Below is information on:

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

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

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: 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 traveling on the main road must give way to the vehicle entering on the right.

Road Conditions & Speed Cameras

• See the French Government Sécurité Routière website for positions of the speed monitoring radars fixed and mobile:
  • For an up-to-date list of all fixed radars (in French): Click here
  • For a map of radar positions: Click here
• The privately owned website Controle Radar provides this information in English
• See Bison Futé (official French national information centre on road and traffic conditions) for real-time data on accidents, road closures or other unexpected problems in all areas of France
• For an FAQ on how speed detection cameras and the penalty system works: Click here (in French)

Drink Driving or Driving under the influence of Alcohol in France

A driver is considered to be 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: fine of €135, the loss of 6 points.
• If the blood/alcohol level is in excess of 0,8g/l the penalty could include: 2 years in jail, €4,500 fine, the confiscation of the vehicle, the suspension of the licence or the loss of 6 points.
• If the blood/alcohol exceeds the legal limit, and a presence of banned narcotics (drugs) is detected, the penalty could include: 3 years in prison, €9,000 fine.
• If you cause an accident while driving drunk, the fine could be increased to €30,000. 
• If you cause serious physical harm or commit involuntary manslaughter (you kill someone while driving), penalties may be: 10 year prison sentence and a fine of up to €150,000
• If you refuse to take the breathalyser, there may be further penalties.

Note: A resident of France driving on an EU or foreign passport will have to exchange their licence for a French one if points need to be removed.

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

Tolls Roads

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) 

Further 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

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