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French driving laws are mostly familiar, but five matter most to a British driver: you drive on the right, traffic from the right often has priority, limits are in km/h, the drink-drive limit is 0.5 g/l (lower than in England and Wales), and you can’t use a hand-held phone or wear an earpiece. Below is every French rule a visitor is likely to meet, with its fine, checked against Service-Public, the French government’s official guide.
French driving laws at a glance
| Rule | What the law says | Typical penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Drive on the right | Overtake on the left. At junctions without signs, give way to traffic from the right (priorité à droite). | Failing to give way: €135, 4th class |
| Speed limits | 130 km/h autoroutes, 110 dual carriageways, 80 or 90 other roads, 50 in towns; lower in rain. | €68 or €135; 50 km/h or more over is a criminal offence |
| Drink-driving | 0.5 g/l of blood (0.2 on a French probationary licence). | Up to €750 (usually €135); 0.8 g/l or more is a criminal offence: up to €9,000 and 3 years |
| Drug driving | Banned whatever the amount. Saliva tests at the roadside. | Up to €9,000 and 3 years; with alcohol, up to €15,000 and 5 years |
| Phones and earpieces | No hand-held phone, nothing in or on your ear. | €135, 4th class |
| Seatbelts | Everyone, front and back. The driver is responsible for children. | €135 |
| Child seats | Under 10s in a suitable child seat, normally in the back. | Up to €750, usually €135 |
| STOP signs | A complete stop, wheels stationary. | €135, 4th class |
| Red lights | Stop at a red light. | €135, 4th class |
| Safe distance | Keep a safe gap from the vehicle in front. | €135, 4th class |
| Horn | In towns, only in immediate danger. At night outside towns, flash your headlights instead. | Usually €35, up to €150 |
| Flashing headlights | Allowed, to warn of danger, mainly at night. | – |
| Smoking | Not allowed in a car with a child (under 18) on board. | Usually €135, up to €750 |
| Speed camera detectors | Illegal to own, carry or use. Camera-warning apps are illegal too. | Up to €1,500 and the device seized |
| Hi-vis vests and triangle | A vest for each person, in the cabin; an approved triangle. Wear the vest after an emergency stop. | Usually €135 for not using them; up to €38 if you can’t show them |
| Lights | All lights must work. | Usually €68, up to €450 |
| Tyres | No worn tyres. | Usually €135, up to €750 |
| Winter equipment | Winter tyres or chains in signed mountain areas, 1 November to 31 March. | – |
| Crit’Air sticker | Compulsory in low-emission zones. | €68 for a car |
| Autoroute outside lane | At least 80 km/h when traffic flows and conditions are good. | €35 |
| Parking | On a pavement, crossing, disabled bay or cycle lane, or within 5 m before a crossing: very obstructive. Over 7 days in one place: abusive. | €35 to €135; dangerous parking €135 |
| Licence | Carry a valid licence. 18 or over with a UK licence. | Driving without a valid licence is a criminal offence |
| Insurance | Valid insurance; UK policies give minimum EU cover. | Driving uninsured is a criminal offence: up to €3,750 |
| Breathalyser | Not compulsory to carry. | None |
Most fixed fines can be reduced if you pay quickly and increased if you pay late. French penalty points apply only to French licences. Links in the table go to our full guide to each rule.
How French fines work for visitors
France groups minor offences into classes, each with a fixed fine:
| Class | Fixed fine | Paid quickly | Paid late | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | €11 | – | €33 | Not being able to show your vests and triangle at a check (up to €38) |
| 2nd | €35 | €22 | €75 | Horn misuse, obstructive parking, too slow in the outside lane |
| 3rd | €68 | €45 | €180 | Small speeding offences, faulty light, no Crit’Air sticker |
| 4th | €135 | €90 | €375 | Phones, STOP signs, red lights, seatbelts, most speeding |
| 5th | €200 where a fixed fine applies; up to €1,500 in court | €150 | – | Speed camera detectors |
- On-the-spot fines. GOV.UK says French police give on-the-spot fines for driving offences, including speeding.
