Returning a car hire to Lyon Airport

Photo of Méribel at its winter wonderland best is by Matt Squirrell. And like numerous other ski resorts in the Alps, you can reach Méribel in around two hours with the convenience of your own car from Lyon Airport. If you still haven't booked yours and know when you're going, click here for a quote on Lyon Airport car hire. We've got low-cost car hire throughout the region - see where on our France car hire page.

 

Wherever you've picked up your France car hire, if you're planning on returning it to Lyon Airport then you've come to the right place. Keep on reading to find out which car hire companies are based at the airport and how to find them. Do also check out our Lyon travel blog for more on the city, our guides to the airport and key Lyon car hire locations.

 

On-site Lyon Airport car hire

The following car hire companies have an office at the airport site: Avis/Budget, Enterprise/Citer, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt. In addition to these, if you've got an Alamo car hire, follow directions to the Europcar office and if you have a Firefly or Thrifty rental, you'll need to head towards the Hertz office. Hope that all makes sense! Your booking voucher should also have this information... If you've got a car rental with any of these companies, this guide will take you through how to find the drop off location.

But if you have a car hire with another company or if you selected a different drop off location, make sure you check with your booking agent or booking voucher for where you need to go.

All Lyon Airport car hire is actually located a few minutes drive from the airport and there's a free airport shuttle service to take passengers between the car hire location and the terminals. Each car hire office has its own car park and entrance but they're all basically neighbours. Here's a quick look at them...

Because you'll have to get a shuttle bus to the airport terminal, if you are planning to catch a flight or a train from the airport, do make sure you allow an extra 10 minutes or so on top of what you'd normally plan for.

 

Driving to Lyon Airport - look for signs for Saint-Exupéry Airport!

Situated about 25 kms west of Lyon's city centre, you'll find Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport (to give its full name!)  just off the A432 motorway, which is accessible via a number of other motorways including the A43 and A42. As you get closer to Lyon and the airport, you'll see signs for Saint-Exupéry, which is what you'll need to follow to reach the airport. 

 

Driving northbound on the A432 towards the airport - you'll need to take exit 5

Keep following signs to Saint Exupéry and you'll soon see a number of Lyon Airport welcome signs with information about various car parks. As you get closer to the airport site, you'll see signs for 'Terminaux' (the airport terminals), the various car parks and also for 'Voitures de location/Car rental'. They'll tell you which lane you need to be in… Keep making sure you're in the lane for car rental as you'll be making your way around the various car parks.

As you approach the car hire offices, you'll notice Sixt and Enterprise/Citer come up on your left but you'll need to first go all the way around the upcoming mini roundabout to get to them. If you're returning your car to Avis/Budget, Europcar or Hertz, you'll see the entrance for each come up on your right.

 

Driving southbound on the A432 towards the airport - you'll need to take exit 3

Keep following signs to Saint Exupéry. As with the above instructions, you'll see various Lyon Airport welcome signs as you approach the airport site. Coming from this direction, you'll actually pass the car hire location before you get to the airport (you should see the railway station that looks like a bird's head to me in the distance)

As you near the car hire location, you'll see a sign with the various car hire company logos (similar to the one in the photo earlier) and directions to get to them. You'll see the black and yellow of the Hertz office come up on your left first. For Hertz, Europcar and Avis/Budget, you'll need to go left at the mini roundabout for their offices. For Enterprise/Citer and Sixt, go straight at the roundabout and you'll see their entrances on your right.

 

Taking the D roads to avoid tolls

It is also possible to take various D roads to the airport. D roads within easy access to the airport site include the D29, D517, D306 and D1006. The airport isn't as well sign-posted on these roads but they are there and it's still 'Saint Exupéry' you should be looking out for. Do make sure you allow more time if you are planning to avoid the bigger A roads. Both the Via Michelin and Google Maps websites allow you to check a box to 'avoid tolls' when getting directions. Via Michelin can also tell you what petrol stations are en route! Speaking of which… more on nearby petrol stations below.

 

Nearest petrol station 

There is a very conveniently located petrol station within the airport site. It's close to the P6 car park so instead of following signs to car rental, you'll need to first follow signs to the P6 car park and you'll see it on your right. Once you're done, continue on and follow signs to car rental as described above.

HOWEVER… the on-site petrol station is currently undergoing refurbishment works and is not expected to reopen again until 14 January 2014.

If you're travelling before then and need to fill your tank up with petrol, there are nearby petrol stations on the D306 (close to Saint-Laurent-de-Mure) and also D517 (close to Mezieu). You can find more petrol stations in the area on the Via Michelin website.

 

Shuttle bus to the airport

There are several airport shuttle stops by the car hire offices. One is close to the Avis/Budget, Hertz and Europcar office, there is another by the Enterprise/Citer office and a third by the Sixt office. Shuttles run every 7 minutes and will stop at Terminal 1/3 before going to Terminal 2. Once you're on the shuttle, you should be at your terminal in about 5 minutes. If you're returning your car hire before 5.00am or after midnight, you'll need to call for a pick up as the shuttle doesn't normally operate at these times. There is a button you can push beside the bus shelter... And it looks a little like this:

If you're going to the Lyon Saint-Exupéry train station, get off at Terminal 1/3 and make your way into Terminal 1. You'll see signs to the train station from there.