On this page
French roads are named by who runs them: A for autoroutes (motorways), N for routes nationales run by the state, D for routes départementales run by each département, and local roads run by the town or village. Some city roads are numbered M, and European E numbers appear alongside the French ones. The letter tells you who looks after the road, but the speed limit depends on what kind of road it is: an N or D road with a central reservation has a 110 km/h limit, the same as a dual carriageway anywhere in France.
French road types at a glance
| Road | Run by | Length | Tolls | Usual limit (dry) | Number sign |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: autoroute | Concession companies or the state | 11,752 km | On the 9,211 km run by concession companies | 130 km/h | Red |
| N: route nationale | The state | 8,576 km | Free, apart from a few bridges and tunnels | 110 km/h on dual carriageways, otherwise 80 or 90 km/h | Red |
| D: route départementale | The département | 386,885 km | Free, apart from a few bridges and tunnels | 80 km/h, or 90 km/h where signed | Yellow |
| M: route métropolitaine | A métropole, such as Lyon’s | – | Free | As signed | |
| C: voie communale | The commune (town or village) | 902,972 km | Free | 50 km/h in town, 80 km/h outside | |
| E: European route | Shares a French road | As the French road | As the French road | Green |
Lengths for 2024 from the French government’s transport statistics (Chiffres clés des transports 2026). France has 1,310,184 km of roads in all, and almost seven in ten kilometres are local roads.
Reading the road number signs
Road numbers appear on small coloured panels on direction signs and on markers by the roadside. The colour tells you what kind of road it is:
| Sign | Road | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Red, A number | An autoroute, part of the national network. | |
| Red, N number | A national road run by the state. | |
| Yellow, D number | A departmental road run by the département. | |
| Green, E number | A European route. It follows a French road, and that road’s rules apply. |
Don’t confuse the number panel with the colour of the direction sign itself: blue direction signs lead to autoroutes and green ones to main routes. More in French road signs explained.
Autoroutes (A roads)
Autoroutes are France’s motorways: the quickest way to cover long distances, with service areas and rest areas along the way. There are 11,752 km of them. Concession companies run 9,211 km and charge tolls to pay for building and running them. The state runs the other 2,541 km.
Speed limits: 130 km/h (81 mph) in dry weather and 110 km/h (68 mph) in rain. In the outside lane you must do at least 80 km/h when traffic is flowing and conditions are good. Car-and-caravan or car-and-trailer outfits over 3.5 tonnes in total are limited to 90 km/h. Full details in French speed limits.
Tolls: most toll autoroutes have toll barriers, marked péage. The lanes at the toll booth are signed by how you can pay: card, cash, all payments, or télépéage for drivers with a toll tag. According to the French government’s traffic service, Bison Futé, some télépéage lanes let tag holders drive through without stopping, at up to 30 km/h. Without a tag, keep out of the télépéage lanes. More in French toll roads and driving on French autoroutes.
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.
Routes nationales (N roads)
N roads are main roads run by the state, linking big cities and regions. Apart from the autoroutes, the national network has 8,576 km of them. Many are dual carriageways, and almost all are free.
The speed limit depends on the road, not the letter:
- Dual carriageway (a central reservation separating the two directions): 110 km/h, or 100 km/h in rain.
- Two lanes in your direction, without a central reservation: 90 km/h, or 80 km/h in rain.
- Ordinary two-way road: 80 km/h, or 90 km/h where signs show it.
- Through towns and villages: 50 km/h from the town name sign, or lower where signed.
N roads are the free alternative to the autoroutes, but they’re usually slower: many pass through towns, with roundabouts and traffic lights, and they carry a lot of lorries.
Why many N roads are now D roads
France used to have far more national roads. Under a 2004 law, the state kept only the autoroutes and the roads of national or European importance, and about 18,000 km of national roads were handed to the départements. Most transfers took effect on 1 January 2006, and the rest by 1 January 2008 at the latest. Those roads became D roads, which is why an older map, guidebook or sat nav can show an N number where the road signs now say D. A 2022 law allows more national roads to be handed over to the départements and to the regions.
If the number on the sign doesn’t match your map, follow the place names on the direction signs instead.