- Camera fines can be sent to your home address in the UK.
- Penalty points apply only to French licences, so they don’t go on your UK licence.
- Serious offences are criminal offences (délits) dealt with by a court: driving 50 km/h or more over the limit, drink-driving at 0.8 g/l or more, drug driving, and driving without a licence or insurance. Your licence can be retained on the spot for up to 72 hours, and the car can be impounded or confiscated.
New driving laws in France
These are the changes since late 2025 that UK drivers should know about:
- 29 December 2025: extreme speeding became a criminal offence. Driving 50 km/h or more over the limit is now a délit even the first time, with up to 3 months in prison, a fine of up to €3,750 and possible confiscation of the car.
- May 2026: low-emission zones stay. The Conseil constitutionnel struck down the vote to abolish ZFEs on 21 May 2026, so Crit’Air stickers are still needed in the zones.
- August 2026: the Ripost law. Law no. 2026-798 of 18 August 2026 toughens penalties for drink and drug driving and creates new offences, including driving after using psychoactive substances. Service-Public says the list of substances still has to be set by decree, so that part isn’t in force yet.
- Border checks. The EU Entry/Exit System has replaced passport stamps for UK travellers.
- Barrier-free tolls. The A13 and A14 between Paris and Normandy have no toll booths: you pay online within 72 hours. See French toll roads.
The rules that surprise British drivers
- Priority to the right. A car pulling out of a side road on your right can have priority, unless signs say otherwise. See priorité à droite.
- STOP means stop. Not stopping is a €135 fine. Tim was given a fixed penalty on the spot for not stopping at one on a slip road.
- No earpieces at all, even for hands-free calls. Use the car’s own speakers instead.
- The horn is for danger only in towns. A friendly toot isn’t allowed.
- No smoking with children in the car.
- A minimum speed of 80 km/h in the outside lane of an autoroute.
- A hi-vis vest for everyone, kept in the cabin, not the boot.
For everything you need before you go, see what you need to drive in France.
French driving laws: the rules, the fines and what’s new FAQs
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. Low-emission zones stayed after the Conseil constitutionnel struck down a vote to abolish them in May 2026. The Ripost law of August 2026 toughened drink and drug driving penalties and creates an offence of driving after using psychoactive substances, once a decree sets the list.
What are the main driving rules in France?
Drive on the right, give way to traffic from the right at unmarked junctions, keep to limits in km/h (130 on autoroutes, 80 or 90 on other roads, 50 in towns), stay under 0.5 g/l of alcohol, and don't use a hand-held phone or earpiece. Carry a hi-vis vest for each person and a warning triangle.
Can I use my horn in France?
In towns, only in immediate danger. Outside towns you can use it to warn others, for example before a blind bend, but at night you should flash your headlights instead. Misusing the horn is usually a €35 fine.
Is flashing your headlights illegal in France?
No. Flashing your headlights is allowed, and it's the way to warn other drivers of danger at night.
Can you smoke in a car in France?
Not with a child on board: the fine is usually €135. With only adults in the car you can, but the driver mustn't smoke or vape in a way that affects their driving.
Are hands-free kits legal in France?
Earpieces, earbuds and headsets are banned, even for hands-free calls. Calls through the car's own speakers are allowed, but a hand-held phone isn't. The fine is €135.
Is there a minimum speed on French motorways?
Yes, in the outside (left-hand) lane: at least 80 km/h when traffic is flowing and conditions are good. Driving slower there is a €35 fine.
Do French driving offences affect my UK licence?
French penalty points apply only to French licences, so they don't go on your UK licence. You still have to pay French fines, and for serious offences you can lose the right to drive in France.
What happens if I don't pay a French driving fine?
Fixed fines go up if you don't pay in time: a €135 fine rises to €375. Camera fines can be sent to your UK address.
Can French police take my car?
For serious offences, yes. The car can be immobilised or impounded, and courts can confiscate it, for example for driving 50 km/h over the limit, serious drink or drug driving, or driving without a licence or insurance.