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French road signs follow the same European shapes and colours as British ones, so most will look familiar: red circles give orders, red triangles warn, and blue circles tell you what you must do. What catches British drivers out are the words on the signs, the town name signs that set the speed limit without showing one, and direction signs coloured by type of road. This guide covers the signs and phrases you’ll meet most often.
The signs that matter most
| Sign | Name | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Town name, red border | Start of a built-up area: the 50 km/h limit begins here, even with no speed sign. | |
| Town name crossed out | End of the built-up area: the 50 km/h limit ends. | |
| Speed limit with ‘Rappel’ | A reminder of the limit you’re already under. | |
| Toutes directions | All directions: follow this if your destination isn’t signed separately. | |
| Autres directions | Other directions: for anywhere not listed on the other signs. | |
| Blue direction sign | Autoroute: usually a toll road, with the 130 km/h limit. | |
| Green direction sign | Main road route to a larger town or city. | |
| White direction sign | Local destinations: town centres, villages, local roads. |
Signs drawn by us for illustration; the place names are examples.
Speed limit signs
Speed limits are shown in km/h in a red circle, as in the UK. The difference is that France often doesn’t put up a sign for the default limits. The town name sign at the entrance to a town or village starts the 50 km/h limit, and the same name crossed with a red line ends it. Outside towns, you’re on the default limit for that type of road unless a sign shows otherwise. The French government has confirmed that a lower limit outside towns must be shown by a speed limit sign.
Under a speed sign you’ll often see Rappel, meaning “reminder”: it repeats the limit that already applies, often after a junction. See French speed limits for every limit.
Direction signs
Direction signs are colour-coded by the type of road they lead to:
- Blue: autoroutes, which are usually toll roads. Blue signs often show the word Péage (toll).
- Green: main routes to larger towns and cities.
- White: local destinations, such as town centres and villages.
- Yellow: temporary signs, such as diversions (Déviation) around roadworks.
Toutes directions (all directions) and Autres directions (other directions) are the signs to follow when your destination isn’t listed. Leaving a town, they usually lead you back to the main roads.
Road markings
Permanent road markings in France are white. Yellow markings are temporary, usually at roadworks, and where you see them, follow the yellow lines rather than the white ones. A solid white line in the centre of the road means no crossing or overtaking, as at home. A broken white line across your lane at a junction means give way.
Priority signs
The yellow diamond (you’re on a priority road), the red triangle with an X (priority to the right ahead) and the roundabout warning with “Vous n’avez pas la priorité” are explained, with drawings, in our guide to priorité à droite and roundabouts.
Words on French road signs
| On the sign | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Rappel | Reminder (repeats the current limit) |
| Sauf riverains | Except residents (access only) |
| Toutes directions | All directions |
| Autres directions | Other directions |
| Centre ville | Town centre |
| Péage | Toll |
| Sortie | Exit |
| Aire | Rest area (on autoroutes) |
| Prochaine sortie | Next exit |
| Bouchon | Traffic jam ahead |
| Travaux | Roadworks |
| Déviation | Diversion |
| Ralentir | Slow down |
| Allumez vos feux | Switch on your lights |
| Chaussée déformée | Uneven road surface |
| Gravillons | Loose chippings |
| Verglas fréquent | Ice often forms here |
| Accotement non stabilisé | Soft verge |
| Cédez le passage | Give way |
| Vous n’avez pas la priorité | You don’t have priority |
| Sens unique | One way |
| Impasse | Dead end |
| Stationnement interdit | No parking |
| Payant | Pay to park |
| Zone bleue | Blue zone: free parking with a parking disc |
| Sauf livraisons | Except deliveries |
Zones: 30 km/h, blue zones and low-emission zones
- Zone 30: a sign at the entrance marks an area where the limit is 30 km/h, until the “end of zone” sign.
- Zone bleue: parking is free for a limited time, but you must display a parking disc showing your arrival time.
- Low-emission zones (ZFE): signs mark the edge of the zone, and the rules depend on your Crit’Air sticker. See our Crit’Air sticker guide.
French road signs explained for UK drivers FAQs
What does 'Rappel' mean on French road signs?
'Reminder'. It appears under a speed limit sign to repeat the limit that already applies, often after a junction.
What does 'Toutes directions' mean?
'All directions'. Follow it when your destination isn't signed separately; it usually leads you to the main roads out of town.
What does 'Sauf riverains' mean?
'Except residents'. The road is closed to through traffic, with access only for people who live or have business there.
What do the colours of French direction signs mean?
Blue signs lead to autoroutes, usually toll roads. Green signs mark main routes to larger towns and cities. White signs are for local destinations, and yellow signs are temporary, such as diversions.
Where does the speed limit start in a French town?
At the town name sign, even if there's no speed limit sign: the limit is 50 km/h. It ends at the sign with the town's name crossed out with a red line.
What do yellow lines on French roads mean?
Yellow road markings are temporary, usually at roadworks. Where you see them, follow the yellow lines instead of the white ones.
What does 'Péage' mean?
'Toll'. Signs with Péage lead to toll autoroutes or toll booths.
What does 'Cédez le passage' mean?
'Give way'. You must give way to traffic on the road you're joining.