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Driving in France for the first time is easier than most British drivers expect. The autoroutes are fast and well signed, and most rules will feel familiar. The tips below cover what catches first-timers out: driving on the right after a ferry crossing, junctions where traffic from the right has priority, limits in km/h, STOP signs, tolls and fuel. They’re written by Tim, who has driven in France for over 20 years.
Before you go
- Check your documents. Photocard licence, passport, the car’s V5C and your insurance certificate. See what you need to drive in France, or build your own list with the trip checklist there.
- Pack the kit. A hi-vis vest for each person, kept in the cabin, and a warning triangle. Sort your headlights (beam deflectors or the car’s own setting) and the UK identifier. See France driving kit.
- Check your cover. Make sure your insurance covers France, and buy European breakdown cover. See insurance and breakdown cover.
- Order a Crit’Air sticker early if you’ll drive into a city with a low-emission zone, such as Paris or Lyon. Only order from the official site.
- Switch your speedometer to km/h if your car can, and turn off speed camera alerts on your sat nav or phone: they’re illegal in France.
- Plan the drive. Our France route planner compares the drive from every port and the Eurotunnel terminal to 38 cities, so you can choose a crossing and plan breaks.
Leaving the ferry port or Eurotunnel
Take your time when you leave the ferry port or Eurotunnel. Most errors are made within the first few miles.
- Talk yourself through it. “Keep right” at every junction, roundabout and car park exit for the first hour. The danger moments are pulling out of a car park or petrol station, and turning left onto an empty road.
- Use your passenger. In a UK car you sit next to the kerb, so ask your passenger to help with signs, junctions and checking when it’s clear to overtake.
- Take a break early. After an early start and a crossing, stop for a coffee before you set off on a long drive. France’s road safety advice is to stop for at least 15 minutes every two hours.
On the road
- Keep right, overtake on the left. On autoroutes and dual carriageways, stay in the right-hand lane unless you’re overtaking.
- Watch for priorité à droite. At junctions with no signs or markings, especially in towns and villages, traffic joining from your right has priority. A yellow diamond sign means you’re on the priority road. See priorité à droite and roundabouts.
- Roundabouts go anticlockwise. On most, traffic already on the roundabout has priority: give way to vehicles coming from your left.
- Stop completely at STOP signs.
If you see a STOP sign, stop and apply your handbrake before moving off. I got stopped and was given a fixed penalty on the spot for not stopping at a STOP sign on a slip road off a dual carriageway.
- Know the limits, in km/h. 130 on autoroutes, 110 on dual carriageways, 80 on ordinary roads (90 where signed) and 50 in towns, starting at the town’s name sign. In rain, 110 on autoroutes and 100 on dual carriageways. See French speed limits.
- Expect speed cameras, including average-speed cameras and unmarked cars. Fines can be sent to your UK address. See speed cameras and fines.
- Stop at amber. A steady amber light means stop unless you’re too close to stop safely. Flashing amber means go on with care.
- Give way uphill. On a steep road, the vehicle going downhill must give way to the one coming up (Code de la route, R414-3).
- No phone in your hand, no earpieces. Earpieces, earbuds and headsets are banned, even for hands-free calls. Calls through the car’s own speakers are allowed. The fine is €135.
- Drink-drive limit: 0.5 g/l. Lower than in England and Wales, and 0.2 g/l on a French probationary licence. If you’re driving, don’t drink. See the drink-drive limit.
Autoroutes and tolls
When driving on dual carriageways and autoroutes, leave enough space so that anyone coming on from a slip road can do so without you getting flustered.
- Take a toll ticket when you join a toll autoroute, and keep it safe. At the barrier, choose a lane showing a card or cash symbol, not the télépéage (toll tag) lanes. The machine is on the left, the passenger side of a UK car.
- Pay barrier-free tolls. On the A13 and A14 between Paris and Normandy and on the A79 there are no barriers: pay online within 72 hours. See French toll roads.
- If you break down on an autoroute, call from an orange emergency phone, the SOS Autoroute app or 112, not your UK breakdown company first. See breaking down in France.
Fuel, parking and towns
- Diesel is gazole. Petrol is sans plomb (SP95-E10, SP95 or SP98).
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.
Fuel is much cheaper at supermarkets than on the autoroute services.
- Fill up before the countryside. Filling stations can be far apart in rural areas. See fuel and EV charging.
- Park in the right zone. Many towns have pay-and-display areas and blue zones, where you need a parking disc showing your arrival time. In big cities like Paris, many visitors leave the car outside the centre and use public transport. See driving to and in Paris.
Tim’s other tips
On a long drive we always use autoroutes as they are much quicker, and we have a toll tag as it makes paying much easier. No stopping, just use the 30 km/h lane and drive straight through. Payment is taken direct from bank account on our return.
For every French rule in one place, with fines, see French driving laws. And if the worst happens, our guides to breaking down and having an accident in France explain what to do.
Driving in France tips: your first drive, step by step FAQs
Is driving in France hard for a UK driver?
Most British drivers find it easier than they expect, and the autoroutes are straightforward. The things to get used to are driving on the right, priorité à droite at some junctions, limits in km/h and the toll booths. Take it slowly for the first few miles off the ferry or train.
What should I be aware of when driving in France?
Keep right, give way to traffic from the right at unmarked junctions, stop fully at STOP signs, watch the speed limits in km/h (they drop in rain), keep under the 0.5 g/l drink-drive limit, don't use a phone or earpiece, and carry your documents, a hi-vis vest for each person and a warning triangle.
What must I carry in my car when driving in France?
Your driving licence, passport, V5C and insurance certificate, a hi-vis vest for each person kept in the cabin, a warning triangle, the UK identifier on your number plate or a UK sticker, and headlamp beam deflectors or your car's own setting. A Crit'Air sticker if you'll drive into a low-emission zone.
Who gives way on a steep mountain road in France?
On a steep road, the vehicle going downhill must give way to the one going uphill (Code de la route, article R414-3). Larger vehicles, over 2 metres wide or 7 metres long, must slow down and if necessary pull in to let smaller ones pass.
Do I need to stop completely at a STOP sign in France?
Yes. A STOP sign means a full stop with the wheels stopped at the line, even if the road looks clear. Rolling through is an offence with a €135 fine.
Can I use my phone's sat nav in France?
Yes, but you mustn't hold the phone, and earpieces and headphones are banned while driving. Turn off any speed camera alerts: apps and sat navs that warn of speed camera locations are illegal in France.