Which Paris train stations have a car rental branch?
| Station | Enterprise branch (address) | Hours (Mon-Fri / Sat / Sun) | Key return after closing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gare de Lyon | 197 rue de Bercy, 75012 | 7:30 am-9 pm / 8 am-6 pm / 8 am-8 pm | Yes: park on level -5, key box on level 0 in front of the branch |
| Montparnasse | 59 avenue du Maine, 75014 (Océane car park, 34 place Raoul Dautry) | 7:30 am-9 pm / 8 am-6 pm / 8 am-8 pm | Yes: key box near the parking spaces |
| Gare du Nord | Platform 3, 18 rue de Dunkerque, level 1, 75010 | 7:30 am-9 pm / 8 am-6 pm / 8 am-8 pm | Yes: park on level -7, key box on level -1; car park closed 1 am-5 am |
| Saint-Lazare | 10 rue Jean-Baptiste Pigalle, 75009 | 8 am-6 pm / 9 am-2 pm / closed | Yes: park on floor 6, key box on the ground floor |
Hours and addresses taken from the Enterprise branch pages on 23 October 2026. The branch named "Saint-Lazare" is at 10 rue Jean-Baptiste Pigalle, so check the address before leaving the station. Other companies also show station branches, for example Hertz at Gare de Lyon (193 rue de Bercy) and Sixt at Montparnasse; their hours differ, so read the ones in your booking confirmation. For the stations themselves, see our guide to the Paris train stations.
Why pick up at a station instead of driving in Paris
At Gare de Lyon, Montparnasse and Gare du Nord, the Enterprise car is collected in the station car park. The idea is simple: you reach the station by metro or RER, collect the car on the day of your excursion, and pay neither hotel parking nor rental days for a car sitting idle while you see Paris. You then return it to the same place, using a key box if you come back after closing (according to Enterprise; confirm it in your contract).
Driving inside central Paris, by contrast, stacks up the problems: heavy traffic, paid street parking and the ZFE described below. If you arrive by plane, compare with renting at Roissy-CDG or Orly: the airport suits you if you head straight to the countryside, the station if you visit Paris first.
ZFE and the Crit'Air sticker
The Greater Paris ZFE covers 77 communes; the A86 motorway itself is excluded. Crit'Air 3, 4, 5 and unclassified vehicles are affected, Crit'Air 2 cars are not; the restriction applies Monday to Friday from 8 am to 8 pm, excluding public holidays. For 2026 the Métropole has renewed a "pedagogical" year: no penalty until 31 December 2026, with occasional, informational checks (information checked in October 2026).
The sticker is required to drive in the zone, including for a foreign vehicle. It can only be ordered on the official site certificat-air.gouv.fr (€3.85 including postage for France, according to service-public.gouv.fr). For a rental car, ask the branch, before signing, which sticker the vehicle carries and look at it on the windscreen. Without a valid sticker, the flat-rate fine starts at €68 (up to €450), according to service-public.gouv.fr.
Parking and leaving Paris
The simplest approach is not to sleep with the car: collect it on the morning you leave and return it when you are back. If you keep it overnight in Paris, ask your hotel whether it has a car park and what it costs before you book.
Choose the station according to your destination. Gare de Lyon is on the east side, near the Bercy section of the ring road; Montparnasse is on the south side, the most natural for the A6 then the A10 towards the Loire; Normandy is reached by the A13 to the west. According to our excursion guides, Chenonceau is about 2 hours by road on the A10 (214 km) and Honfleur about 2 hours 15 on the A13 (200 km, toll), while the A84 towards Avranches is free. Avoid leaving Paris on a Friday evening or coming back on a Sunday evening.
For trip ideas, see the Loire châteaux and Normandy by car and Mont-Saint-Michel and Normandy from Paris.
When not to rent
If you are staying in Paris, do not rent: metro, RER and buses cover the city, and a Navigo or Paris Visite pass costs less than parking. For a single day without driving, or if you travel alone, an organised excursion saves you the road and the parking.
Compare rental companies before booking
Comparing rental companies online shows what the daily price hides: the total price, the deposit held on the driver's card, the excess in case of damage, the cancellation terms and the possible extra fee if you return the car to a different branch. Read these lines before paying, photograph the car before leaving and, if possible, choose the "full to full" fuel option.
Going further
- The Paris train stations: the six stations and where they go.
- Car rental at CDG or Orly: if you arrive by plane.
- Excursions from Paris: if you would rather not drive.
