The city of Nimes is located roughly midway between Montpellier and Avignon in the southern French region of Occitanie. Its public transport network offers high-speed rail links to surrounding cities and towns, but these are limited to timetables and schedules which may not suit the casual tourist. With car hire in Nimes you retain full freedom to depart at a moment’s notice, and the flexibility to travel off-piste wherever your heart desires. The city of Lyon is a 156-mile drive north along the A7, while the port city of Marseille lies 76 miles south along the A54/A7.
Nimes Ales Camargue Cevennes Airport (FNI) is about 8 miles from the city centre, so if you’re seeking a convenient location for car hire in Nimes after your flight, this is it. Some of the providers servicing Nimes Airport are Sixt, Hertz and Budget. You can find the airport’s Car Hire Centre landside from Arrivals, but if you have troubling locating it there’s a nearby information desk where you can seek assistance.
There are three major roads that pass through the city of Nimes – the A9, the A54 and the N113 – and they are responsible for most inbound and outbound traffic to destinations beyond the city. From these, secondary roads like the D999 pass through the downtown area and are therefore prone to traffic congestion during the morning and evening rush hours. Downtown is an administrative, cultural and retail hub with heavy pedestrian, cycle and motor activity daily. Boulevards Victor Hugo, Gambetta and Amiral Courbet are streets to avoid during these periods. July and August are the peak summer months, which will aggravate all traffic patterns further.
Consider 07:00 to 09:00 the morning rush period and busy evening hours to be from 18:00 to 20:30, when traffic is at its worst. Beyond the downtown area, the Mont Duplan district houses several educational institutions and a busy network of roads, which should be avoided during the morning rush hour and also from 17:00 to 18:00 when school ends. Between 13:00 and 15:00, traffic volumes increase citywide due to busy lunchtime and retail activity.
25% of our users found rental cars in Nimes for $40 or less
Book your rental car in Nimes at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Intermediate rental cars in Nimes are around 85% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Nimes
Smaller vehicles such as compacts and economy cars are more affordable and fuel-efficient, making them ideal for travellers on a limited budget in Nimes. SUVs and luxury cars can handle greater passenger capacity and comfort, as well as extra storage space for extended hours on the roads outside the city.
Speed limits in Nimes, as in all of France, are determined by road type and location. If you’re driving on streets in populated urban areas the legal speed limit is about 30mph, while on roads in rural districts the speed allowed by law is 50mph. Along dual carriageways you should not drive in excess of 70mph, but along major highways or motorways the maximum speed limit is about 80mph. Traffic and static cameras are in use along highways and intersections, so take precautions when driving.
The city council of Nimes offers on-street parking around the city limits, which are metered and divided into two zones: Green and Red. Within Green zones, the tariff is about €1 (£0.90) per hour, while in Red zones it is about €1.50 (£1.30) per hour. The hours of operation are Monday to Friday between 09:00 and 12:00 and from 14:00 to 19:00, as well as Saturdays from 09:00 to 12:00. Outside of these hours, on-street parking is free except where restricted. Acceptable methods of payment are cash, debit or credit card and PayByPhone. Disabled parking is available in some areas.
On average a rental car in Nimes costs $64 per day. But prices differ between operators and you can save money through a price comparison of car rental deals from different agencies. The cheapest price for a car rental in Nimes found in the last 2 weeks is $28.
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at Enterprise ($72/day) and Thrifty ($84/day). In the last 72 hours the cheapest rental car price was found at Enterprise 111 Impasse Du Doubs 30900 (2 miles from city center).
Yes, automatic cars are available in most car renting companies in Nimes. As cars with manual transmission are more common in many countries, you might have to pay an additional charge for renting an automatic car.
The average gas price in Nimes is $7.86 per gallon over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between $94 and $126, depending on the car size.
Intermediate (Ford Grand C-MAX or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Nimes.
Car rental companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Garons airport to off-airport locations include Hertz, Sixt, Avis, Budget, Dollar, and Enterprise.
An Intermediate car rental in Nimes costs $10 per day, on average.
A Compact car rental in Nimes costs $56 per day, on average.
A Premium car rental in Nimes costs $81 per day, on average.
In Nimes, cars are most frequently rented at Sixt Allée Boissy d'Anglas (1 miles from city center).
On average a rental car in Nimes costs $415 per week ($59 per day).
On average a rental car in Nimes costs $1,780 per month ($59 per day).
Most car rental providers in Nimes offer insurance but the level of protection can differ substantially. If you're unsure whether to get extra protection for your car rental in Nimes, check out KAYAK's car rental insurance guide.
KAYAK has deals for you to compare from 21 car rental agencies in Nimes.
Some car rental companies in Nimes which have updated their car rental health and safety policies due to COVID-19 to make sure vehicles are clean and disinfected include Hertz, Avis and Budget
Finding the right price, understanding the add-ons and staying up to date with policy changes can be a challenge. That’s why KAYAK has produced the ultimate guide to renting a car to help you cut though the jargon and make the right choice for your rental car. Find tips and insights for how to book your rental, what car rental insurance you’ll need, how to deal with a car rental agency and what extra fees to expect (and avoid!).
KAYAK searches thousands of car rental agencies to provide you with offers from all car rental agencies operating in Nimes so that you can compare car rental rates, reviews and pick-up and drop-off locations to find the best deal for you.