Driving in France

Below is information on:

The minimum age in France to drive a car or motor bike over 80 CC is 18 years. Drivers must have a valid driving licence and be 18 years or older. The minimum age to drive a scooter or motor bike under 80 CC is 16 years.

Some Rules & Regulations

• Drive on the right in France and Monaco
• It's compulsory to wear a seat belt
• It is compulsory for all children up to 10 years to travel in the back seat of a car and wear a seat belt or be strapped into a proper child seat. Only adults and children from 10 years may sit in the front passenger seat
• Mobile cellular telephones may not be used while driving unless using a "handsfree" system
• It's compulsory to carry the driving licence, car registration papers and insurance documents in the car. (Photocopies of these documents can be endorsed at your local Mairie).
• In the event of an accident: call the police (Tel: 17) who will call an ambulance if one is needed. All those involved must fill in an accident report form (constat à l'amiable) and swap insurance details (always keep the blue constat à l'amiable in the car)
• Driving with lights on by day is optional. (An experimental recommendation exists to monitor if the road accident rate is reduced). It only applies to driving outside built-up areas

By law, a red warning triangle and a high-visibility vest must be carried in vehicles from 1 July 2008, in case of breakdown. The warning triangle should be placed 30 metres ahead of the breakdown, in order to warn approaching traffic. Failure to carry these items in the vehicle is punishable by a fine incurred per item not carried. Be aware that both these items are required by law to be carried in a vehicle travelling in Spain or Italy. Driving with lights on by day is optional.

Driving Licences/Permits

• Valid EU driving licences and International Driving Licences accompanied by a valid licence are accepted for driving in France and Monaco
• France: A person with residency status in France who does not hold an EU or EEA driving licence must get a French one within the first year of residency (by exchange or taking a French driver's test). If the licence is lost or stolen, report it to the Police Station closest to where it disappeared. The Police supply a receipt, which is a temporary permit valid for 2 months
• Monaco: Monaco residents must exchange their foreign licence for a Monegasque one within a year of acquiring residency

Please see the following INFOrmation pages:

• French Driving Licences
• Exchanging a Foreign Driving Licence for a French one
• Exchanging a Foreign Driving Licence in Monaco

Loss and theft of paperwork

If a licence is lost or stolen, report it to the police station closest to where it went missing. The police will provide a receipt, which is a temporary permit valid for two months.

If vehicle registration papers are stolen, go to the police station closest to where the theft happened. The police will issue a certificate. To apply for a replacement, take the police certificate, proof of identity, proof of residence and the technical certificate (Contrôle Technique) to the Préfecture or Sous-Préfecture.

Speed Limits & Priority

Speed limits UNLESS otherwise marked by signs:

• Autoroute (national highway/freeway system/motorway system): 130 km/h and 110 km/h when raining
• Expressways: 110 km/h and 100 km/h when raining
• Two lane roads or single lane roads separated by an island: 110 km/h and 100 km/h when raining
• Regional roads: 90 km/h and 80 km/h when raining
• Built up areas (towns and villages): 50 km/h
• Any time visibility is less than 50m: 50 km/h

Right of way/priority

When driving in a city, town or village, the right of way at an intersection is automatically given to the vehicle on the right - la priorité à droite - unless otherwise indicated by stop or yield/give way signs. This applies even in the case of a small side road entering a major main road. The vehicle travelling on the main road must give way to the vehicle entering on the right.

Toll Roads and Using the Autoroute in France

The autoroute road system is toll-paying with several companies owning the tolls for a particular region. Autoroutes France (in French) is a portal for all French toll companies. The price of a toll will be shown at the entrance to the gates. Most toll fees can be paid in cash, by credit card or via a subscription with the relevant toll company.

• For a full list of the companies and the areas they manage, with links to their websites: Click here

A télépéage card/unit from Escota is a quick way to pay local tolls. Application brochures are available from the péages (toll-booths) or at the Escota offices.

• For more information see the Escota website (in French) 

Road Conditions & Speed Cameras

The French Government website Sécurité Routière regularly publishes updates on placement of fixed speed monitoring radars. 

