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.
Book your rental car in Nimes at least 6 weeks before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Mini rental cars in Nimes are around 16% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about hiring a car in Nimes
The average price of fuel in Nimes is ₹ 581 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a tank of fuel costs between ₹ 6,967 and ₹ 9,289, depending on the car size.
Mini (Fiat 500 or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Nimes.
Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.
A Mini car rental in Nimes costs ₹ 4,594 per day, on average.
A Economy car rental in Nimes costs ₹ 2,207 per day, on average.
A Supplier choice car rental in Nimes costs ₹ 3,855 per day, on average.
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.