Hiring a car in Lyon to drive to Val D'isere

[thewharftrader]

All,

I am looking to hire a car from Lyon airport so I can drive to Val D'isere next week. Are there are requirements in terms of additional hiring costs for things like snow chains, other winter/snow stuff?

I have looked on the major car hire companies' websites and find no mention of it but don't want to get to the airport only to be stung by a huge additional charge that I did not know about.

Many thanks

[neil-f]

I am sure when our friends visited us they had to pay a fee for the car to be supplied with chains from Grenoble airport,as you are no doubt aware you MUST carry chains on 2wd cars if going on Col roads but if 4x4 you only need M&S tyres to be fitted chains not required.
If you get stopped you may be fined €90 and turned back (but in most cases the Gendame will have a relative parked in the next layby selling chains)

You could always buy chains in the Super U or similar for a week you wont need an expensive set...

[PottyMouth]

Having lived and driven in the alps for a while, I was generally waved through at all "snow worthiness" checks as soon as they saw I was on UK plates.

Most hire companies, particularly at an airport such as Lyon, will provide snow chains for a fee.

[Sortie 10]

Some hire companies at Geneva Airport provide free chains for the duration of the hire.

Have you considered hiring a cheap 4x4? When I was looking at hiring from Geneva, you could get a Panda 4x4 for a very good price, cheaper than a Golf/Focus and massively less than a CRV/RAV4. Granted a Panda is not the first car that a true PH-er would jump at, but surely mobility in the mountains is your prime objective?

(Then return to tackle the Col de L'Iseran in the summer in something quick, rwd and open, when the snow has gone for some serious fun on the open road)