Driving in France: the complete guide for UK drivers

On this page

1. Driving in France at a glance
2. Your driving in France checklist
3. What you need to drive in France
4. French rules of the road
5. New driving rules in France
6. On the road
7. Winter driving: the Loi Montagne
8. Border checks: the Entry/Exit System
9. Getting to France
10. Tim’s tips for driving in France
11. FAQs

Driving in France is easy once you know the handful of rules that differ from home. You drive on the right, limits are in km/h, the drink-drive limit is lower than in England and Wales, and you must carry a hi-vis vest for everyone in the car and a warning triangle. This guide covers everything a UK driver needs, from the documents in your glovebox to tolls, low-emission zones and winter rules, checked against official French and UK sources.

Driving in France at a glance

Your driving in France checklist

Answer a few questions about your car and your trip, and the checklist builder lists the documents, kit and rules that apply to you. You can print it or save it as a PDF to keep in the glovebox.

What you need to drive in France

Here is the short version for a UK driver taking their own car. Our driving in France requirements checklist goes through every document and item of kit in detail.

Documents

You must be at least 18 to drive in France with a UK licence, even though French learners can drive alone at 17 under the French system. You also need to be 18 to hire a car, and many hire companies set a higher minimum age.

• Driving licence. A UK photocard licence is all you need. GOV.UK says you don’t need an international driving permit for France with a photocard licence. If you still have a paper licence, or a licence issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man, GOV.UK says you might need a permit, so check before you go. More in driving licence and IDP.
• V5C log book. Take the original. For a car you’ve hired or leased in the UK, you need a VE103 certificate instead.
• Insurance certificate. You don’t need a green card to drive in the EU, but check that your policy covers you in France and for how long. See insurance, green card and breakdown cover.
• Passport. For France it must have been issued less than 10 years before you arrive, and be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave.

UK sticker

Your car must show the UK identifier. If your number plate has UK with the Union flag, you don’t need anything else. You need a UK sticker on the back of the car if your plate shows GB, a Euro symbol, the flag of England, Scotland or Wales, or no identifier at all. Old GB stickers are no longer valid, so remove or cover them. Full details: UK sticker for France.

Kit you must carry

French law requires two things in every car: a hi-vis vest for each person in the car, kept in the cabin where you can reach them rather than in the boot, and an approved warning triangle. If you stop on or beside the road in an emergency, put the vests on before anyone gets out. Place the triangle at least 30 metres behind the car, unless doing so would put you in danger. Not wearing a vest or not warning other drivers can cost up to €750, usually a €135 fixed fine, and not being able to show them at a police check up to €38.

You also need to stop your headlights dazzling oncoming drivers. UK headlights are angled for driving on the left. Fit headlamp beam deflectors, or use your car’s own setting if it has one (check the handbook). Our France driving kit guide covers what’s legally required and what’s simply worth packing.

A breathalyser is not compulsory, and there’s no fine for not carrying one. See breathalysers in France.

Crit’Air sticker

The Crit’Air sticker shows your vehicle’s emissions class, from Crit’Air 0 (electric) to 5. In France’s low-emission zones (ZFE, zone à faibles émissions) it is compulsory for every vehicle, including foreign-registered cars driving there only once, and some cities also use it to restrict traffic on high-pollution days. In Paris the rules apply inside the A86 ring road, 8am to 8pm on weekdays except public holidays, and Lyon, Grenoble and several other cities have their own zones and hours. Some older vehicles don’t qualify for a sticker at all. Driving in a zone without one is a €68 fixed fine for a car.

Buy it only from certificat-air.gouv.fr, the only official site. The fee is €3.11 plus postage, and you pay by card or PayPal after uploading a scan of your V5C. Other websites charge far more for the same sticker. Delivery is usually quoted as 5 to 10 days, but allow longer. Our Crit’Air sticker guide explains the classes and every zone.

So allow at least three weeks to be safe.

Are low-emission zones being scrapped? No. In spring 2026 the French parliament voted to abolish them as part of a wider law, but on 21 May 2026 the Conseil constitutionnel, France’s constitutional court, struck that part of the law out. The zones remain, although how strictly each city enforces its zone varies.

French rules of the road

Priority to the right

The rule that catches out most British drivers is priorité à droite: at a junction with no signs or markings, you give way to traffic coming from the right, even if it’s joining from a side road. On a main road marked with a yellow diamond sign, you have priority at the junctions ahead. A yellow diamond crossed with a black line means that priority has ended. At most roundabouts you give way to traffic already on the roundabout, coming from your left, and you go round anticlockwise.

