Pick up your vehicle at LYS after landing and drive to Lyon, the Alps or Beaujolais.
Lyon-Saint Exupery Airport (LYS) sits at Colombier-Saugnieu, 25 km east of Lyon city centre. Terminals 1 and 2 host rental desks in the arrivals hall, and the A43 autoroute links the airport to Lyon in 30 minutes or runs east toward Chambery and the Alpine resorts. The A42 heads north to Bourg-en-Bresse and Geneva, making this airport the hub for ski trips, wine routes through Beaujolais, or business visits to Lyon Part-Dieu.
This page covers airport pickup - meeting after your flight, locating the desk in arrivals, and driving from LYS onto the autoroute network. You collect keys at the terminal, sign the rental agreement on the spot, and head out with a full tank. If you need a vehicle collected within Lyon itself, visit the Lyon city page for downtown handover options and parking guidance.
We work with local rental companies operating from LYS. The voucher 4Drive sends after booking names the exact company, desk location and contact number. Many cars on our platform qualify for no-deposit and no-credit-card terms, letting you pay the balance with a debit card or cash at pickup.
Four steps take you from baggage reclaim to the motorway slip road. The process mirrors city pickup but happens in the arrivals hall rather than a street office.
Collect your bags and pass through arrivals. The rental desks line the hall in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. If you arrive at Terminal 2, a short covered walkway links to Terminal 1 where some companies maintain their counters.
Your voucher states which company and which terminal. Show the voucher, your driving licence and the card you used for the online advance. The agent checks the flight number to confirm any delay was covered.
The rental agreement lists the car registration, excess, fuel policy and mileage limit. Pay the balance - debit card, cash or credit card depending on the specific vehicle. The agent notes any existing scratches or dents in the contract and hands you the keys.
Walk to the car park - usually multi-storey attached to the terminal or a short shuttle ride. Inspect the exterior, load luggage and join the A43 or A42 within minutes. When you use the booking widget above, type "Lyon Airport" or "LYS" in the "Specify location" field to filter only airport-based fleets.
LYS lies at the junction of two autoroutes, splitting traffic west into Lyon or east and north toward the Alps and Switzerland. Distances favour day trips to wine country or weekend ski runs.
The fleet at LYS spans city runabouts, family crossovers and people-movers. Each model suits a different trip profile, from solo business runs to group transfers to ski resorts.
| Model | Category | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Aygo X | Mini | Solo traveller, city errands, tight airport car-park spaces |
| Fiat 500 | Economy | Two passengers, weekend break in Lyon or Beaujolais, low fuel consumption |
| Volkswagen Polo | Economy | Couple with luggage, winding wine-route lanes, easy parallel parking |
| Citroen C3 | Compact | Small family, blend of boot space and urban agility |
| Volkswagen Golf | Compact | Business trip with samples, refined motorway cruise to Geneva |
| Nissan Qashqai | Crossover | Four adults, luggage and sports equipment, higher ride for Alpine service roads |
| Skoda Kamiq | Crossover | Family of four, winter trips requiring chains, generous rear legroom |
| Peugeot Traveller | People-Mover | Seven passengers, airport shuttle, group transfer to ski resort |
The models above show typical categories. Actual availability depends on fleet rotation and booking dates; use the search widget to see live options and specifications. Each listing states luggage capacity, transmission type and whether winter tyres are included or available as a paid extra for Alpine routes.
A few practical steps smooth airport collection and drop-off, especially when flights shift or you face motorway tolls on the return leg.
Many vehicles at LYS qualify for terms that skip the usual card block and accept debit cards or cash for the balance. Each car declares its own rules in the search results.
Open the booking widget and type "Lyon Airport" in the location field. Each listing displays a "No Deposit" badge if the rental company waives the security hold. A second badge, "No Credit Card", means you may pay the balance with a debit card or cash at pickup. These badges appear independently - one car might require no deposit but still ask for a credit card, while another allows both debit card payment and skips the hold.
The excess remains. If damage occurs, you pay up to the stated limit out of pocket or through your own travel insurance. The absence of a deposit block and the excess amount are separate contract terms.
When you confirm a booking on 4Drive, you pay an advance online by card. This advance is not a security deposit; it forms part of the total rental cost. The voucher states the outstanding balance, which you settle at the LYS desk using the payment method shown in that car's listing - debit card, cash or credit card. The specific mix varies by vehicle, not by category or company.
If the car requires a credit card for the balance but you hold only a debit card, ask your bank to raise the daily spending limit before you fly. For full details on how the advance and balance split works, see the payment and advance guide. That page explains which step happens online and which happens at the airport counter.
Answers to common queries about collecting a car at LYS, from desk locations to Alpine route planning.
Rental counters line the arrivals hall in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Your voucher specifies which terminal and which company. If you land at Terminal 2 and the desk is in Terminal 1, follow signs for the covered walkway linking the two buildings.
Yes, if the car displays a "No Credit Card" badge in the search results. You pay the balance with a debit card or cash at pickup. The badge is vehicle-specific, so filter results in the widget and check each listing's payment terms before booking.
Exit the terminal car park and join the A43 westbound. The motorway runs 25 km to Lyon Part-Dieu in about 30 minutes. Tolls apply; automated booths accept card or cash. For sat-nav, enter "Lyon Part-Dieu" or follow signs for "Lyon Centre".
Enter your flight number when you book. The rental company monitors arrivals and adjusts the pickup window automatically. If you land two hours late, the desk waits free of charge. The voucher confirms this policy, and the agent verifies the delay when you collect the keys.
From December through March, roads toward Chambery, Grenoble and Annecy often require chains or winter tyres. Some cars include winter tyres in the base rate; others offer them as a paid extra. Check the listing notes in the search results and confirm fitment with the agent at the desk before you drive toward altitude.
Cross-border travel to Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Germany is permitted, but you must request approval when you book. The system notes the destination country, and the rental company includes it in the agreement. The voucher confirms authorisation. Driving across a border without prior approval may void your cover and incur fines.
Land at LYS, collect keys in arrivals and drive to the Alps, Beaujolais or downtown Lyon. Many cars need no security deposit and accept debit cards or cash. Compare live inventory, read the payment terms in each listing and reserve in two minutes.