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No, you don’t need a breathalyser to drive in France. Service-Public, the French government’s official guide, says carrying one is not compulsory and there is no fine for not having one. You may still see breathalysers in driving kits, because France did require them briefly in 2012. The drink-drive limit hasn’t changed: 0.5 g of alcohol per litre of blood, lower than in England and Wales.
The rule today
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Must I carry a breathalyser in my car in France? | No |
| Can I be fined for not having one? | No |
| Do the police breath-test drivers? | Yes, with their own equipment, at random roadside checks and after accidents and offences |
| What’s the limit? | 0.5 g/l of blood (0.25 mg/l of breath), or 0.2 g/l on a French probationary licence |
Why so many people think you need one
A French decree of 28 February 2012 made it compulsory for drivers to carry a breathalyser (éthylotest) from 1 July 2012. A small fine for not having one was planned, but its start date was put back twice, and in 2013 the government dropped the fine altogether, after France’s road safety council advised against it. The French government said the rule had been checking whether drivers had an unused breathalyser, rather than encouraging them to test themselves.
British motoring organisations, ferry companies and kit sellers all told UK drivers to carry two breathalysers in 2012, and that advice still circulates on older websites and in some driving kits. Service-Public’s current guidance is clear: a breathalyser is not compulsory.
You’ll also see different dates online. The RAC and LeShuttle say the rule was scrapped “in 2020”, while a Brittany Ferries FAQ says the law still exists but isn’t enforced. We couldn’t find an official French text from 2020 removing it, but it doesn’t change the answer: Service-Public’s guidance today is that carrying a breathalyser is not compulsory, and there’s no fine for not having one.
The drink-drive limit in France
France’s 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. Drivers on a French probationary licence, in their first three years, have a limit of 0.2 g/l, which is barely more than one drink.
| Blood alcohol | What happens |
|---|---|
| 0.5 to 0.8 g/l | A fine of up to €750 (usually a €135 fixed fine) and a licence suspension of up to 3 years |
| 0.8 g/l or more | A criminal offence: up to €9,000, up to 3 years in prison, and possible confiscation of the car |
| Refusing a test | A criminal offence with the same maximum penalties |
French police can also retain your licence on the spot for up to 72 hours after a positive breath test. See drink-driving in France for the full rules.
How many drinks can you have and drive in France?
There’s no safe number to rely on. How much alcohol ends up in your blood depends on your weight, sex, what you’ve eaten, how strong the drink is and how quickly you drink it, and a “large glass” of French wine can be more than you think. At 0.5 g/l, one or two drinks can take some people close to the limit, and at the 0.2 g/l limit for probationary licences, even one drink can be too many. If you’re driving, the only reliable answer is not to drink.
Is a breathalyser worth carrying anyway?
It’s not required, but it can be useful, especially the morning after. Alcohol leaves your body slowly, and nothing speeds it up: not coffee, food or sleep. After an evening of French wine with dinner, you can still be over the limit at breakfast, and a 0.5 g/l limit leaves much less room than at home. France’s road safety authorities encourage drivers to test themselves if they’re unsure.
- Single-use chemical breathalysers are cheap and sold in French supermarkets, pharmacies and service stations, as well as in UK driving kits. Kits often say “NF”, the French certification mark. Each one works once and has a use-by date.
- Electronic breathalysers cost more but can be used many times. Cheaper ones may be less accurate, so treat a reading near the limit as a reason not to drive.
The safest rule is simple: if you’ve had a drink, don’t drive. A breathalyser reading under the limit doesn’t mean you’re safe to drive.
Do you need a breathalyser to drive in France? FAQs
Do I need a breathalyser to drive in France?
No. Service-Public says carrying a breathalyser in your car is not compulsory in France, and there is no fine for not having one.
Do you still need a breathalyser kit to drive in France?
No. The rule introduced in 2012 never came with an enforced fine, and the planned fine was dropped in 2013. French government guidance today says a breathalyser is not compulsory.
Why do driving kits still include breathalysers?
Because France required drivers to carry one from July 2012, and UK drivers were widely told to take two. The fine was dropped in 2013 and breathalysers aren't compulsory now, but some kits still include them.
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, which is a third lower than in England and Wales. Drivers on a French probationary licence have a limit of 0.2 g/l.
How many drinks can I have and drive in France?
There's no reliable number. It depends on your weight, food, the drink's strength and how fast you drink. One or two drinks can take some people close to the 0.5 g/l limit, and on a probationary licence's 0.2 g/l limit even one can be too many. If you're driving, don't drink.
When did France stop requiring breathalysers?
The fine for not carrying one was dropped in 2013, before it was ever enforced. Some UK sites say the rule was removed in 2020. Either way, Service-Public's guidance today is that a breathalyser is not compulsory.
What happens if I'm over the limit in France?
Between 0.5 and 0.8 g/l, a fine of up to €750 (usually €135) and a licence suspension of up to 3 years. At 0.8 g/l or more it's a criminal offence, with up to €9,000, up to 3 years in prison and possible confiscation of the car.
Can French police breath-test me at random?
Yes. Police carry out random roadside checks for alcohol and drugs, using their own equipment, and test drivers after accidents and offences. Refusing a test is a criminal offence.
Is it worth carrying a breathalyser in France?
It's not required, but a personal breathalyser can help you check the morning after an evening out. Treat any reading close to the limit as a reason not to drive.
Where can I buy a breathalyser in France?
Single-use breathalysers are sold in French supermarkets, pharmacies and service stations, and in many UK driving kits.