If you’re driving to France for a holiday, a work trip, or even to get to another European country, there are a number of rules you will need to follow. Our guide is designed to take the stress out of your trip by providing you with everything you need to know.
What driving licence do I need to drive in France?
Thankfully if you hold a full UK driving licence you do not need to apply for another type before visiting our European neighbours if you are aged 18 and over.
International driving permits are recognised in France, but are not a legal requirement.
Documents needed to drive in France
Besides your full UK driving licence, there are a number of other documents that you will need to take with you across the channel. This includes:
- Proof of ID such as a passport
- V5 registration document
- UK driving licence
- Car insurance certificate
These will need to be carried with you each time you get into your vehicle, just in case you are pulled over by French police.
Your vehicle is allowed to be imported into France for up to six months across a 12-month period.
What do I need to drive in France?
Besides the legal documents you need to take whilst driving in France, there’s a lot of other items that you should be aware of when crossing the channel, including mandatory ones.
Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)
Motorists driving in France will need to pack a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which replaces the old European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
GHIC offers similar protection for travellers as that afforded by EHIC when a UK resident is in the EU on a temporary stay, for business or pleasure. The GHIC does not cover you in Liechtenstein or Switzerland, just in case you’re thinking of driving further into the continent.
GHICs can be obtained through the NHS website and are free of charge. Travellers are advised to apply at least two weeks before their trip.
It must be noted that this should not be seen as a replacement for regular travel insurance, which you should take out for protection in case of emergency illness or injury.
Car insurance
If you are driving in France it’s always best to ensure your car insurance covers you whilst you are abroad, as you may not have overseas cover.
We offer free European cover with our car insurance policies for up to 30, 60 or 90 days depending on your needs.
European breakdown cover
Our European breakdown cover is available from £42 a year and provides you with 60 days’ breakdown cover while driving in France, in any one calendar year. Sterling can arrange roadside recovery or a reliable home repair service, whether your car or van breaks down in the UK, Europe or further afield.
Emissions stickers
You may have heard that some countries have tough regulations that require you to buy and display an emissions sticker showing how much pollution your vehicle generates. They cost very little, but the fines you receive for not displaying a sticker can be very expensive.
Drivers travelling through parts of France should now display a windscreen emissions sticker labelling how much their car pollutes according to the French government. The label will set holidaymakers back £4, but should you fail to correctly display one, you may end up with a big fine now that their camera-based enforcement has gone live.
There’s 14 locations in France that require the sticker known as Crit’Air, which lasts for the lifespan of your vehicle, and must be displayed before you cross the Channel. It is worth noting there are six different types of stickers and you will need to display the correct one upon entering the country.
They range from 0/E to 5 with the cleanest polluting cars such as electric and hydrogen fuelled engines requiring a 0/E.
The 14 areas are:
- Aix-Marseille-Provence
- Bordeaux
- Clermont-Ferrand
- Grenoble
- Lille
- Lyon
- Marseille
- Montpellier
- Nice
- Paris
- Reims
- Rouen
- Strasbourg
- Toulouse
Some cities that have low emission zones could prohibit your car at certain times of the day, and depending on how much your vehicle pollutes, they could ban you from driving in the area altogether. You can find out where you will need an emissions sticker and which of the six stickers you will need online.
Check your satnav
It’s illegal in France and several other EU countries to use satnavs or other electronic equipment that alerts you of speed enforcement cameras. If yours provides such alerts, it’s recommended you switch them off before you enter Europe.
Reflective jackets
A little known rule you may not know, is there must be at least one reflective jacket for each passenger and the driver, and they must be kept within the cabin of the car.
Warning triangle
A warning triangle is compulsory. You are actually required to have two: one to place in front of your vehicle and behind in the unfortunate circumstance that you breakdown.
Headlamp beam deflectors
Deflector stickers are needed to prevent dazzling oncoming drivers. You can buy deflector stickers from most car shops and, more expensively, at ferry ports and the Eurostar terminal. You may also be able to adjust the beam manually.
First aid kit
This is compulsory in France, plus at least you’ll have on hand basic first aid items such as plasters and bandages if you do get injured during your trip.
Bulbs, basic tools and other spares
Replacement bulbs, belts, wiper blades, oil, water and other lubricants, along with the tools to fit replacement parts or top-up lubricant levels, are also advisable.
UK sticker
If your vehicle is registered in the UK you will need to stick a UK sticker on your car. This used to be a GB sticker, but has since changed since September 2021, partly due to Brexit.
This is so France can identify where the vehicle has come from.
Winter tyres or snow chains
This is only mandatory if you are visiting between 1 November and 31 March. France tends to get worse winter weather in certain parts of the country, and this is for yours and other road users’ protection.
French phrases
Whilst a lot of French people can speak English, it is polite to at least try and use others’ language when visiting their country. We’ve put together a list of phrases that will help you with everyday activities.
What can’t I take to France in my car?
When visiting our European neighbours you are not permitted to take any meat or products containing meat, milk or any dairy products.
On top of this you are not allowed to take vegetables, plants or fresh fruit, unless you are willing to pay for them to be inspected upon entry to the country.
