Can you get a hired car with a car seat included, in France?

[Madigan]

Hello, we are planning a holiday in France this summer with our 1 year old. Does anyone know if it is possible to ask for our hired car to come with suitable car seat, or do we have to bring our own??
There is an Avis at the airport, so was thinking of using it.

Yes, you can. The airport we use regulary (in Brittany) has a roomful of car seats. The laws are the same.

Just book it when you book the car.

I have hired cars and used their seats and also used our own. Just be aware that the first hire company we used the seat was fine; the second time another was terrible (threadbare; filthy; stank - no instructions for fitting either). There were none left to exchange it with at the time either. Like most people you can have good and bad experiences!

We've taken to using our own and depending on the flight company they will either let you check it in for free or as part of your luggage. If you have paid for a seat for your child, you can clip it in to the cabin seat and then they are well strapped in throughout the flight. If you have to take you seat with you, there are some companies who sell attachable wheels to the base of the seat to save carrying it everywhere.

I'd always recommend taking your own seat - we always do now. I think most airlines don't count it in your baggage allowance, although of course the trip to check-in and from baggage reclaim can be a bit tough going. In my experience, seats provided by car hire companies are always old and worn, often broken, and never have fitting instructions, and the staff are not allowed to help for insurance reasons. And - just because you book a seat with the car the companies don't provide a guarantee that there will be one there - and not having a seat at all has happened to me before. Then you're stuck.

The final straw for me was in Switzerland - I didn't have a clue how to fit the seat provided - even the sticker had come off the side, and the guy said "You'll work it out. You're a mother". When I insisted he help, he tied the seatbelt in a knot round it, laughed and walked off.

ok .... will bring my own!! thanks x