Driving in France

To make your trip to mainland Europe as safe and stress-free as possible, we’ve put together a travel guide to everything you need to know before you go, from required documents to rules of the road. 

For starters, it's a good idea to get RAC European Breakdown Cover before you go. It will give you a wide range of benefits should you break down in France to make sure you stay safe. You can get cover for a single trip abroad or throughout the year if you travel to France on a regular basis.

As with any holiday, you should have travel insurance for your trip to France.

Need insurance for your road trip? Our temporary car insurance product is perfect if you're looking for flexible and comprehensive cover for between 1 hour and 30 days.

Advice for driving in France

In an emergency

Emergency telephones linked to an SOS telephone network are installed at 2km intervals along motorways and main roads. 

112 - Here's a really important bit of knowledge; you can dial 112 from anywhere in Europe and an operator will connect you to an emergency service in the country you're visiting.

Operators can answer your call in their native language, English or French

Whether you have RAC European Breakdown Cover or not, read our guide on what to do if you breakdown in France so you are ready for any emergency. 

Visitors must be aged 18 or over and hold a full, valid driving licence to legally drive in France. Riders of mopeds or motorcycles up to 125cc must be aged 16 or over.

Driving licences issued in the UK, the EU and EEA countries are accepted. International driving permits are recognised but not required. 

The police in France have the right to ask any driver for their driving licence. If it cannot be presented, a fine of €38 can be issued. You will then have five days to present your driving licence at a police station. Failure to do so may risk a fine of €750.

If you are driving a vehicle or riding a motorcycle in France please take note of some mandatory and recommended items to bring with you.

• UK sticker - Vehicles registered in the UK must display the letters 'UK' when driving in France. 
• Mandatory items by law - reflective jackets, warning triangle, headlamp beam deflectors, snow chains when driving through 'snow zones' and safety helmets for motorcyclists and their passengers. 
• Camping Card International - if you are camping this is worth carrying for additional proof of identity, third party liability insurance, plus discounts at a wide range of campsites.
• Clean air stickers - you need a Crit'Air sticker displayed on your car when travelling to certain cities. It costs  €4.91 and the sticker will be sent to you within 5 - 10 days. Failure to display the correct Crit'Air sticker could incur an on-the-spot fine of  €135. Find out more about France's emissions rules here.

A French driving kit will have the items you need - so pick one up today to help you avoid hefty on-the-spot fines.

Is there anything that I shouldn't take with me?

Be aware that you cannot take the following with you into France:

• meat or products containing meat
• milk or dairy products

You cannot take the following unless you pay to have them inspected before you leave and get a ‘phytosanitary certificate’:

• fresh fruit (apart from bananas, coconuts, dates, pineapples and durians)
• vegetables
• plants
• plant products

Vehicles from the UK can be temporarily imported into France for up to six months in any period of 12 months. In order to stay on the right side of the law, the following documents should always be carried:

• Full, valid UK driving licence
• Proof of ID (passport)
• Motor insurance certificate
• V5 registration document

Hiring a car? You may want to consider car hire excess insurance – it could be cheaper than waiting to add it when you collect your car. 

Driving in France has some local rules that differ from the UK to be aware of:

• Overtaking: As a general rule, drive on the right, overtake on the left. However, where traffic is in lanes, vehicles may overtake on the right of other vehicles in slower moving lanes. On steep gradients, vehicles travelling downhill must give way to vehicles travelling uphill. 
• Who has priority?: At intersections, you must give way to vehicles approaching from your right, unless otherwise indicated. Drivers approaching a roundabout must give way to traffic already on the roundabout. You must also give way to emergency vehicles with flashing lights or sirens.
• Warning of approach: Horns may only be used to give necessary warning to other road users. Between sunset and sunrise, warning must be given by flashing passing lights. The horn may be used only in cases of absolute necessity. In all built-up areas, use of the horn is prohibited except in cases of immediate danger. The use of multi-tone horns, sirens and whistles is prohibited.

Seat belt law in France

• If seat belts are fitted to your car, they must be worn by both drivers and passengers. The driver has a responsibility to ensure that all passengers under the age of 18 are suitably restrained in the car.
• The fine for failing to wear a seat belt is set at €135, reduced to €90 if paid within 15 days. 

