Founded in 1979 and an officially licensed Avis franchise for motorhomes since 1985, Avis Explore is a privately owned, independent specialist devoted to motorhome and campervan rental in France, with dedicated, well-kept fleets across ten cities including Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Toulouse and Ajaccio in Corsica. Every rental includes comprehensive insurance, a complimentary second driver, roadside assistance and pets at no extra cost. Pick up in France and roam onward across Europe, with one-way drops to selected European cities available on request.
Avis Explore is a dedicated motorhome and campervan rental specialist that has operated in France since 1979, becoming an official Avis-branded franchise for motorhomes in March 1985. Unlike a standard car rental desk, it focuses exclusively on motorhomes, campervans, and van conversions, positioning itself as the leader in motorhome rentals in France with more than 40 years of specialist expertise. It is licensed to operate under the Avis brand name for motorhomes but is not part of Avis Budget Group; the business is run by Car-Away SAS, a subsidiary of motorhome manufacturer Groupe Pilote, and operates with its own booking system, insurance products, and 24/7 roadside assistance. It owns its entire fleet and refreshes around 80% of vehicles every year, so renters consistently get current or late-model vehicles under manufacturer warranty.
The fleet is built around two main families: coachbuilt motorhomes and van conversions, ranging from compact 2-berth campervans to spacious 6-berth family motorhomes. Models are organized into Class B profile motorhomes (the most common, aerodynamic and well suited to couples and families) and larger Class A integral motorhomes, alongside compact and family campervans with pop-up roofs, plus tiered Classic, Comfort, and Grand Comfort trims that vary in transmission and finish. All vehicles drive on a standard category B licence, with both manual and automatic options available. Standard equipment includes a fully fitted kitchen with stove, sink, and refrigerator, gas heating, fresh and waste water systems, and a propane bottle, with crockery, utensils, and a welcome kit included at no extra charge; bedding comfort kits, GPS, Wi-Fi, bike racks, and child seats are available as paid add-ons.
Avis Explore picks up exclusively from its French network of roughly 10 to 14 dedicated motorhome depots, including Paris (Rueil-Malmaison), Marseille, Lyon, Nice, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Toulouse, Nantes, Montpellier, and Ajaccio in Corsica. Although pickups are France-based, the company supports broad European travel and offers one-way international drop-offs from Paris and Marseille to cities such as Rome, Milan, Venice, Madrid, Barcelona, Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin, Zurich, and Amsterdam, with overseas rentals handled via partner networks. It serves families, couples, first-time renters, and international tourists exploring France and Europe, with traveller-friendly touches like a complimentary second driver, pets welcome at no extra cost, and a Huttopia camping card for campsite discounts. With a 4.0/5 Trustpilot rating across 506 reviews, it appeals to travellers who value a professionally maintained fleet and included comprehensive insurance over the lowest budget rates.
Coachbuilt motorhomes and van conversions for exploring Europe — from compact 2-berth campers to family layouts with shower and toilet. Exact vehicle can vary by station.
Maneuverable couples campervan with twin beds, kitchenette, integrated bathroom and panoramic roof, easy to handle and park in town.
Family campervan with bunk-bed layout, pop-up roof, kitchenette and fridge, and compact dimensions for urban-to-outdoor versatility.
Semi-integrated profile motorhome for five with drop-down roof bed and convertible dining area, full kitchen, bathroom and heating.
Six-berth semi-integrated profile motorhome with rear bunk beds plus roof and convertible-dining sleeping, equipped kitchen and bathroom.
Premium Class A integral motorhome (Pilote G740) with rear bed plus electric drop-down roof bed, full bathroom, equipped kitchen, air conditioning and heating.
Avis Explore runs its own dedicated motorhome depots across France, with pickups in major cities from Paris to Corsica and one-way drop-offs available throughout France and at select European locations. Operating since 1979, it is a privately owned, independent motorhome rental specialist that holds an Avis franchise licence for motorhomes (since 1985); today the business is owned and run by French motorhome manufacturer Groupe Pilote. That gives you four-plus decades of dedicated campervan expertise, an owned and regularly renewed fleet, and roadside assistance for travel across France and Europe.
Pickups are in France only (Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Strasbourg, Nantes, Montpellier and Ajaccio in Corsica), but you can drive across most of Western and Central Europe and arrange one-way drop-offs at agencies in France and at select European destinations. Cross-border travel and one-way drop-off fees are quoted on request.
Founded in 1979 and an Avis-franchised motorhome and campervan specialist since March 1985, Avis Explore is independently owned and operated, licensing the globally recognised Avis brand for motorhomes rather than being part of Avis Budget Group. That pairs a trusted name with 40+ years of dedicated motorhome know-how, and staff and technicians are trained specifically for motorhomes rather than general car rental.
Avis Explore owns its entire fleet and renews around 80% of it every year, so vehicles are current or late-model, low-mileage, and under manufacturer warranty. Coachbuilt motorhomes and campervans come largely from French manufacturer Pilote, giving a consistent, well-maintained range from 2-berth vans to 6-berth family motorhomes.
Pick up at one of the agencies across France and Corsica (Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Toulouse, Nantes, Montpellier and Ajaccio), then drive across Europe. One-way drop-offs run from Paris and Marseille to cities like Rome, Barcelona, Munich, Berlin, Zurich and Amsterdam, with a free second driver and pets welcome at no extra charge.
