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You can hire a car in France with a full UK photocard licence, and you don’t need an international driving permit. You must be at least 18 to drive in France, but hire companies set their own minimum age and often charge younger drivers more. Bring your licence, passport and a card in the main driver’s name for the deposit, and check the car’s fuel type, kit and any damage before you drive away.
We’re an affiliate of Europcar, which has hire branches across France, from city centres such as Paris, Lyon and Marseille to locations handy for Provence and Normandy, with cars from compacts to people carriers and vans. Whoever you hire from, the advice below applies.
This is an affiliate link: if you book, we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
What you need to hire a car
- Your UK photocard driving licence. No international driving permit is needed with a photocard licence. GOV.UK says you might need one with an old paper licence or one issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.
- Your passport, as proof of identity.
- A card for the deposit in the main driver’s name. Many hire companies want a credit card rather than a debit card: check before you book.
- A DVLA check code, if your hire company asks for one. You create it on GOV.UK’s “View or share your driving licence information” service; it’s valid for 21 days. Northern Ireland licences don’t use check codes: take your paper counterpart instead.
- Your booking confirmation, and details of any extra insurance you’ve bought.
More on licences in driving licence and IDP.
Age limits
You must be at least 18 to drive a car in France with a UK licence. Hire companies set their own rules on top: many have a higher minimum age, a minimum number of years since you passed your test, and a young driver charge, often for drivers under 25. Some cars, such as larger or more powerful models, may have a higher minimum age. Check the terms before you book.
Insurance, excess and deposit
Hire prices in France include the third-party insurance the law requires, but you’re usually responsible for an excess, the first part of the cost if the car is damaged or stolen. The hire company holds a deposit on your card, often related to the excess, and releases it when you return the car undamaged.
- You can reduce the excess by buying the hire company’s extra cover at the desk, or cover it with a separate excess insurance policy bought before you travel.
- Check what’s excluded from the standard cover, such as tyres or windscreens.
- Make sure the deposit fits within your card’s limit.
When you collect the car
- Check for damage all round, including wheels and the windscreen, and make sure it’s all marked on the rental form. Take photos and a short video, with the date.
- Check the kit: French law requires a hi-vis vest for each person in the car and a warning triangle. Hire cars should have them, but check, and bring extra vests if needed.
- Check the fuel type, on the filler cap and on the key or rental form: gazole is diesel, sans plomb is petrol. Note the fuel level and the fuel policy.
- Crit’Air: if you’ll drive into a low-emission zone, such as Greater Paris inside the A86, check whether the car has a Crit’Air sticker.
- Get comfortable before you leave: left-hand drive, a gearstick on your right if it’s a manual, and driving on the right. Set the sat nav and adjust the mirrors before you move.
Take your time when you leave the ferry port or Eurotunnel. Most errors are made within the first few miles.
The same goes for a hire car park: the first few miles on the right are when most mistakes happen.
Manual or automatic?
If you only drive an automatic, book one specifically and check your booking says “automatic”: manual cars are common in France, and automatics can cost more.
Driving a hire car in France
- Tolls: most autoroutes charge tolls. Pay by card or cash at the barrier, and pay barrier-free tolls on the A13, A14 and A79 online within 72 hours. Never use the télépéage (toll tag) lanes unless the car has a tag. See French toll roads.
- Fuel: many pumps are card-only automatic machines. See fuel and EV charging.
- Speed limits and cameras: limits are in km/h, and fines are sent to the hire company, which normally passes your details on and may charge an admin fee. See speed limits and speed cameras and fines.
- Children: under-10s need an approved child seat. Hire companies rent them, usually at extra cost; book in advance. See car seat laws in France.
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.
Breakdowns and accidents
Hire cars come with the hire company’s breakdown assistance: the number is usually on the key fob, the windscreen or the rental agreement. On an autoroute, though, only approved breakdown firms can recover you, so call from an orange emergency phone, the SOS Autoroute app or 112 first. See breaking down in France.
After an accident, follow the hire company’s instructions, fill in a constat amiable with the other driver, take photos and call the hire company’s emergency number. See having an accident in France.
Returning the car
- Refuel as the fuel policy requires, and keep the receipt.
- Take photos of the car, the fuel gauge and the mileage at drop-off.
- Ask for the car to be checked and signed off in front of you if you can.
- Check your card statement afterwards for any charges.
Hire a car, or take your own?
Taking your own car means no deposit or excess, space for luggage, bikes and kit, and no surprises at the desk, but it means a Channel crossing and a longer journey. Hiring suits a fly-drive holiday or a short city break. Our France route planner shows how long the drive from the UK would be, and driving to France from the UK compares the crossings.
This is an affiliate link: if you book, we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Hiring a car in France: what UK drivers need to know FAQs
Can I hire a car in France with a UK driving licence?
Yes. A full UK photocard licence is accepted, and you don't need an international driving permit with one. You must be at least 18 to drive in France with a UK licence, and hire companies set their own minimum age, often higher, with extra charges for younger drivers.
Do I need a DVLA check code to hire a car in France?
Some hire companies ask for one, so it's worth having. You create it on GOV.UK's 'View or share your driving licence information' service, and it lasts 21 days, so generate it shortly before you travel.
What do I need to hire a car in France?
Your UK photocard licence, your passport, a credit or debit card in the main driver's name for the deposit (check which your hire company accepts), your booking confirmation and, if asked, a DVLA check code.
Do hire cars in France come with a hi-vis vest and warning triangle?
French law requires a hi-vis vest and a warning triangle in the car, and hire cars should have them. Check when you collect the car; you need a vest for each person, so bring extras if needed.
Do I need a Crit'Air sticker in a hire car?
Only if you'll drive into a low-emission zone, such as Greater Paris inside the A86. Check whether the hire car has a sticker when you collect it.
What happens if I get a speeding fine in a hire car in France?
The camera fine goes to the hire company as the registered keeper. Hire companies usually pass your details on to the authorities and may charge you an admin fee, set out in your rental agreement.
Should I hire a car or take my own to France?
Taking your own car means no deposit or excess worries, room for luggage and kit you already own, but a longer journey. Hiring suits a fly-drive holiday or a short trip. Our route planner shows how long the drive from the UK would be.