#72 Responding to Customer Inquiries｜French for Business Communication
Izumi French Garden
#100 Renting a Bicycle｜French Travel Phrases
Izumi
When traveling in a city, renting a bicycle is a convenient way to explore the area freely.
When renting a bicycle in French, there are several important points to confirm, such as the price, insurance, and return time.
In this lesson, I will introduce useful French expressions commonly used when renting a bicycle, along with practical dialogue examples.
Contents
Dialogue
Bonjour, j’aimerais louer un vélo pour cet après-midi.
（Hello, I’d like to rent a bicycle for this afternoon.）
Très bien, souhaitez-vous un vélo électrique ou un vélo classique ?
（Certainly. Would you like an electric bicycle or a regular one?）
Un vélo classique me suffit. Pourriez-vous m’expliquer les tarifs ?
（A regular bicycle is fine. Could you explain the rates?）
La location coûte 12 euros pour quatre heures, assurance comprise.
（The rental costs 12 euros for four hours, insurance included.）
À quelle heure dois-je rendre le vélo ?
（What time should I return the bicycle?）
Vous pouvez le rendre avant 18h. Si vous souhaitez prolonger la location, il suffit de nous prévenir.
（You can return it before 6 p.m. If you wish to extend the rental, simply let us know.）
Très bien. J’aimerais aussi vérifier l’état du vélo avant de partir.
（Alright. I’d also like to check the condition of the bicycle before leaving.）
Pas de problème, je vais le préparer pour vous.
（No problem, I’ll prepare it for you right away.）
1, Stating the Rental Duration
When renting a bicycle, the first step is clearly stating how long you intend to use it.
- J’aimerais louer un vélo pour cet après-midi.
(I’d like to rent a bicycle for this afternoon.)
Specifying the time period makes the process smoother.
- Je voudrais louer un vélo pour la journée.
(I’d like to rent a bicycle for the whole day.) - Je souhaite louer un vélo pour quelques heures.
(I’d like to rent a bicycle for a few hours.)
By stating the intended duration first, the staff can explain the appropriate pricing plan and return procedures more easily.
2. Choosing the Type of Bicycle
Some rental shops offer the choice between an electric bicycle and a regular one—electric bicycles are especially useful in hilly cities.
- Souhaitez-vous un vélo électrique ou un vélo classique ?
(Would you like an electric bicycle or a regular one?)
Possible reply:
- Un vélo classique me suffit.
(A regular bicycle is enough for me.)
Using ”me suffit” (is sufficient for me) conveys the nuance that you do not need anything exceptionally high-performance.
3. Confirming Prices and Insurance
At a shop you are using for the first time, the pricing system may not be immediately clear. It is useful to know expressions for asking about costs.
- Pourriez-vous m’expliquer les tarifs ?
(Could you explain the rates?)
With this one question, you can confirm the basic price, the duration included, and any extension fees.
Example response:
- La location coûte 12 euros pour quatre heures, assurance comprise.
(The rental is 12 euros for four hours, insurance included.)
“Assurance comprise” (insurance included) is an important detail in case of an accident.
4. Checking the Return Time and Extension Options
Confirming the return time in advance helps avoid unexpected additional charges.
- À quelle heure dois-je rendre le vélo ?
(What time should I return the bicycle?)
Possible answer:
- Vous pouvez le rendre avant 18h.
(You can return it before 6 p.m.)
You can also ask about extending the rental:
- Si vous souhaitez prolonger la location, il suffit de nous prévenir.
(If you’d like to extend the rental, just inform us.)
The verb prolonger (to extend) is frequently used in rental situations.
5. Requesting a Safety Check
To avoid accidents due to faulty brakes or underinflated tires, it is advisable to request a quick inspection before departure.
- J’aimerais vérifier l’état du vélo avant de partir.
(I’d like to check the condition of the bicycle before leaving.)
The staff will usually check the lights, chain, and tire pressure for you.
Additional questions:
- Les freins fonctionnent bien ?
(Are the brakes working properly?) - Le vélo est bien gonflé ?
(Are the tires fully inflated?)
Summary
- J’aimerais louer / Je voudrais louer ～
→ Expressions used when politely requesting a rental. - Un vélo classique / un vélo électrique
→ Useful for specifying the type of bicycle you want. - Pourriez-vous m’expliquer les tarifs ?
→ A basic expression for asking about pricing and insurance. - À quelle heure dois-je rendre le vélo ?
→ Essential for confirming the return time. - vérifier l’état du vélo / prolonger la location
→ Key vocabulary for safety checks and extending the rental period.