Roomy motorhomes up to 6 berths with full kitchen and bathroom, free second driver, plus pets welcome at no charge.
Compact, fuel-efficient 2-berth campervans built for intimate getaways on French back roads and coastal routes.
Beginner-friendly specialist since 1979 with French and English-speaking staff; most compact vans drive on a standard B licence (larger motorhomes may need C1).
One-way drops from Paris and Marseille to major destinations like Rome, Barcelona, Munich and Amsterdam (on rentals of 14+ days).
Avis Explore (avisexplore.com), historically also referenced as Avis Car-Away, is a motorhome and campervan rental specialist founded in 1979 that has long operated under an Avis franchise licence for motorhomes. Despite the Avis name, it operates independently rather than as a standard Avis Budget Group car-rental operation, and is closely tied to the French motorhome manufacturer Groupe Pilote. It uses the Avis brand for recognition but runs its own separate booking, fleet, insurance and customer service systems, with no integration into the Avis Preferred loyalty program or standard car-rental network. The exact corporate and ownership structure is not detailed publicly, so it's best confirmed directly with the company.
Avis Explore operates rental agencies exclusively in France, with roughly a dozen depots across major cities including Paris, Lyon, Marseille/Aix, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Toulouse, Nice, Nantes, Montpellier and Ajaccio in Corsica. The exact current depot list and headquarters location are best confirmed on avisexplore.com/en/locations. You can pick up only in France, but you are permitted to travel across most of Europe, and one-way international rentals are offered from agencies such as Paris and Marseille. The available international drop-off destinations vary by date and availability and are not published online, so you must contact the agency directly to confirm options for your trip.
The fleet spans compact campervans through to full motorhomes, organised mainly into Class B profile (low-profile/coachbuilt) models and Class A integral models, plus 'Adventure' campervans and combi vans. Vehicles include models from the Pilote brand, reflecting Avis Explore's close manufacturer relationship. The website describes the fleet as consisting exclusively of recent, well-maintained vehicles inspected before each departure, available in both manual and automatic transmission. Specific base chassis details and the exact annual fleet renewal rate are not published, so check current models on the website's fleet pages.
Berth capacity ranges from 2 to 6 people. Compact 2-berth campervans (around 5.4m) suit couples; 4-berth motorhomes are the most popular family choice; and Class B models can sleep up to 5 or 6 using rear bunk beds, drop-down roof beds and convertible dining areas. All vehicles are under 3.5 tonnes and can be driven on a standard EU category B car licence, with no special licence required.
Yes, the motorhomes include integrated bathrooms with a shower cabin (with a heated water system) and a chemical/cassette toilet, along with separate fresh and wastewater tanks. Some compact adventure campervans instead offer an outdoor shower and a portable dry toilet. Fresh and wastewater tank sizes vary by model, with larger vehicles carrying bigger tanks than the compact vans, so check the specifications of your chosen model on the website's fleet pages.
Pricing is seasonal and dynamic. As an indication, weekly rates tend to start around several hundred euros in the lower seasons and rise substantially in high summer, with premium motorhomes commanding more; monthly rentals are also available and work out cheaper per day than weekly hire. Weekend, weekly and monthly packages are offered. Because rates change by season, model and time of booking, the only reliable figure is a live quote from the website's reservation tool, which also itemises any applicable booking fees and optional extras.
Standard rentals include comprehensive insurance, a free second driver, free parking for your own car, pets at no extra charge, a propane gas bottle, kitchen crockery and utensils, an electric extension cord, a Huttopia Camping Card for campsite discounts, and standard daytime roadside assistance. Bedding is NOT included by default; optional comfort kits cost €35 per person (single bed) or €50 for two people (double bed). Mileage is not unlimited by default; unlimited mileage is an optional add-on priced at 20% of the rental, with a €250 minimum. Standard mileage allowances vary by package, so confirm current terms on the website.
All rentals include mandatory civil liability plus comprehensive damage and theft cover with a standard deductible (excess) of €2,600 per claim; theft claims require a police report within 48 hours. An optional liability reduction lowers the excess to €1,000 for an additional daily charge (confirmed during booking, as the exact price is not published online). The security deposit is handled as a card pre-authorisation rather than an upfront charge, released after return if there is no damage. Optional add-ons include glass breakage cover (a few euros per day) and 24/7 assistance (€8/day).
Only a standard category B car licence is required, not a special motorhome licence, since vehicles are under 3.5 tonnes; a licence held for several years is typically required. A 'young driver option' is available for drivers under 23 who have held their licence for at least one year, for an additional daily surcharge confirmed during booking. The first additional driver is free, while a third driver costs a one-time €50, and all drivers are covered under the same rental agreement. EU licences are accepted; confirm requirements for your specific country with Avis Explore.
Yes, one-way rentals are available between French agencies and to international destinations from depots such as Paris and Marseille; because availability and one-way fees vary by date and aren't published online, these are arranged by contacting the agency directly. Cross-border travel is enabled via a 'Driving Abroad' option (an additional daily charge) covering most of the EU plus Switzerland and Norway, while some countries such as Romania, Bulgaria and parts of the western Balkans are excluded; confirm the current eligible-country list at booking. It best suits families, couples, first-time renters, international tourists, pet owners and longer-trip travellers who value a recent fleet, included insurance and specialist French expertise.
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