Traffic lights

• The international three-colour traffic light system is used France. However, there is no amber light after the red light.
• A flashing amber light indicates caution, slow down or proceed but give way to vehicles coming from the right.
• A flashing red light indicates no entry. It may also indicate a level crossing or exit used by emergency vehicles.
• If a red light is accompanied by a yellow arrow, you may proceed in the direction indicated by the arrow, provided you give way to vehicles travelling in that direction, as well as to pedestrians.

Road markings 

Most road lines on the road are white, while a yellow zigzag line indicates a bus stop. If you find any blue lines or markings on the road then parking is restricted.

Yellow lines on the edge of the roadway indicate that stopping and/or parking are prohibited.

The EU Cross-Border Enforcement Directive

An EU cross-border directive came into effect in the UK in May 2017. This is aimed at tracking down people who commit traffic offences in cars that are registered in an EU member state different to where the offence was committed.

This means if you commit a driving offence abroad, the crime will effectively follow you back home to the UK, where you can still be prosecuted.

France uses the metric system for all road signs, meaning speed limits and other road signs including distance are indicated using kilometres and metres.

Speed limits are lowered in rain and other adverse weather conditions, while special speed restrictions apply to certain classes of vehicle, including coaches and cars with trailers, so check before travel.

There is a minimum speed limit of 80 km/h on motorways for vehicles travelling in the outside lane.

The following national speed limits apply:

• If a stretch of motorway is within a built up area, the speed limit is 110 km/h, with the exception being the Paris ring road where the limit is 80 km/h.
• Holders of EU driving licences exceeding the speed limit by more than 40 km/h will have their licences confiscated on the spot by the police.
• French law prohibits drivers from devices capable of detecting speed cameras and warning drivers of their location.
• Penalties can include fines of up to €1,500 and confiscation of the device and vehicle.
• This has recently been extended to include GPS-based systems capable of displaying fixed speed camera locations as points of interest.
• The speed limit on many A and B roads in France have been reduced to 80km/h (50mph) – in a bid to save up to 400 lives a year. This came into effect from July 1 2018.

The standard fine for breaking the speed limit in France is €135, which can be reduced if payment is made within 15 days. 

Holders of EU driving licences exceeding the speed limit by more than 40 km/h will have their licences confiscated on the spot by the police.

Visitors can be fined up to €750 for serious traffic violations, with French police authorities are authorised to impose and collect fines on the spot. Vehicles may also be seized until payment is made. 

Speed camera detectors in France

French law prohibits drivers from using devices capable of detecting speed cameras and warning drivers of their location. In France, you could have to pay a massive fine of €1,500 if caught.

Find out more about driving offences in Europe here.

Drivers are responsible for ensuring that all passengers under 18 are wearing a seat belt or appropriate restraint.

Child car seat rules France

Children under the age of 10 are not allowed to travel in the front seats of vehicles without using a special child restraint, unless there is no rear seat, the rear seat is already occupied with children under 10 or there are no seat belts.

Children up to the age of 10 must travel in an approved child seat or restraint, adapted to their age and size. European regulations classify child restraints in five different groups according to the child's weight:

Taxis are exempt but in other vehicles, a fine is levied if a child is not restrained.

Camper vans are not allowed to exceed 12 metres in length, and 2.55 metres in width. There are no height restrictions.

Cars with caravans are not allowed to exceed a combined 18.75 metres in length, and 2.55 metres in width. There are no height restrictions.

Loads on vehicles with two axles mustn’t exceed 19 tonnes. While weights at single axles mustn’t exceed 12 tonnes.

Towing in France

Brakes are not required for a trailer that weighs 750kg or less and doesn't exceed 50% of the unladen weight of the towing vehicle. It is illegal to tow a trailer without its own brakes if its total authorised weight exceeds 2.5 tonnes. 

You’re not allowed to tow a motor vehicle except in the event of a breakdown or an accident and if the distance to be travelled is short. This practice is banned on motorways where the assistance of a recovery vehicle must be sought.

It is forbidden to carry people in a moving caravan.

It’s illegal to tow another motor vehicle except in the case of a breakdown or an accident and if the distance to be travelled is short.

Please note: The Department for Transport advises that A-frames are not legal for use by UK campers and caravanners abroad. In practice, this could mean towing your car while it’s fixed to a trailer.**

Caravan / trailer speed limits

The maximum speed for a car towing a caravan or trailer depends on their total weight:

If the weight of the trailer exceeds that of the car, the speed limits are lower as follows:

• If the excess is less than 30%: 65 km/h
• If the excess is more than 30%: 45 km/h

In these cases, a disc showing maximum speed must be displayed on the rear of caravan/trailers. They may not be driven in the fast lane of a 3 lane motorway.

