Why Orly Is the Easier Airport for Car Hire
Compared to the sprawling layout of CDG, Orly airport is compact and traveller-friendly. The rental desks are reachable on foot from both arrival zones in just a few minutes, without any shuttle bus. If you have a choice of airport for your Paris trip, Orly is often the more relaxed option for picking up a hire car.
Finding the Rental Desks at Orly
All car hire companies at Orly share a counter area on the ground floor of the main terminal. From Orly Ouest, take the escalators down to level 0 and follow the car rental signs. From Orly Sud, walk straight through the arrivals hall — the counters are visible within 200 metres of exiting the baggage carousel area. Vehicle collection bays are in the covered car park directly adjacent to the terminal, accessible via a short internal walkway.
- Orly Ouest arrivals: ground floor, escalators to level 0
- Orly Sud arrivals: straight through arrivals hall, signs clearly posted
- Car park: connected by internal walkway, no outdoor walking required
Documents and Deposit
Prepare your full driving licence, a credit card (Visa or Mastercard preferred), your booking confirmation, and a valid passport or EU ID card. The deposit is held as a pre-authorisation on your card — it is not charged unless damage or extra charges arise. Allow €300–€1 500 of available credit depending on the vehicle category. Debit cards are generally not accepted for the deposit at French rental desks.
Getting from Orly into Paris
The A6 motorway connects Orly directly to the southern edge of Paris. In light traffic the drive to the 5th or 6th arrondissement takes around 25 minutes. Allow 45–60 minutes at peak times. If you are bypassing Paris entirely, the A86 and N104 ring roads give you access to the A10 toward the Loire Valley or the A4 toward Champagne without entering the city centre. Toll roads begin shortly after the airport, so keep a card or coins accessible from the driver’s seat.
Orly also offers easy access to Versailles — a 20-minute drive west along the N186, making it a popular choice for travellers whose itinerary starts with the Palace of Versailles before heading further into France.
