You land at Martinique Aimé Césaire Airport (code FDF, in Le Lamentin, widely known as Fort-de-France Le Lamentin Airport) and your car is waiting outside: that is how car rental at Martinique airport works with Spar’Car — car rental or car hire, whichever you call it. Hand-over is free, 7 days a week, mileage is unlimited, and our agency is less than ten minutes from the terminal. This page tells you where the hand-over takes place, what happens if your flight is late, what evening arrivals cost and how long the drive is to your accommodation.
Where the hand-over takes place at Aimé Césaire Airport
The airport has a single terminal, and there is no counter to find: Spar’Car is not a terminal-hall rental desk but a local agency from Le Lamentin that comes to you. Your agent waits for you outside Arrivals, by the drop-off area, with the car you booked. They know your name and your flight number; the exact meeting point is confirmed with your booking. You go from the baggage belt to the driver’s seat with no shuttle and no queue.
Keep the three documents required at hand-over within reach, as originals: the main driver’s driving licence (held for at least one year), a piece of ID and a credit card in the main driver’s name for the security deposit (Visa, Mastercard or American Express; debit cards are not accepted for the deposit). If you would rather not block your card limit, the deposit can go through Swikly, for a service fee.
From landing to driving, step by step
- When booking, give your arrival date, your flight number and its scheduled time: that is what lets us be in the right place at the right time.
- On the day, we track your flight. The car is prepared with a full tank and leaves for the airport according to your actual landing time.
- You collect your luggage and walk out through Arrivals: your agent is waiting at the agreed meeting point.
- Document check (licence, ID, credit card) and security deposit, by card pre-authorisation or through Swikly.
- Vehicle inspection together, with photos: you leave with a car whose condition is recorded, and you can point out anything you find useful.
- The keys are yours. You drive straight to your accommodation, with no stop at an agency.
Allow about fifteen minutes between walking out of Arrivals and driving off. Travelling with children? Add the baby seat or booster as an option when you book: it will be fitted in the car when you arrive.
Late or early flight: we track your flight number
A delayed flight changes nothing. We follow your arrival using your flight number and the hand-over time is adjusted to your actual landing, whether the plane is twenty minutes or two hours late. There is nothing you need to do. Landing early? Call us as soon as you know and we will bring the hand-over forward whenever possible.
Missed connection, cancelled flight, new arrival date: let us know as early as you can on +596 696 61 70 70 or by e-mail, and we adapt your welcome. Cancellation and rebooking rules are in our FAQ and in article 9 of our terms and conditions.
Hand-over hours and late-arrival fees
Airport hand-over is available at any time, every day. It is free during the day; in the evening and at night, a late-arrival fee applies, based on the time the hand-over (or the return) actually takes place. The fee is shown in the booking funnel and in article 8 of our terms and conditions.
| Hand-over or return time at the airport | Fee |
|---|---|
| 7:00 am to 6:29 pm | €0 — free hand-over and return |
| 6:30 pm to 8:59 pm | €40 late-arrival fee |
| 9:00 pm to 6:59 am | €60 late-arrival fee |
- Online, an airport hand-over or return can be booked until 11:30 pm, at least 24 hours in advance. For a later arrival or a last-minute booking, call us on +596 696 61 70 70.
- Most flights from Paris land in the early or late afternoon: in that case, hand-over is free.
- Our Le Lamentin agency is open every day from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm, if you prefer to collect the car there.
Driving times from the airport
The airport sits in the centre of the island, in Le Lamentin: every beach resort in the south is under an hour away, the Caribbean north about an hour. The times below are outside rush hour; around Fort-de-France, traffic is heavy from 7 to 9 am and from 4 to 6 pm.
| Destination | Driving time |
|---|---|
| Le Lamentin (our agency) | under 10 min |
| Fort-de-France, city centre | 15 to 20 min |
| Le Robert, Le François | 20 to 25 min |
| Schœlcher | 25 to 30 min |
| Sainte-Luce | 25 to 30 min |
| La Trinité, Tartane | 25 to 35 min |
| Les Trois-Îlets | 30 to 40 min |
| Le Diamant | 30 to 35 min |
| Le Vauclin | 35 to 45 min |
| Les Anses-d’Arlet | 35 to 45 min |
| Le Marin | 40 to 45 min |
| Saint-Pierre | 45 to 55 min |
| Sainte-Anne | 50 min to 1 h |
In Martinique, night falls around 6 pm all year round. If you land in the late afternoon, you will drive in the dark: nothing difficult on the main roads, but take a moment to check your route before setting off. Our tips for driving on the island are in the guide driving in Martinique — remember, we drive on the right.
Returning the car at the airport
Returning the car at the airport is free too, at the same meeting point, at the time agreed in the contract. Allow about ten minutes for the return inspection, on top of the check-in time recommended by your airline. The car is handed over with a full tank and is returned full: there are petrol stations along the airport road in Le Lamentin. Rentals are counted in 24-hour periods, with one hour’s tolerance on return.
You can also collect the car at the airport and return it at the Port of Fort-de-France, or the other way round: the port is our third hand-over point, with a surcharge shown when you book. The choice is made in the booking engine.
Which vehicle for your stay
- City car — economical, easy to park in Fort-de-France and in the towns, ideal for two.
- SUV or crossover — comfortable on the hilly roads of the north and the Caravelle peninsula, a good fit for a family.
- 7-seater — for families and groups arriving together, luggage included.
- Van — for a move, equipment or larger loads.
- Premium — for a special stay or occasion.
All our models are in the vehicle catalogue. Prefer an automatic? Book it early: it is the most requested category on the island.
Book ahead, especially in high season
From December to April, arrivals follow one another at the airport and cars go fast. Booking your car hire at Martinique airport in advance means having the model you want at the quoted price, instead of chasing availability once on the island. For the Christmas holidays and Carnival, see our high-season car rental page. Off-season, booking a few days ahead is usually enough, and hand-over on arrival is just as simple.