Are driving rules different in France?
Like most countries, driving rules have slight variants in France. For a start they drive on the opposite (wrong) side of the road to us in the UK.
Below is a list of some of the other differences you will encounter:
Overtaking
As a general rule of thumb you will need to drive on the right and overtake on the left of a vehicle on roads that permit overtaking.
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.
Overtaking moving trams is normally permitted on the right only. If you are on a one way street, you may overtake on the left if there’s not enough space on the right.
Using a horn
Horns can only be used if it is absolutely necessary, such as to warn other drivers of danger. Between sunset and sunrise warnings must be given through flashing your lights, but again if needs be a horn can be used as a last resort.
Seatbelts and car seats
Just like the UK, seatbelts, if fitted to your car, must be used by everyone in the vehicle. If you have a passenger who is under 18, it is the driver’s responsibility to ensure they are wearing one. Failing to do so will result in a €135 fine, reduced to €90 if paid within 15 days.
Children under the age of 10 must travel in an approved child seat or restraint fitted to their age and size. They are also not allowed to travel in the front seat of a vehicle without using a restraint, unless there is no rear seat, the rear seat is already occupied with children under 10 or there are no seat belts.
Traffic light system
France still uses the three-coloured traffic light system we use in the UK, but there are a few subtle changes such as;
- There’s no amber light after red
- A flashing red light indicates no entry, an exit is being used by emergency vehicles or indicates a level crossing
- A flashing amber light indicates caution, slow down or proceed but give way to vehicles coming from the right
- If a red light is accompanied by a yellow arrow, you can proceed in the direction indicated by the arrow, provided you give way to vehicles and pedestrians travelling in that direction
Who has priority when driving?
The priority rules for driving in France are also slightly different from those in the UK. At a junction you will need to give way to vehicles approaching from the right, unless it indicates differently on a road sign.
It’s also worth noting that roundabouts work the same way in France as they do in the UK in terms of giving way to traffic already circling. However, keep in mind that you will travel anti-clockwise, due to the nature of driving on the opposite side of the road.
Breathalysers
It used to be that a driver was required by law to carry breathalysers with them when driving in France, luckily that rule was changed in 2020. However, we would still recommend you take one with you just in case.
French police have the power to carry out random breathalyser tests, just like in the UK, if they suspect you are drunk-driving. A test is also compulsory if you are involved in a traffic incident or you’ve committed a driving offence.
The limit for alcohol in your system is also different. It is still measured using the Blood Alcohol Concentration limit (BAC), but unlike the UK where you are permitted up to 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, or 0.08%, in France you are only allowed 50 milligrams (0.05%).
If you are found to be driving over this threshold, you can expect to be fined, have points added to your licence, have your vehicle confiscated, face a ban from driving or a possible prison sentence.
Parking
Parking is slightly different in France, with drivers only being able to park on the right-hand side of a road if it has two lanes. You may opt to park on either side if it is a one-way street, like in the UK.
Street signs will signal what the local rules are, how long you are permitted to park there for and if non-permit holders can park in streets. Yellow lines will indicate if leaving your vehicle is prohibited or not, just like in Blighty.
What happens if I get fined whilst driving in France?
Thanks to an EU cross border directive in May 2017, drivers who commit traffic offences whilst in EU countries can be tracked down and fined.
Meaning if you commit a driving offence abroad, you will be prosecuted once you get back home.
What to do in an emergency in France when driving
Emergency telephones are linked to an SOS line, similar to the UK, and are installed every two kilometres along the motorways.
You can also 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 English.
Speed limits in France
Unlike in the UK, the French’s speed limit signs are marked in kilometres per hour instead of miles per hour. This means if you see a sign for 80km/h this doesn’t mean the same as 80mph.
Speed limits are also lowered when it’s raining and other adverse weather conditions, while special restrictions apply for certain classes of vehicle, including coaches and cars with trailers.
There is a minimum speed limit of 80 km/h (50mph) on motorways for vehicles travelling in the outside lane.
Speeding fines in France
A standard fine for breaking the speed limit is €135 and points will be added to your licence based on how far over the limit you have driven.
If you are found to be breaking the speed limit by more than 40km/h (24mph) you can have your driving licence confiscated by the police.
Driving a campervan and towing a caravan in France
Campervans 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.
Motorists are allowed to tow a trailer with a maximum authorised mass of 750kg, including the trailer and its load.
Who can hire a car in France?
In order to hire a car in France you must be at least 21 years old, own a full UK driving licence and provide a secondary method of ID such as a passport. It’s also worth noting that most rentals will not lend you a vehicle unless you have been driving for at least a year, and may ask you for a credit card to make the deposit.
European car insurance and breakdown cover
If you’re planning on driving in France you will need to ensure you have the right European car insurance to give you peace of mind should the worst happen.
No matter the vehicle, make sure to take our breakdown insurance with you. It costs from as little as £46.80 a year. Read this blog to discover the true cost of not having breakdown cover.
Sterling also has a range of car insurance policies for every sort of car, van and campervan, with prices starting from £125 a year and EU cover available. Call us on 0344 381 9990 for a quote or request a callback at a time better suited to you.
