult our insurers so let us know where you would like to go and we will check it out for you prior to accepting your booking.

No, our vehicles can only be collected from and returned to our depot.

The vehicle can be collected or returned on any day of the week except Sunday. The collection time for the vehicle is between 1400 and 1700 hours unless we agree to an alternative time in advance. The return time for the vehicle is strictly between 0900 and 1000 hours unless we agree to an alternative time in advance.

Yes, we are happy to store your luggage at our depot for the duration of your hire.

You will receive a full introduction to the motorhome as part of the check-out procedure. The process involves an instructional walk-around of the vehicle with one of our knowledgeable staff. You will also receive a Vehicle Instruction Pack which contains all the essential information you need about the vehicle and help with other aspects of your holiday. We will make sure you are comfortable and familiar with the working of your motorhome before you leave the depot.

There are a range of supermarkets and local stores close to our depot. Information on all the local options will be included in your Vehicle Information Pack. Most local supermarkets stay open until 19:30 so if you pick up by 17:00, you should have plenty of time to shop for supplies before they close.

No, we do not allow pets in our motorhomes under any circumstances.

No, we operate a strict no smoking policy in all of our vehicles.

Anyone who is going to drive the vehicle must have a licence to drive a vehicle up to 3.5 tons, with a manual transmission which must be valid for use in France (licences from some non-EU countries only allow you to drive vehicles up to 3 tons).  All documents must be valid for the duration of your hire and scans, photocopies or faxes will not be accepted.

You may also need an International Drivers Permit if your licence is from outside the EU (the easiest way to check this is with your local French Embassy or in the foreign travel section of your own government web site).

If you are bringing an International Driver’s Permit, you must still bring your regular/domestic licence with you too as an International drivers Permit is not valid without it.

Every person travelling in the motorhome must present their passport at check-out. The hirer (and any additional drivers) must also show their driving licence (see above).

Drivers must be over the age of 25 yrs at the start of the hire period unless otherwise agreed (we might be able to accept younger drivers if they are car owners, have held a licence for three years and drive regularly but we need to verify them with our insurer so please get in touch to discuss this if you are under 25). There is no upper age limit to hire our campervans.

Our motorhomes are based on modern, powerful vehicles so are no more difficult to drive than a medium sized modern van. They are Left Hand Drive, have manual transmission, power steering, ABS brakes, driver/passenger airbags, electric windows and powerful demist/air conditioning systems. They also have larger mirrors to allow the driver to see clearly down the sides of the vehicle.Therefore, any driver who is comfortable with a normal car should be able to drive a motorhome without problem. However, motorhomes of course, have a larger “body” than a car so extra care must be taken when manoeuvring in tight spaces, parking or in heavy traffic. Once on the open road, you will quickly find that the motorhome handles very much like a car. During the check-out process, a member staff will explain all the controls of the vehicle to you in as much detail as you wish and you can take as much time to become familiar with your vehicle as you feel you need.

There are two types of electrical power available in our motorhomes:

Battery power: All the systems on board (hot/cold water, lighting, fridge, heating) will work whilst the engine is running and will continue to work for sometime after the engine has been switched off. How long they will continue to work for depends upon how much power you use from the batteries but as a rule, all systems will continue to work for up to 3 days before needing to recharge the batteries. Recharging the batteries can be done by running the engine (for approximately 1 hour after a 3 day period) or by connecting the mains power lead.

Mains power: The systems on board will work indefinitely whenever there is a Mains Power lead connected to the motorhome. This lead will continuously top-up the battery charge level and give you 220v sockets inside the motorhome (to run small appliances such as hair dryers, phone chargers etc).

Gas and other power: The number of appliances that work on gas varies from vehicle to vehicle, all have gas hobs. Some have gas fridges, heating and hot water boilers too whilst others might include diesel heating and solar power.

By carefully managing which power source you use, it is possible to treat a motorhome just like home – the systems are easy to understand and are fully explained during the vehicle handover.

Yes but the sockets will only work when the Mains Power Lead is connected to a mains electricity supply (e.g. at a campsite). The 220v sockets will allow you to run hair dryers, phone chargers, computers etc.

All the motorhomes in our fleet are based on modern van chassis with powerful, responsive diesel engines. Economy will rely to a certain extent on driving style and road conditions but you should expect to achieve around 30mpg/10 kms per litre.

All of our motorhomes are powered by Diesel engines. One litre of diesel currently costs around €1.05 in France (December 2015).

No, all our motorhomes have manual transmission

Our motorhomes are equipped with:

• Bedding and towels for all members of the hire party including duvets and duvet covers, sheets, pillows and pillowcases, mattress covers, towels and tea towels.
• Hairdryer
• Propane gas bottle
• Starter pack of toilet chemicals
• Safety equipment including warning triangle, high vis jacket, fire extinguisher, user manual
• 1 water hose
• 1 electric cord + European adapter
• Levelling blocks
• 1 broom + dustpan & brush
• Guide to camp sites, motorhome halts, servicing points of France and free membership of France Passion (providing interesting free places to stay in a motorhome/campervan across France).
• Outdoor table and chairs
• Bicycle rack (carries two bikes with a max weight of 30kgs except six-berth vehicles which carry four bikes with a max weight of 60kgs)
• Crockery, cutlery and glassware
• Saucepans, frying pan, cooking utensil kit, kettle, cafetiére

 

All of our vehicles have standard, lap strap and diagonal seatbelts in each seating position so as long as you hire a vehicle with enough seats for each member of your party and bring the relevant child/baby travel seat, you can carry small children in the same way you would in a car.

