Top 5 best scooter rentals in Nantes

Nantes has a way of turning even a short visit into an easy string of discoveries, and a scooter is the fastest way to string them together. One moment you're circling the moated walls of the Château des ducs de Bretagne in the city center, the next you're crossing the Loire toward Île de Nantes to watch the Grand Éléphant lumber past at Les Machines de l'île. No tram schedule to check, no long walk back to a parking garage — just you, the throttle, and a city built for wandering.

What makes Nantes especially good on two wheels is its shape: compact, largely flat, and cut through by two rivers that give you natural, scenic corridors instead of dead-end traffic. Distances that would eat up a slow tram ride shrink to a few minutes, and the moderate traffic means you're never fighting for space. A **scooter rental in Nantes** also opens up trips a bit further out — a ferry crossing to the fishermen's houses of Trentemoult, or a longer run along La Loire à Vélo toward Saint-Nazaire — that would be a stretch without your own wheels.

Top 10 things to see in Nantes by scooter

1. Château des ducs de Bretagne — the moated castle at the heart of the city, an easy first stop and photo point.
2. Les Machines de l'île — the giant mechanical elephant and art installations on Île de Nantes, a quick ride across the Loire.
3. Passage Pommeraye — a 19th-century covered shopping arcade, worth a short detour and a parked scooter.
4. Jardin des Plantes de Nantes — a landscaped botanical garden by the train station, a shaded spot to rest.
5. Butte Sainte-Anne — a hilltop viewpoint over the Loire and the rooftops of the city.
6. Trentemoult — a colorful former fishing village across the river, reached by a short ride and a ferry crossing.
7. Parc de Procé — a large park along the Chézine river, good for a relaxed loop away from traffic.
8. Île de Versailles — a small island on the Erdre with a Japanese garden, a peaceful riverside stop.
9. Cours des 50 Otages — the tree-lined central boulevard that links the old town, handy for crossing the city.
10. La Loire à Vélo (Nantes stretch) — the signposted riverside route heading toward Saint-Nazaire, ideal for a longer day out.

What do you need to rent a scooter in Nantes?

For a 50cc scooter you'll need an AM category licence, which anyone with a full car or motorcycle licence already holds. Step up to 125cc and you'll need an A1 motorcycle licence, or a car licence held for at least two years plus a short mandatory training course. Rental companies in Nantes usually set their own minimum age, commonly 18, regardless of what the law technically allows. Expect to leave a deposit, refunded when the scooter comes back undamaged — ask your rental company for the exact amount and excess. If you're visiting from outside the EU, bring an International Driving Permit alongside your home licence to be safe.

How much does it cost to rent a scooter in Nantes?

Prices move with the seasons, so it pays to know the calendar before you book.

• Low season (November to February): around 5-10 EUR per day.
• High season (June to August): around 12-20 EUR per day.
• Premium or larger-engine models: up to 20-30 EUR per day.

When to book a rental scooter in Nantes?

June through August is high season, when Nantes fills up with visitors and prices climb toward the top of the range — book a few weeks ahead if you're arriving in summer. From November to February, low season prices apply and availability is easy to come by. Spring and early autumn sit comfortably in between, with mild weather and fewer crowds, which makes them worth considering if your dates are flexible.

Local traffic rules in Nantes

France drives on the right. Helmets are compulsory for every rider and passenger on a scooter or moped, and CE-approved gloves are legally required too — France enforces this more strictly than most countries, so don't skip them. Keep your headlight on at all times, day or night. Speed limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas, rising to 80-90 km/h on rural roads outside town, so watch the signage as you leave the city. The blood-alcohol limit is 0.5 g/l, dropping to effectively zero if you're within your first three years of holding a licence.

If you want to **rent a scooter in Nantes**, just use the search form at the top of the page. Have a nice trip!

Types of scooters available

On our website you can rent the following types of scooters: classic scooter, Vespa, moped, motoroller, motoscooter, with a sidecar, with automatic or manual gears, three-wheeled scooters, large, maxi-scooter, touring, scooters with a windscreen and a roof, underbones, electric scooters.

Models of scooters available

On our website you can hire scooters from the following manufacturers: Adly, Aeon, Aprilia, Piaggio, Bajaj, Benelli, Beta, BMW, Derbi, Gilera, Honda, Kawasaki, Kymco, LML, Malaguti, Peugeot, PGO, Suzuki, SYM, TVS, Vespa, Yamaha.

Which insurance is provided with my rental scooter?

Usually basic third-party insurance is included in the rental price. If you wish to have more protection you can purchase additional CDW insurance, which limits your risk to the amount of your deposit. If you wish to rent a scooter without a deposit and with zero risk, you will need to add full insurance to your reservation.

Extra services available

When you make an online scooter reservation you can also order the following extra services and equipment: integral helmet, GPS navigation, intercom, unlimited mileage, top case, side cases, boots, jacket, gloves, individual guide or tour, map, full insurance, one-way rental, delivery to your hotel, delivery to your address, delivery to the arrival point of your choice.

Why use BikesBooking.com?

• Find the best deals for scooter hire;
• Compare prices of scooter rental companies;
• Read reviews of previous customers;
• Reserve a scooter online with the Best Price Guarantee!

Most of our local moped rental companies have many years of experience and will provide you with a well-kept scooter, helmet, lock, top case, GPS, insurance and friendly service. The number of companies we work with is increasing every day, so if you want to rent a scooter, just use the search form at the top of the page. Have a nice trip!