Where can I hire a car which I can drive in France?

Last week I had to donate my 1996 Volkswagen Golf to a breakers' yard in France because the cost to fix it would be much more than the car’s value. We returned by rail. However, I now find that because of my age and my wife’s age, both 79, I have been so far unable to hire a car that I will need in order to go and find another car to purchase. Apart from using public transport or a chauffered car, please can you help me? I enquired in France from Avis, and they inform me that there are no age limits in France.

Asked on 24 August 2013 by JS, Kingston-upon-Thames

Answered by Honest John

Apparently Avis and Hertz impose no age limits in the UK. But where the outlets are franchises in other countries, age limits may apply. Holiday Autos also finds outlets that do not impose age restrictions. Make sure you fill in Section 11 ‘Notification of permanent export’ of the V5C and send that to the DVLA. Had you scrapped the car in the UK you would have filled in Section 9, had it signed by the breaker and sent that to the DVLA.

Tags: hire cars scrapping driving abroad

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