Don’t leave anything up to chance if you’re heading to France on your next holiday. Read on to find out what the requirements are for driving or hiring a car in France.
Driving to France from the UK
Are you planning on going to France with your own car from the UK? You’re in the right place. We’ll provide you with all the information to make your journey as smooth as possible.
The easiest way to drive to France
The easiest way to cross from the UK into France is through the Channel Tunnel that connects Folkestone in Kent with Coquelles, close to Calais. The crossing is made on board the car-carrying Eurotunnel Le Shuttle train. The train departs every two hours between 6am and midnight, and the ride takes around 35 minutes. The cost depends on a few factors including size of vehicle, month and time of day, but generally ranges between around £80 and £130 one way for a smaller car.
Things to know when driving to France from the UK
If you decide to travel to France with your own car from the UK, one of the first things to anticipate is the driving side, as the rule is to drive on the right side of the road. Regarding that, you’ll probably have to adjust the angle of your headlights.
One thing that not a lot of people are aware of is that you can’t bring all the food you’d like when driving to France from the UK. For example, it’s forbidden to cross the border with meat and dairy products. If you want to bring fresh fruits, vegetables, and plants, you’ll have to pay for it and obtain authorization. The easiest way, if you are driving there for tourism purposes, is to simply get rid of all the food you could have in the car before entering the tunnel. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to buy great food when arriving in France, we promise!
Requirements for driving in France
Before you head off on your holiday or business trip in France by car, make sure you have examined all the rules and requirements as there are many.
Documents to carry with you
Below is a summary of everything you will need to take with you, keeping in mind that the minimum age for driving in France is 18+ :
- Valid UK photocard driving licence
- Valid Proof of ID or National ID Card for EU citizens
- V5 certificate
- Car insurance certificate
- Crit’Air vignette (necessary if you will be driving to one of the changing environmental zones such as Paris, this badge gives your car a classification based on your vehicle’s emissions; if you have an older vehicle, you might be prohibited from driving in certain cities on designated days and times)
- A UK sticker (you don’t need the sticker if your number plate includes “UK”).
Car equipment
In addition to the above documents, your car should be equipped with the following items:
- Warning triangle
- High-visibility jacket
- Spare bulbs for headlights and indicator lights
- Headlight beam deflectors
Other seasonal requirements include:
- Snow chains (if you are driving within a “Snow Zone” between 1rst of November and 31th of March)
Hiring a car in France
Here’s what you need to know if you prefer to leave your car at home and hire a vehicle in France.
What do you need to hire a car in France?
In order to hire a car in France you must be at least 21 years of age. However, some car hire companies might have a higher age limit. Below is a list of all the required documents:
- Valid UK driving licence (a full licence which you have had for at least a year)
- International Driving Permit (if you do not hold a mainland UK driving licence)
- Valid Passport for identification
- Credit card (although some agencies do accept debit cards)
- Third-party liability insurance (this is usually included in the car hire contract)
Tips for hiring a car in France
There are a few things to remember or watch out for when hiring a car in France. Car hire policies usually include unlimited third-party insurance, as this is a requirement when driving in France. For any additional insurance cover, it is best to do some research and shop around as buying it over the counter is likely to be costlier.
If you’re planning on driving in more than one country, make sure you inform the car hire company in advance, and double check that your insurance covers you in all the countries you will be visiting.
When you pick up the car you should inspect it in detail and take note of any marks or scratches, and upon returning it make sure you take good photos inside and out as proof of the condition you returned it in. Remember that if you pick up the car with a full tank, you must also return it with a full tank to avoid refuelling charges.
Rules on the road in France
| Road type | Speed limit | When it rains |
|---|---|---|
| City & built-up areas | 50 km/h (30mph) | 50 km/h (30mph) |
| Main roads | 80 km/h (50mph) | 70 km/h (43 mph) |
| Priority roads & dual carriageways | 110 km/h (70mph) | 100 km/h (62 mph) |
| Motorways | 130 km/h (80mph) | 110 km/h (68 mph) |
Motorways & Road tolls
French motorways are privately owned by a number of companies and usually require a toll payment. This can be paid in cash or by card, however please note that only Mastercard and Visa are accepted, while debit cards Maestro and Electron are not. You will find three types of service area along the motorways: parking areas, resting areas with playgrounds and toilets, and full-service areas with shops and petrol stations. In the case of an emergency, you can’t call your own towing company but must use one of the orange emergency telephones to request help. These are situated every 2km along the motorways.
