Carcassonne car hires from £22/day

With medieval cities like Carcassonne, small compacts and economy cars are best for handling the narrow interior streets and are more fuel efficient if you are likely to spend long hours behind the wheel. Larger passenger cars like SUVs and luxury models have more storage capacity and are usually more comfortable than their smaller siblings.

The legal speed limit within the city of Carcassonne is 31mph on urban streets, except where restrictions apply. The speed limit on rural roads travelling through less populated areas is 55mph and the maximum speed for motorists along major roads like the N113 is 80mph. CCTV and traffic cams are not as widely used in France as the UK, but they do exist, so always pay attention to speed signs and slowdown near junctions to avoid accidents or fines.

There are three public surface car parksjust outside the Old Town: City Parking P0 and P1 at Porte Narbonnaise and City Parking P2 at Port D’Aude. Hours of operation at both are 08:00-20:00 and free between 20:00-08:00 with a tariff of around €1 (£0.90) for 2h 15min where the first 30min is free. From July-September, there is a free daily shuttle from each car park to the gates of the city. There is also free parking space near Bellevue Wharf, College Bastion and the corner of Boulevard Barbes and Boulevard Marcou.

On average a car hire in Carcassonne costs £35 per day.

Car hire companies onsite at Salvaza airport include Avis, SICILY BY CAR, Sixt, Thrifty, Hertz, Dollar, Alamo and FLIZZR.

Car hire companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Salvaza airport to off-airport locations include Avis, Thrifty, Hertz, Dollar and Alamo.

Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.

A Standard car hire in Carcassonne costs £80 per day, on average.

An Intermediate car hire in Carcassonne costs £48 per day, on average.

A Compact car hire in Carcassonne costs £58 per day, on average.

Most car hire providers in Carcassonne offer insurance but the level of protection can differ substantially. If you're unsure whether to get extra protection for your car hire in Carcassonne, check out KAYAK's car hire insurance guide.

You will need a few important safety items in your Carcassonne car hire. You will need to have reflective vests (one for each person in the vehicle) and a warning triangle. A first-aid kit, flashlight and replacement bulbs are useful to have but not mandatory. Check that your vehicle has these items before you leave the car hire offices.

To hire a car in Carcassonne, you will need to be at least 21 years old. Most car hire companies charge an extra fee for drivers under 25. You'll also need to make sure you have a credit card in your name.