Rent A Car
French short-term car and utility vehicle rental company operating a nationwide proximity network.
Last updated September 29, 2026
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Overview
Rent A Car is a French vehicle rental company specialising in short-term rental of passenger cars and utility vehicles, with a focus on the proximity market. The company was founded in 1996 when Marc Boré acquired the business of Rent A Car Système, and with Daniel Macé he restructured the firm and introduced a single-price rental concept for all vehicles. The network has grown to include franchised agencies, micro-franchises, branches and relay points across metropolitan France, the French overseas departments and regions (DROM), and Morocco. According to the company, it operates more than 488 rental points in France. The brand offers a range of cars (economy, city, business) and utility vehicles (vans, trucks) as well as one-way rentals, and has expanded into electric bicycle rental in selected agencies. Rent A Car has been involved in online booking since 2005, launched a mobile application in 2011, and signed a licence agreement with Budget in 2015. It also acquired the French one-way rental specialist allez-simple.com in 2014 and took over several Ucar branches in 2016. The company is headquartered in the Val-de-Marne department and remains a private French group.
History
Rent A Car was established in 1996 when Marc Boré acquired the business of Rent A Car Système and began developing vehicle rental activity across France. Assisted by Daniel Macé, a vehicle rental professional and franchise specialist, they restructured the company and launched the concept of single-price rental for all vehicles. In 1997 the company began developing its franchise network in France and the DROM. By the end of 1998, numerous agencies were opening every month and the brand already counted more than 110 points of sale. Between 1999 and 2001, the group merged all its activities and various entities to form Rent A Car SA. In 2003, Groupama, a leading French mutual insurer, acquired a 20% stake in Rent A Car SA, which facilitated the launch of relay points opened at body shops and small dealerships to meet the growing demand from assistance companies for replacement vehicles. In 2005, the website rentacar.fr moved to e-commerce, allowing customers to book vehicles with online card payment. In 2006, Rent A Car participated actively in Res@car, an online vehicle reservation system dedicated to assistance companies and businesses. In 2007, the brand changed its logo and tagline to 'Louez au meilleur prix, près de chez vous !' (Rent at the best price, near you!). In 2008, Rent A Car took over franchise groups in eastern and southern France as subsidiaries and branches. In 2010, it began deploying a common reservation software across the entire network. In 2011, it launched a new version of its website and a mobile application. In 2012, it expanded its activity to Morocco. In 2013, it launched a vast network development programme in France. In 2014, it acquired allez-simple.com and entered the one-way rental market in France. In 2015, Rent A Car signed a licence contract with Budget car rental to develop its positions in the proximity rental market. In 2016, it acquired 8 branches from its competitor Ucar and also took over the business of the Ucar agency in Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis), which Ucar had closed as it preferred to act as a pure franchisor without branch agencies. Today, the network comprises franchised agencies, micro-franchises, branches and relay points across metropolitan France, the DROM and Morocco, and the company states it has more than 488 rental points in France.
- 2016
Acquisition of 8 Ucar branches and takeover of Ucar Saint-Denis agency.
- 2015
Signs licence contract with Budget car rental.
- 2014
Acquisition of allez-simple.com; entry into one-way rental market.
- 2013
Launch of vast network development programme in France.
- 2012
Expansion into Morocco.
- 2011
Launch of new website and mobile application.
- 2010
Deployment of common reservation software across the network.
- 2008
Takes over franchise groups in eastern and southern France as subsidiaries and branches.
- 2007
New logo and tagline 'Louez au meilleur prix, près de chez vous !'.
- 2006
Participation in Res@car online reservation system.
Products and positioning
Proximity short-term rental at the best price, near you.
Economy cars
City cars
Business cars
Vans
Trucks
One-way rental
Electric bicycles (iVog 5, family longtail, cargo)
Sources4 sources
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