There are almost 11,000 campsites in France which are to be found around major cities, in rural areas, and always near popular attractions. We also provide a guides to motorhome halts/servicing points and offer free membership to “France Passion” (where you can stay for free for up to 24hrs in locations such as vineyards, chateaux and private estates).

France extends a warm welcome to motorhome travellers with many towns and smaller villages offering “Aire de Service” – dedicated service areas for motorhomes where you can empty waste water and refill fresh water tanks for free. Many also offer very low price or free overnight halts – mostly in pleasant surroundings. All of these areas are well signposted and to help further, each of our vehicles has a guide to help find them. For those who prefer to stay in total isolation, France offers a wealth of opportunity. There are only a few areas where “camping sauvage” (or wilderness camping) is prohibited and one of the greatest joys of a motorhome holiday is that you can break your journey whenever or wherever you wish (parking restrictions for motorhomes are usually well signed so it is easy to avoid being asked to move once settled for the night).Staying on official campsites offers a greater level of facilities, amenities and security so the choice is truly yours.

Campsite facilities vary greatly dependant on many factors, however the facilities commonly found at many campsites would include: electricity and water, washing machines and dryers, swimming pools, recreation rooms, playgrounds, and on-site convenience stores.

Campsite rates vary based upon time of year, facilities, and location. You can expect to pay between 15 € and 35 € per night in high season but less during low season periods.

In most cases it is not necessary to book ahead but at busy times of the year and at particularly popular tourist destinations, it may be best to make advance reservations.

Yes we provide a detailed guide listing “Aires de Services” (where you can empty waste tanks and refill with fresh water) together with a guide to the campsites in France plus a guide to over 9500 free halts where you can stay in a motorhome/campervan for up to 24hrs with out charge.

Yes in very many places throughout France you are allowed to stay for short periods in public places although campsites generally offer better facilities, amenities and are more secure.

The road maps available in France are very good and accurate but the road signs can be confusing (especially if you do not speak any French!). Therefore, we recommend a GPS as an invaluable tool when travelling in France (and indeed Europe). We rent GPS units with European mapping and guarantee to have one available for you if you book in advance when we send you our Pre-Hire Information Form.

Our motorhomes are very suited to winter hire as they are extremely comfortable and easy/ economical to heat with ducted central heating.  However, we do not allow our motorhomes to be used in the mountains or ski resorts between November to April due to the very extreme temperatures and conditions that can prevail.  For all normal winter touring they are ideal and we have many satisfied customers who prefer the peace and quiet that a winter hire can offer.

You are not allowed to park a Motorhome overnight in the city centre but there are several campsites around the outskirts and most offer easy access to the city. These campsites do get busy so we suggest you book ahead if planning a trip to Paris, here is the link to the list of Paris campsites.

The double bed (permanent, at rear) in a Euro-Cub campervan is 1.93m long.

The double bed (permanent, at rear) in a Euro-Traveller campervan is 1.86m long.

The double bed (permanent, at rear) in a Euro-Traveller Prestige campervan is 1.94m long.

The double (permanent, at rear) bed in a Euro-Explorer motorhome is 2.05m long and the second “dinette” bed is 1.88m long.

The double (permanent, at rear) bed in a Euro-Explorer Compact Prestige motorhome is 2.0m long.

The double (permanent/over cab) bed in a Euro-Voyager motorhome is 2.2m long, the second “dinette” bed is 1.88m long. The rear bunks are 2.2m long.

The double (permanent/over cab) bed in a Euro-Voyager Prestige motorhome is 1.99m long, the second “dinette” bed is 1.76m long. The rear bunks are 2.0m long.

Many campsites have coin operated laundries with washing machines and tumble dryers so it is easy to get the odd wash done whilst you are travelling. However they are usually somewhat more expensive than non-campsite laundries so if you have loads of washing to do you are better off heading into a town centre laundrette. Our motorhomes all come with washing lines and pegs so you can wash things by hand and line dry them too (try to avoid doing this and any other such dull chores if you are on holiday though!).

Yes, all of our vehicles have a gas hob with at least two burners. You will also have a fridge/freezer (except on a Euro-Cub where you have a very small fridge and no freezer) and a full kitchen kit including: Saucepans, frying pan, sieve, mixing bowl, cooking utensils, tin opener, vegetable peeler, corkscrew, plates, bowls, mugs, wine glasses, tumblers, platter/tray, cutlery, washing up liquid, washing up bowl, scissors, coffee maker, kettle, chopping boards, sharp knife, cleaning spray, sponge, tea towels.