Routes départementales (D roads)
D roads are run by each of France’s départements, and with 386,885 km they make up most of the network you’ll drive on outside towns. They range from busy main roads, some of them dual carriageways, to narrow lanes between villages. Almost all are free, and they’re often the most enjoyable way to see France.
On an ordinary two-way D road the limit is 80 km/h, unless signs show 90 km/h. On D roads with a central reservation it’s 110 km/h, as on any dual carriageway.
Two things catch British drivers out on smaller D roads. First, at junctions with no sign, the traffic coming from your right has priority: see priorité à droite. Second, the town name sign sets the 50 km/h limit, even when there’s no speed limit sign.
Local roads (C roads and town streets)
Voies communales are the streets and lanes run by each commune (the town or village council). There are 902,972 km of them, almost seven in ten kilometres of France’s roads. You’ll rarely need their numbers: follow the place names. In built-up areas the limit is 50 km/h, and many towns have 30 km/h zones.
M roads around big cities
Some large cities are run by a métropole, which can take over the main roads in its area. The best-known example for British drivers heading south is Lyon: the former A6 and A7 autoroutes through the city, between Dardilly and Pierre-Bénite, became the M6 and M7 and are being turned into an urban boulevard. They’re no longer autoroutes, so follow the speed limit signs and expect city traffic.
E roads
E numbers belong to the international network of European routes. In France they don’t have roads of their own: an E number appears on a green panel next to the French A or N number of the same road. The French road’s rules and speed limits apply.
Autoroute or N and D roads?
For a long drive, autoroutes are usually much quicker and less tiring, with service areas for fuel and breaks. The cost is the tolls. N and D roads are almost all free and often more scenic, but expect to drive through towns and villages with lower limits, roundabouts and traffic lights, so a long journey takes much longer.
Many drivers mix the two: autoroute for the long, fast stretch, then N and D roads for the last part of the journey. Our France route planner shows the drive time from each ferry port and the Eurotunnel terminal to 38 French cities. Whichever roads you use, the French government’s road safety advice is to stop for at least 15 minutes every two hours.
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.
French road types: A, N, D, M and E roads explained FAQs
What do A, N and D mean on French roads?
A is an autoroute (motorway), N is a route nationale (a main road run by the state) and D is a route départementale (a road run by the département, the French equivalent of a county). Local roads run by the commune are sometimes numbered with a C, and roads around some big cities with an M.
Are all French autoroutes toll roads?
No. Of about 11,750 km of autoroutes, 9,211 km are run by concession companies, which charge tolls. The other 2,541 km are run by the state. Check the signs before you join: the word péage tells you a toll is coming.
What is the speed limit on N roads in France?
It depends on the road, not the letter. An N road with a central reservation (a dual carriageway) has a 110 km/h limit, or 100 km/h in rain. An ordinary two-way N road has an 80 km/h limit, or 90 km/h where signs show it. In towns it's 50 km/h.
What is the speed limit on D roads in France?
80 km/h on an ordinary two-way D road, unless signs show 90 km/h. Some larger D roads are dual carriageways with a 110 km/h limit. In towns and villages it's 50 km/h, or lower where signed.
What is the difference between an N road and a D road?
Who runs it. N roads are run by the state and are the main routes between big cities. D roads are run by each département and range from fast main roads to narrow country lanes. Since 2006, about 18,000 km of former N roads have been handed to the départements and are now D roads.
Why does my map show an N road where the sign says D?
Your map may be out of date. Under a 2004 law, about 18,000 km of national roads were handed to the départements, mostly on 1 January 2006, and the rest by 2008 at the latest. They became D roads, so older maps can still show the N number. A 2022 law allows more national roads to be handed over.
What are M roads in France?
Roads run by a métropole, the authority for some large cities. Around Lyon, for example, the former A6 and A7 autoroutes through the city became the M6 and M7, which are being turned into an urban boulevard. Follow the speed limit signs on them.
What colour are road number signs in France?
Red with white numbers for autoroutes and national roads, yellow with black numbers for D roads, and green with white numbers for European E routes, which share the road with a French number.
Should I use autoroutes or N roads to drive through France?
On a long drive, autoroutes are usually much quicker, with service areas every few miles, but most charge tolls. N and D roads are almost all free and can be pleasant, but they go through towns and villages with lower limits, roundabouts and traffic lights.