Roundabouts
In France there are two styles of roundabout with slightly different rules when it comes to who gets priority of way. With old-school roundabouts, any vehicles that are already on the roundabout must give way to vehicles entering the roundabout on their right. These roundabouts are less common nowadays, the most famous being the one around the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. In general, you can recognise them by a sign in the shape of a triangle with a red border and a black X in the middle. As for new-style roundabouts, the priority goes to all vehicles that are already on the roundabout. Emergency vehicles that have a flashing siren always have priority no matter which direction they are coming from.
Alcohol allowance & drink driving
The rule in France is ‘Celui qui conduit, c’est celui qui ne boit pas,’ meaning ‘The one who drives is the one who is not drinking.’ It’s a very important rule, also closely monitored by the police on the roads.
The maximum blood alcohol level is 0.05%. If you come from Scotland, it will not change anything for you, but it is a lower limit than in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, so make sure you are careful with your consumption of alcohol while visiting France.
Child seats regulations
Children up to the age of 10 years must travel in a child seat or restraint. Infants up to 30lbs (13kg) in weight need to be in a rear-facing child seat, kids weighing up to 40lbs (18kg) should be placed in a child seat equipped with a protection tray or a five-point harness, while children up to 80lbs (36kg) must be in a booster seat or booster cushion with an adult seatbelt to protect them.
Low emission zones
Some cities such as Paris, Toulouse and Lyon are declared to be Low Emission Zones. The rules for these zones are as follows: any cars registered before 2011, whether petrol or diesel, are banned from driving inside the zone on weekdays from 8am to 8pm. Lorries and buses that are older than 1997 are also banned from driving inside these zones. Driving in these areas with an unauthorized vehicle can lead to a fine of €68, approximately £58 (find more information here).
Parking
If you’re looking for a space to park on a road with traffic running in both directions, you are only allowed to park on the right-hand side. On the other hand, if the street you are on is a one-way street, you can park on either side of the road if there is enough width. Keep an eye out for the yellow lines on the curb that indicate spots where parking is prohibited, and make sure you read the signs to see if you need to pay for parking – you will usually see a big “P” on the parking meter, or “horodateur”, if you are required to pay. Otherwise there will be signs depicting a parking meter, usually in the bottom right hand corner. Disabled drivers have dedicated spots and do not have to pay for car parking.
Fuel
It is important to know the names of the different types of fuel in French to avoid misfuelling the car. SP95/E10 is unleaded fuel with 90% petrol and 10% ethanol, while E85 is unleaded fuel with 70% to 85% ethanol and the rest petrol. If you see the word “Gasole”, please keep in mind that this is the word for diesel. GPL is also available, and in some locations so are electric stations. You can usually pay by cash or by card, but please keep in mind that some cards issued abroad are not always accepted by automated machines, so make sure you have enough cash on you, especially when driving on Sundays.
Driving in France – FAQs
In order to drive in France, you must be at least 18 years of age, or 21 when hiring a car, and you must have with you your valid UK driving licence, an International Driving Permit if you do not hold a mainland UK driving licence and your passport as a form of ID. In addition, you must have a Green Card insurance certificate for your car.
If you want to hire a car in France you must hold a full UK driving licence that is at least one year old, a credit or debit card, and unlimited third-party insurance. After Brexit you will also need your passport for identification and an International Driving Permit if you do not hold a mainland UK driving licence.
After Brexit you can still drive as a tourist in France using your British driving licence, as long as you also present an International Driving Permit (if you do not hold a mainland UK driving licence).. If you are driving your own car you must also have a Green Card insurance certificate.
In order to hire a car in France you must be 18 years old or over. Please be sure to check well in advance with your provider as this number is for reference only and there may be added stipulations to consider.
If your number plate includes “UK” you don’t have to display a UK sticker on your vehicle. But it is mandatory to inform other drivers, in a visible way, that your car is from the UK.
Since the 22nd of May 2020, it is no longer mandatory to carry a breathalyser in your car when driving in France.
British passport holders living in or wishing to travel to the EU and EU nationals living in or wishing to travel to the UK from the 1st January 2021 are to be advised that all travel-related information have to be checked on this official webpage in order to inform yourself about all and any information pertinent to Brexit when making travel decisions.