• For positions of the fixed and mobile radars and cameras: Click here (in French)

• For an FAQ on how speed detection cameras and the penalty system works: Click here (in French)

• The privately owned website Controle Radar provides this information in English: Click here

Road Conditions

Bison Futé (website in English) is the official French national centre for information on road and traffic conditions.  

• For real-time data on accidents, road closures or other unexpected problems for all areas of France: Click here (in French) or Click here (in English)
• Tel: 0826 022 022 (From outside France: +33 892 687 888)

Fuel: Petrol and Diesel

All fuel stations sell diesel (gazole) and unleaded petrol (essence) in 95 and 98 octane. Many stock autogas/LPG (liquefied petroleum gas, GPL in French). Many fuel stations have automatic pumps for payment by credit card (some are card-operated only). 

• For petrol and diesel price comparisons throughout France: Click here (in French)

Drink Driving or Driving under the influence of Alcohol in France

A driver is considered to be driving under the influence of alcohol - driving drunk - in France if the blood/alcohol level is equal to or exceeds 0.5 grams per litre (g/l).

• If the blood/alcohol level is between 0.5 g/l and 0.8 g/l the penalty could include a fine and the loss of six points
• If the blood/alcohol level is in excess of 0.8g/l the penalty could include two years in jail, a fine, the confiscation of the vehicle, the suspension of the licence or the loss of six points
• If the blood/alcohol exceeds the legal limit, and a presence of banned narcotics (drugs) is detected, the penalty could include three years in prison and a fine
• If a driver causes an accident while driving drunk, the fine could be dramatically increased
• If a driver causes serious physical harm or commits involuntary manslaughter (a victim dies as a result of the driver's actions), penalties may be a ten-year prison sentence and a fine of up to €150,000
• A driver who refuses to take the breathalyser, may face further penalties.

Note: If a driving infraction has been committed and points need to be removed, a person resident in France using an EU or foreign licence will have to exchange it for a French one (if possible).

Accidents

In the event of an accident call the police (Tel: 17). An ambulance will be called if one is needed. All those involved must fill in an accident report form (constat à l'amiable) and swap insurance details (always keep the blue constat à l'amiable in the car).

• For full details see the AngloINFO INFOrmation Page: Road Traffic Accident in France

Registering a Car

Please see the following INFOrmation page

• Registering a Foreign Vehicle in France
• Registering a Foreign Vehicle in Monaco

Buying & Selling a Car 

Buying in France

The car must be registered within 15 days of purchase at your Préfecture or Sous-Préfecture. Documents required are: your proof of residence (an electricity bill no more than 3 months old) and proof of identity; and supplied by the seller, the cancelled car registration (carte grise barrée), a copy of the certificate of sale (certificat de vente), the technical certificate (controle technique) no more than 6 months old and the admin certificate (certificat de situation administrative).

Please see the following INFOrmation page:

• The Carte Grise Vehicle Registration

Selling in France

Documents needed:

• a technical certificate (control technique) to prove to the buyer that the car is roadworthy, (several auto centres display a sign saying they do the tests - also called Auto Bilan), 
• a certificate of sale (certificat de vente) and 
• an admin form (certificat de situation administrative) available from the Préfecture or Sous-Préfecture. 

Cancel your registration papers by writing "vendu le [date]" and signing; (now it is a carte grise barrée). The carte grise barrée, admin certificate and a copy of the certificate of sale go to the buyer. Return the sale certificate to the Prefecture/Sous-Prefecture within 15 days of the sale.

Please see the following INFOrmation pages:

• The Carte Grise Vehicle Registration
• Controle Technique

In Monaco

Please see the following INFOrmation page:

• Buying & Selling a Vehicle in Monaco

Car Tax France

A car tax disc (vignette), required for commercial vehicles only, should be displayed on the windscreen and replaced at the beginning of every year (1 January).

Vehicle Impounded

If a car is impounded in Nice, take the vehicle registration documents, insurance papers and driving licence to 31 rue Fontaine de la Ville, Tel: 04 93 89 18 08

Related Information

• Road Traffic Accidents in France
• Ministry of Transport: Up-to-date information on laws, penalties and statistics affecting the road user.
• Bison Futé Real time traffic conditions
• Carte Grise Vehicle Registration
• Controle Technique
• EU Information: Driving in France
• Foreign Driving Licences in France
• French Driving Licences
• Registering a Foreign Vehicle