I rented a car from Avis this time. A big brand does live up to its name. There was no need to queue during pickup, the process was simple, and they didn’t try to sell me insurance. They just handed me the keys, and the car was parked right across from the counter. The staff said if I was concerned, I could take some pictures for my own records. When I returned the car, they didn’t even inspect it. They just took the keys and told me I was good to go—very straightforward! Before I even left the parking lot, they refunded the 200 euros deposit to my account—super efficient! For picking up the car, it was relatively easy to find. It’s at Hall 3 of Lyon Train Station. If you’re taking the metro, after entering the station, go straight towards Hall 3, then take the elevator in the parking area down to level -1. Once you exit the elevator, you’ll see the Avis sign. A special note about returning the car—it was really hard to find the location. Even though my navigation app said I arrived, it was on my left-hand side but I couldn’t find the entrance. I asked several passersby, but none of them knew either. I ended up driving around and using the navigation app again. After trying multiple times, I finally spotted a QEEQ return location sign ahead, which led me to realize that the parking lot was there.

Excellent service

Service was average, can't compare to our later experiences with European car rentals!

The car was very new. I got a Renault two-door four-seater that had only driven 1750 kilometers, diesel automatic. It was very fuel-efficient, only consuming 5L per 100km even in the break-in period. It was also very convenient. Since I had chosen full insurance, the staff at the rental office tried to upsell me to a different car. You just need to confirm the total price you booked for in your home country. No matter what they say, they will handle it for you. You don't need to worry about anything else.