Motorhome / minibus speed limits

The maximum speed for a motorhome, minibus or any other vehicle used for the transport of people only also depends on their total weight:

On-the-spot fines

• Visiting motorists should be warned that some French police authorities are authorised to impose and collect fines on the spot up to €750 from drivers who violate traffic regulations.
• If the offence committed is not likely to entail the suspension of the driving licence or a prison sentence, the motorist can pay a reduced fine within the next three days. If you want to contest the fine, you must apply for a court hearing within 30 days.
• If the offence committed is serious and likely to entail a heavy fine and the suspension of the driving licence or a prison sentence, a motorist who is not resident in France and has no employment there must deposit a guarantee.
• The police may hold his or her vehicle until payment is made. This payment can be in euros, by cheque drawn on a French bank or by travellers' cheques.

Minimum and maximum fines in France

Standard fines are classified into four categories according to the gravity of the offence, ranging from €11 to €750. They can be reduced if payment is made within 15 days (in the case of postal payments, three days if paid in person) or increased if payment is not made within 45 days.

Confiscation of vehicles

In some cases, instead of (or in addition to) a fine or prison sentence, the vehicle can be confiscated. The main offences this can be applied to are:

• Exceeding the speed limit by over 50 km/h
• Repeated offence of driving under the influence of alcohol (0.40 mg per litre of breath)
• Hit and run
• Refusal to stop when requested
• Driving without a licence
• Driving a vehicle with a category of licence that of a category which does not cover that vehicle
• Driving without insurance

Any of the above cases can result in the vehicle becoming the property of the French government.

Much like it is across the continent, there are some different parking rules and regulations in France.

• Parking regulations. Stopping and parking are permitted on the right-hand side only of roads with two lanes of traffic; in one-way streets, stopping and parking are allowed on both sides if the street is wide enough. Restrictions and limitations are indicated by road signs or by yellow lines on the kerb. A continuous yellow line indicates that stopping and parking are prohibited. A broken yellow line indicates that parking is prohibited.
• Enforcement of parking regulations. Vehicles that are parked illegally may be towed away and impounded, even if registered abroad. The owner is liable for the cost of impounding and for every 24 hours the vehicle is kept. In Paris and some other large towns, illegally parked vehicles are immobilised by wheel clamps. The driver must go to the local police station and pay a fine for dangerous parking or for causing an obstruction, as well as a fine to have the vehicle released.
• Paid parking, Road signs indicate the areas where parking is restricted and must be paid for, either at parking meters or automatic machines that issue tickets indicating the length of parking time paid for. Some machines take debit/credit cards ‘stationnement à la carte'.
• Disabled parking access. There are spaces reserved for the disabled. In Paris, free parking is allowed where a fee is normally payable. In principle, the disabled badge gives the holder permission to park his/her vehicle in a designated space. It does not mean that he/she can park free of charge in a fee-paying zone. Generally, a disabled motorist may park without time limit on roads where parking is free but restricted by time. The responsibility for parking concessions usually rests with the local authorities, but the police are required to show consideration for parking by the disabled, provided they do not cause obstruction.

The maximum legal level of alcohol in the blood for drivers of private vehicles is 0.05% blood alcohol content. That's lower than the 0.08% in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but the same as Scotland.

For bus and coach drivers, as well as newly qualified drivers with less than three years' experience, the limit is 0.02%.

Random breath tests

The police have the power to carry out random breath tests. A test is compulsory after an accident that has caused injury or when a driver has committed a serious motoring offence.

A driver involved in an accident, or who has committed a traffic offence such as speeding or not wearing a seat belt, must take a drugs test.

The police use saliva or urine tests to detect drivers under the influence of drugs. If the test is positive, a blood test follows.

Not all of the information in the guide above will be relevant to those looking to rent a hire car in France. Though it might be a good idea to read through everything anyway, here are the most important things to know for drivers of rental vehicles.

Rental information

• The minimum age to hire a car is 21, although this may vary depending on the vehicle type
• You need a full, valid UK driving licence and usually a second proof of ID (passport)
• Car rental companies ask that you have held your licence for a minimum term of 1 year
• Some companies may require you to use a credit card for a deposit
• You may not be able to drive outside Spain unless planned in advance - check with your hire company first
• Make sure you get car hire excess insurance before your trip to protect yourself from unexpected costs. It's almost always cheaper to do this with a separate insurer and in advance