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In France, diesel is gazole and unleaded petrol is sans plomb, usually SP95-E10, SP95 or SP98. Every pump also carries a European label: a circle with an E for petrol (E5, E10, E85) and a square with a B for diesel (B7, B10). Almost all UK petrol cars built since 2011 can use E10. Electric cars use the same plugs as in the UK, and France has over 200,000 public charge points.
French fuel names
Since 12 October 2018, fuel pumps across the EU have shown standard labels, and new cars carry the same label near the filler cap. In France, the pump also shows the French name of the fuel and which vehicles can use it.
| Label | French name | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| SP95-E10 (sans plomb 95, E10) | Unleaded petrol with up to 10% ethanol. | |
| SP95 and SP98 (sans plomb) | Unleaded petrol with up to 5% ethanol. SP98 is the higher-octane grade, like UK super unleaded. | |
| Superéthanol E85 | Up to 85% ethanol. Only for flex-fuel cars or cars converted for it. Don’t put it in an ordinary petrol car. | |
| Gazole (diesel) | Standard diesel with up to 7% biodiesel. Suitable for all diesel cars. | |
| Gazole B10 | Diesel with up to 10% biodiesel. Only for diesel cars approved for B10: check your handbook. | |
| Gazole XTL | Synthetic diesel, such as HVO. Check your handbook before using it. | |
| GPL (GPLc) | Liquefied petroleum gas, for LPG-converted cars. Gas fuels have a diamond-shaped label. |
The word to remember is gazole: in French, essence means petrol, not diesel. Putting petrol in a diesel car is one of the most common mistakes abroad. If you do, don’t start the engine, and call your breakdown cover.
Remember that diesel in France is gazole.
Can your UK car use E10?
E10 is the standard petrol at UK pumps, so if you already use it at home, you can use SP95-E10 in France. According to the UK government, all cars built since 2011 are compatible, and about 95% of petrol vehicles on the road can use it. Some older and classic cars can’t: check yours with the government’s E10 vehicle checker.
If your car isn’t compatible, use SP98 or SP95, both labelled E5. If you put E10 in by mistake, the UK government says a single tank shouldn’t cause a major problem: you don’t need to drain it, just fill up with E5 next time.
Diesel: B7, B10 and XTL
Standard French diesel is B7, the same as UK diesel, and suits all diesel cars. B10 contains more biodiesel and is only for cars approved for it: your handbook, or sometimes the label inside the fuel filler flap, will say. If you’re not sure, use B7. XTL is a synthetic diesel such as HVO, approved by some manufacturers: check before using it.
Finding fuel and paying
Fuel prices in France vary from one filling station to the next. The French government’s prix-carburants.gouv.fr shows the prices at filling stations by town, by département or along a route, for each fuel. Compare autoroute service areas with filling stations in nearby towns before a long drive.
- Automatic pumps: many filling stations have card-only pumps with nobody on duty. You pay at a terminal before filling up, and most terminals let you switch the language to English. Make sure you have a credit or debit card with you, and if one card doesn’t work, try another.
- Rural areas: filling stations can be far apart, and small ones may close on Sundays and at lunchtime. Fill up before you head into the countryside or the mountains, and don’t let the tank run low.
- On the autoroute: running out of fuel means a breakdown at the government’s fixed prices, from €151. See breaking down on an autoroute.
Fuel is much cheaper at supermarkets than on the autoroute services.
Most pumps, especially at supermarkets, do not have anyone manning them, so you must make sure you have a credit or debit card to use. Most do, however, have the ability to change the language to English.
Electric car charging points in France
France had 200,926 public charge points at the end of August 2026, up 13% in a year, according to the barometer published by the charging association Avere-France and the French government. Chargers are found at autoroute service areas, supermarkets, car parks, hotels and in town centres.
Plugs: France uses the same standards as the UK. Type 2 for AC charging and CCS for rapid DC charging, so your UK electric car and cable will work.
Paying: EU rules (the AFIR regulation) mean that publicly accessible chargers installed since 13 April 2024 must let you charge without a subscription, using a widely used payment method such as a bank card or contactless. From 1 January 2027, chargers of 50 kW or more on Europe’s main road network must do the same, even if they were installed earlier. Older and slower chargers may still need an app or a charging card, so it’s worth setting one up before you go.
Prices: under the same rules, rapid chargers of 50 kW or more must show the price per kWh, and any per-minute fee, before you start charging. Prices vary a lot between networks, so check before you plug in.
Planning: on a long drive south, plan your charging stops along the autoroute, and avoid arriving at a busy charger with a nearly empty battery on summer Saturdays. Our France route planner gives the distance from each port to 38 French cities.
Crit’Air stickers for electric and hybrid cars
Some French cities have low-emission zones where you need a Crit’Air sticker, whatever your car runs on. Electric and hydrogen cars get the green sticker, the cleanest class. Foreign-registered vehicles can only apply online, on the official site certificat-air.gouv.fr. See our Crit’Air sticker guide.
Useful words at the filling station
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Gazole / gasoil | Diesel |
| Essence | Petrol |
| Sans plomb | Unleaded |
| Station-service | Filling station |
| Faire le plein | Fill the tank |
| 24h/24 | Open 24 hours |
| Borne de recharge | Charge point |
| Recharge rapide | Rapid charging |
Fuel and EV charging in France: what to put in your car FAQs
What is diesel called in France?
Gazole (often written gasoil). On the pump it carries the European label B7 or B10 in a square. Don't confuse it with essence, which means petrol.
What is unleaded petrol called in France?
Sans plomb. The usual grades are SP95-E10 (label E10), SP95 and SP98 (both labelled E5). SP98 is the equivalent of UK super unleaded.
Can my UK car use E10 petrol in France?
Probably. According to the UK government, all cars built since 2011 can use E10, and about 95% of petrol cars on the road can. If yours can't, use SP98 (E5). A single tank of E10 by mistake shouldn't cause a major problem: fill up with E5 next time.
What is the difference between B7 and B10 diesel?
The number is the maximum percentage of biodiesel: up to 7% in B7, up to 10% in B10. B7 is the standard diesel. Not every diesel car is approved for B10, so check your handbook or the label on the pump, and if in doubt use B7.
How can I find cheap fuel in France?
Use the French government's prix-carburants.gouv.fr site, which shows the prices at filling stations by town or along your route. Prices vary a lot between filling stations, so a short detour can be worth it.
Can I pay for EV charging in France with a bank card?
At many chargers, yes. Under EU rules, publicly accessible chargers installed since 13 April 2024 must let you pay without a subscription, for example by card or contactless, and from 1 January 2027 chargers of 50 kW or more on main European routes must do the same. Older chargers may still need an app or a charging card.
Will my UK electric car's plug work in France?
Yes. France uses the same plugs as the UK: Type 2 for AC charging and CCS for rapid DC charging.
Do electric cars need a Crit'Air sticker in France?
Yes, if you drive into a low-emission zone that requires one. Electric and hydrogen cars get the green sticker, the cleanest class. Foreign-registered vehicles apply online on the official site, certificat-air.gouv.fr.