Minibus Hire Across France

Day trips at your own pace, in a minibus with a driver

A day out with family or friends is better when someone else handles the roads, the parking and the clock. You choose the stops; the driver gets you there and back.

Days that suit a small group

From Paris, Giverny and Versailles are classics; at Giverny, groups of 20 or more must book their visit. From Tours, a château loop through Chenonceau, Amboise and Chambord adds up to about 200 km of driving. From Nice, Èze and Saint-Paul-de-Vence are each within half an hour.

Bayeux puts the D-Day beaches close at hand. Avignon is a good start for Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the Pont du Gard and the Luberon villages, and Annecy for lakeside towns such as Talloires.

Setra high-capacity coach, exterior
Setra high-capacity coach, exterior

Where the vehicle can stop

Cities set firm rules. In Paris a coach may halt only to let passengers on and off, with the engine off, and parking needs a PASS Autocar; the city counts 468 coach parking spaces. Paris Centre, the 1st to 4th arrondissements, has been a limited traffic zone since late 2024.

Villages have rules too. At Saint-Paul-de-Vence coaches use the coach park on chemin des Trious, about 10 minutes on foot from the village, and in Avignon heavy vehicles stay outside the ramparts. Expect a short walk at either end of most visits.

Rules worth knowing before you go

  • Coach parking in Paris needs a PASS Autocar; there are 468 coach parking spaces, in a central zone and an outer zone
  • Low-emission zones (ZFE-m) remain in force in France: the 2026 law article abolishing them was struck down by the Conseil constitutionnel on 21 May 2026, so check each city's current rules before travel
  • On long days out, the EU rules allow at most 9 hours of driving a day (10 hours twice a week), with a 45-minute break after 4.5 hours

Crit'Air stickers and low-emission zones

Low-emission zones (ZFE-m) still apply in France: the Conseil constitutionnel struck down their abolition in May 2026, though Parliament may revisit them. A Crit'Air sticker is compulsory inside a zone, foreign-registered vehicles included. Across Greater Paris, coaches need Crit'Air 1 or 2 every day between 08:00 and 20:00. Each city has its own rule, so the sticker is checked against your route before you travel.

Your questions, answered

How long can the day be?

The driver may drive up to 9 hours a day, or 10 twice a week, pausing for at least 45 minutes every 4.5 hours of driving. The day itself can run longer with stops, but time at the wheel sets the limit.

Can we change the plan on the day?

Small changes usually work if they stay within the driving hours and the new stop can take the vehicle. A big detour is easier to agree beforehand.

Do we need a guide as well?

Not always. The driver drives; for commentary at a château or on the landing beaches, book a licensed guide. In Strasbourg, a group with a licensed guide may also use the restricted set-down places.

More places to explore

Other vehicles with a driver