STOP signs

A STOP sign in France means a complete stop, with the wheels stationary, even when the road looks clear. Rolling through slowly isn’t enough. Failing to stop is a fourth-class offence, with a €135 fixed fine, the same as running a red light or failing to give way.

Speed limits

French speed limits are in km/h and drop in the rain. The table above gives the limits for cars. A few more rules apply:

• On roads with traffic in both directions and no central separation, the limit is 80 km/h, but the local authority can raise it to 90 km/h. The signs tell you which applies.
• Where a road has at least two lanes in your direction, the limit is 90 km/h, or 80 km/h in the rain.
• Drivers on a French probationary licence (the first three years) have lower limits: 110 km/h on autoroutes, 100 km/h on dual carriageways and 80 km/h elsewhere. Service-Public ties these to the French probationary licence and doesn’t say how it treats visitors who passed their test recently. If you’ve held your licence for less than three years, the safe choice is to keep to them.
• In the left-hand (outside) lane of an autoroute, you must drive at 80 km/h or more when traffic is flowing and conditions are good.

See French speed limits for every road type, including towing and motorhomes.

Speeding fines

Police give on-the-spot fines for driving offences, including speeding. These are the French penalties for car drivers:

Speed camera fines can be sent to your home address in the UK, so don’t assume a flash in France will be forgotten. A €135 fixed fine drops to €90 if you pay it quickly and rises to €375 if you pay it late. French penalty points apply only to French licences: an offence in France doesn’t put points on your UK licence. Fines, on-the-spot licence retention and driving bans in France still apply. More in speed cameras and fines.

Drink-driving

The French limit is 0.5 g of alcohol per litre of blood, or 0.25 mg per litre of breath. GOV.UK points out that this is a third lower than the limit in England and Wales. For drivers on a French probationary licence it’s 0.2 g/l, which is barely more than one drink. Between the limit and 0.8 g/l, you face a fine of up to €750 (usually a €135 fixed fine) and a licence suspension of up to three years. At 0.8 g/l or more, it’s a criminal offence, with a fine of up to €9,000, up to three years in prison, and possible confiscation of the car. Police carry out random roadside checks. See the drink-drive limit in France.

Phones and earphones

You can’t use a hand-held phone while driving, and you can’t wear anything in or on your ear that plays sound, so earphones, earbuds and Bluetooth headsets are banned too. Calls through the car’s own speakers are not covered by this ban. Breaking it is a fourth-class offence, with a €135 fixed fine and a possible licence suspension.

Speed camera detectors

Owning, carrying or using a speed camera detector is illegal in France. The penalty is a fine of up to €1,500, the device is seized, and if it’s fixed to the car the car can be seized as well. Phone apps and satnavs that warn you of speed camera locations are illegal too, so switch off camera alerts or check your app is set up for France before you cross.

Children

Children under 10 must travel in a child seat suited to their size. They can’t sit in the front, except in a rear-facing baby seat, when the car has no rear seats or no rear seatbelts, or when the rear seats are already taken by children under 10. A rear-facing seat in the front means the passenger airbag must be switched off. The driver is responsible, and the fine is up to €750, usually a €135 fixed fine. See driving in France with children.

New driving rules in France

These are the changes since 2025 that matter most to UK drivers.

• Extreme speeding is now a criminal offence. Since 29 December 2025, driving 50 km/h or more over the limit is a délit, a criminal offence, even the first time. It carries up to 3 months in prison, a fine of up to €3,750 and possible confiscation of the car.
• Low-emission zones stay. The vote to abolish ZFEs was struck down by the Conseil constitutionnel in May 2026, so you still need a Crit’Air sticker in the zones.
• Digital border checks. The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) has replaced passport stamps. More on this below.
• Toll roads without barriers. The A13 and A14 between Paris and Normandy no longer have toll booths. You pay online afterwards.

On the road

Toll roads

Most French autoroutes are toll roads. You take a ticket at the entrance and pay at the péage when you leave, or pay a fixed amount at a barrier on some sections. Bank cards are accepted, and in a right-hand-drive car the machine is on the passenger side, so it helps to have a passenger or to stop close to it. A télépéage tag lets you use the dedicated lanes without stopping.

The A13 and A14 between Paris and Normandy are free-flow motorways, with no barriers. You must pay within 72 hours of your journey, online at sanef.com using your number plate, with a Liber-t tag, or at a tobacconist in the Nirio network. Sanef warns that fake texts and emails demanding toll payments are common, so pay only through its own website. See French toll roads.

Autoroutes

Autoroutes have rest areas, called aires, every few miles. Some are simple stops with toilets and picnic tables, and others have fuel, food and shops. Tune your radio to 107.7 FM for traffic news and safety messages in French and English. Bison Futé, the French government’s traffic service, publishes forecasts of the busiest days, which are worth checking before a summer Saturday. See autoroutes.

Fuel

Diesel is gazole (sometimes written gasoil). Unleaded petrol is sans plomb, usually SP95-E10 or SP98. More in fuel and EV charging in France.

Parking

In a blue zone (zone bleue), parking is free for a limited time, but you must display a parking disc showing your arrival time. “Payant” means you pay at a machine or by app, and “stationnement interdit” means no parking.

If you break down

On an autoroute, put your hi-vis vest on before getting out, and wait behind the safety barrier. Use the orange emergency phones or call 112. Only approved breakdown companies can work on a toll autoroute, so you can’t call out your own breakdown company there. The motorway operator sends a recovery truck, which should reach you within 30 minutes and repairs the car on the spot or tows it off the autoroute. The prices are set by the government: in 2026, €151 for a car up to 1.8 tonnes on a weekday between 8am and 6pm, and €226.50 at night, at weekends and on public holidays. Check whether your European breakdown cover pays this back, and keep the receipt. See what to do if you break down in France.

If you have an accident

Call 112 if anyone is hurt. For a minor collision, French drivers fill in a joint accident report, the constat amiable, which both drivers sign at the scene. Don’t sign anything you don’t understand. Our guide to what to do if you have an accident in France explains the form box by box.

Winter driving: the Loi Montagne

From 1 November to 31 March, cars driving in parts of France’s mountain ranges must have winter tyres or carry snow chains or snow socks. The areas are set by each département, in mountain ranges such as the Alps and the Pyrenees, and are marked by signs where they start and end. Winter tyres count only if they carry the alpine symbol (three peaks and a snowflake, known as 3PMSF). Since 1 November 2024, tyres marked only M+S still count, as long as you also carry chains. If you’re heading to the Alps or the Pyrenees for skiing, plan for this before you leave home.

Border checks: the Entry/Exit System

The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) records your fingerprints and a photo instead of stamping your passport. At Dover and at the Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone, the checks happen before you leave the UK. Elsewhere, you may need to register at a booth on your first visit. Children aged 11 or younger have their photo taken but not their fingerprints. Your record lasts three years, and you can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Allow extra time at the border, especially on your first trip.

Getting to France

The quickest crossings are Dover to Calais by ferry and LeShuttle (Eurotunnel) from Folkestone to Calais. If you’re heading west or south, an overnight sailing such as Portsmouth to Caen or Portsmouth to St Malo saves a long drive across northern France. Our guide to driving to France from the UK compares the routes, and if you’re going further, see driving to the south of France or driving through France to Spain.

If you have a passenger, ask them to help with signs and junctions while you get used to driving on the right.

Tim’s tips for driving in France

Tim has driven in France for over 20 years. His three tips:

• Stop at STOP signs. Stop and apply your handbrake before moving off. Tim was given a fixed penalty on the spot for not stopping on a slip road off a dual carriageway.
• Take your time leaving the port or Eurotunnel. Most errors are made within the first few miles.
• Leave space at slip roads. On dual carriageways and autoroutes, leave enough room for anyone coming on from a slip road to do so without you getting flustered.

Driving in France: the complete guide for UK drivers FAQs

What do I need to drive in France?

Your UK photocard driving licence, passport, the car's V5C log book (or a VE103 for a car hired or leased in the UK), your insurance certificate, and the UK identifier on your number plate or a UK sticker. In the car you must carry a hi-vis vest for each person, kept in the cabin rather than the boot, and an approved warning triangle, and you need to stop your headlights dazzling oncoming drivers. Add a Crit'Air sticker if you will drive in a low-emission zone, and winter tyres or chains in mountain areas from 1 November to 31 March.

How old do you have to be to drive in France?

18 with a UK licence. French learners can drive alone at 17 under the French system, but that doesn't apply to visitors. You also need to be 18 to hire a car, and many hire companies set a higher minimum age.

Do you still need a breathalyser kit to drive in France?

No. A breathalyser is not compulsory in France and there is no fine for not carrying one. The drink-drive limit still applies: 0.5 g of alcohol per litre of blood, or 0.2 g/l for drivers on a French probationary licence.

What are the new driving rules in France?

Since 29 December 2025, driving 50 km/h or more over the limit is a criminal offence, punishable by up to 3 months in prison and a fine of up to €3,750. Low-emission zones remain after the Conseil constitutionnel struck down a vote to abolish them in May 2026. The EU's Entry/Exit System has replaced passport stamps, and the A13 and A14 between Paris and Normandy have no toll booths, so you pay online within 72 hours.

Do I need a UK sticker to drive in France?

Only if your number plate doesn't show UK with the Union flag. You need a UK sticker on the back of the car if the plate shows GB, a Euro symbol, the flag of England, Scotland or Wales, or no identifier. Old GB stickers are no longer valid.

Do I need an international driving permit for France?

Not with a UK photocard licence. GOV.UK says you might need one if you have a paper licence or a licence issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man, so check before you travel.

Do I need a green card to drive in France?

No. You don't need a green card to drive in the EU, but you do need valid insurance. Check that your policy covers you in France and for how many days.

Do I need headlamp beam deflectors in France?

UK headlights are angled for driving on the left and would dazzle oncoming drivers in France. Fit beam deflectors, or use your car's own setting if it has one. Your handbook will say which applies to your car.

What is the speed limit in France when it rains?

110 km/h on autoroutes, 100 km/h on dual carriageways with a central reservation, 80 km/h on sections with two lanes in each direction, and 80 km/h on other roads outside towns. In towns it stays at 50 km/h. When visibility is under 50 metres, the limit is 50 km/h on every road.

What is the drink-drive limit in France?

0.5 g of alcohol per litre of blood, or 0.25 mg per litre of breath. That is a third lower than the limit in England and Wales. Drivers on a French probationary licence have a limit of 0.2 g/l. At 0.8 g/l or more, drink-driving is a criminal offence.

Can I use my phone or earphones while driving in France?

You can't hold a phone while driving, and you can't wear earphones, earbuds or a Bluetooth headset, even for a hands-free call. Calls through the car's own speakers are not covered by the ban. The fixed fine is €135.

What happens if I don't stop at a STOP sign in France?

You must come to a complete stop at every STOP sign, even when the road is clear. Failing to stop is a fourth-class offence with a €135 fixed fine, the same category as running a red light or failing to give way.

Are speed camera detectors and camera warning apps legal in France?

No. Owning, carrying or using a speed camera detector is illegal: the fine is up to €1,500, the device is seized, and if it is fixed to the car, the car can be seized too. Apps and satnavs that warn you of speed camera locations are illegal as well, so switch off camera alerts before you drive in France.

Are low-emission zones in France being scrapped?

No. The French parliament voted to abolish them in spring 2026, but the Conseil constitutionnel struck that part of the law down on 21 May 2026. The zones remain, so you still need a Crit'Air sticker in places such as central Paris, Lyon and Grenoble.

Can I call my own breakdown company on a French autoroute?

No. Only approved breakdown companies can work on a toll autoroute. Use the orange emergency phones or call 112, and the operator will send a recovery truck to tow you off the motorway. In 2026 the regulated price is €151 for a car up to 1.8 tonnes on a weekday between 8am and 6pm, and €226.50 at other times.

Do I need winter tyres in France?

Only in mountain areas covered by the Loi Montagne, from 1 November to 31 March. There you need winter tyres with the alpine symbol (3PMSF), or must carry snow chains or snow socks. Signs mark where each area starts and ends.

Can I be fined in France as a UK driver?

Yes. GOV.UK says police give on-the-spot fines for driving offences, including speeding, and speed camera fines can be sent to your home address in the UK. Penalties for serious offences can include loss of licence and prison.

How do I pay tolls in France?

At most toll booths you can pay by bank card, or use a télépéage tag in the dedicated lanes. On the A13 and A14 between Paris and Normandy there are no booths: you pay within 72 hours online at sanef.com, with a Liber-t tag, or at a Nirio tobacconist. Beware of fake texts asking for toll payments.

How much is a Crit'Air sticker and where do I buy it?

The official fee is €3.11 plus postage, and the only official place to buy one is certificat-air.gouv.fr. Other websites charge much more for the same sticker. You pay by card or PayPal after uploading a scan of your V5C, and delivery is quoted as 5 to 10 days, but ours took two weeks, so order at least three weeks ahead. Driving in a low-emission zone without one is a €68 fixed fine for a car.

Do French driving offences put penalty points on my UK licence?

No. French penalty points apply only to French licences, so an offence in France doesn't add points to your UK licence. You still have to pay French fines, and for serious offences French police can retain your licence for up to 72 hours and courts can ban you from driving in France.