• Cars in France drive on the right.
• All passengers must wear seat-belts.
• Unless indicated otherwise, speed limits are:
  • 50km/h in towns
  • 80km/h on the Paris periphique
  • 90km/h on main roads
  • 110 km/h on dual-carriage ways and 130 km/h on motorways -
    Please note these speed restrictions change in wet conditions, e.g. 130 km/h is reduced to 110 km/h.
• Vehicles on main roads have priority except where there are 'priorite a droit' signs, when you must give way to traffic joining from the right.
•  Bus lanes are reserved exclusively for buses, taxis and bicycles.
• Driving licence, insurance certificate and vehicle registration documents must be shown at any roadside controls.  
• In cities and towns the right of way is sometimes given to vehicles coming in from the right, look out for the large flashing 'X' which indicates that you do not have priority.
• Children over 10 years old are allowed in the front seat (or babies up to 9 months with rear facing child seats.)
• Seat belts are compulsory in front and back seats.
• In cities and towns the right of way is sometimes given to vehicles coming in from the right, look out for the large flashing 'X indicating you do not have priority.

Road Signs
French signposting is very good once you understand it, with place names rather than road numbers being prominent. If reading a road map of France, you can assume that anything shown in bold capitals will be signposted from a great distance.

A common sign is TOUTES DIRECTIONS (literally meaning 'all directions'). It is frequently used for diverting traffic around a particular town or village, so unless this is your destination, follow the sign. A variation is AUTRES DIRECTIONS (other directions). This will always appear in conjunction with a second sign indicating a specific place. So for instance, if you see RENNES plus AUTRES DIRECTIONS, unless Rennes is on your route, go the other way. Further along you will find signs to wherever it is you are heading for.

Positioning of signposts can sometimes confuse – the sign that means go straight on is often tucked very close to the junction, on either side of the road, pointing across rather than straight ahead. Unless on main highways, priority can be given to traffic joining a road from the right, so keep an eye open for the warning sign PRIORITÉ À DROITE.

Some Sign translations

Allumez vos lanternes - switch on your lights
Attention au feu - fire hazard
Attention travaux - road words
Chausee deformee - uneven surface
Fin d'interdiction de stationner - end of parking restrictions
Gravillons - loose chippings
Interdit aux pietons - no pedestrians
Rappel - repeat of sign
Route barree - road closed
Vouz n'avez pas le priorite - give way

Driving Licences

• A valid driving licence needs to have been held for at least 1 year
• Must be in Western Script.
• You must be at least 18 years of age with a full UK licence for most locations in France. Drivers who have passed their test within the previous two years are restrcted to speeds of below 110kph on motorways, 100kph on urban motorways and 80kph outside built up areas.
• You must be at least 20 years old and have held a full driving licence for at least a year to rent a car. Insurance is compulsory.
• Additional driver and young driver / minimum age limits also vary by hire location.

 Types Of Roads

• Autoroutes (Marked on signs with A) Express highways for which you must pay tolls.
• Routes Nationales (Marked on signs with N) National motorways for which there are no tolls, often with several lanes.
• Routes Departementales (Marked on signs with D)
• Smaller country roads with less traffic. Motorways (Peage)
  

On the Autoroutes there are rest areas every 10km for short stops; Service stations and restaurants for coffee, snacks and toilets every 30 or 40 km, and motels where you can stay overnight every 100km or so.  Most motorway service stations have 'baby corners' with changing facilities and high chairs. Information on the cost of peage (tolls), the total mileage, restaurants, service stations and hotels along the way are all available on the web site: auto routes.

Toll motorways may seem expensive, but if you are intent on covering large distances as quickly as possible, it is the only realistic way. That said, the older main roads (prefixed with N or RN), and even the smaller roads (prefixed with a D), are often as wide and well maintained as Britain’s major highways. It is frequently possible to travel on these for mile after mile in extremely light traffic.  An excellent guide to these alternative routes, (often referred to as itinéraire Bis and indicated with large green arrows) is the Bison Futé map, which is available free from most petrol stations. 

Tolls
Tolls in France are generally reasonable, but vary from one autoroute to another, and travellers should be prepared to stop several times during their trip to pay (toll booths are called peages). Using the peages is easy. You will either approach the autoroute through a peage, where you will drive through and simply take a ticket from the machine, or you will find yourself on a road which turns into an autoroute, and will find that you have to stop at a peage after a distance and pay a set amount. When you turn off the autoroute through a peage, you submit the ticket taken on entrance, either to a real person in a toll-booth where you can pay by cash or credit card, or you can use the automatic payment machines which take credit cards such as Visa or Mastercard. On a long autoroute trip you may have to stop at peages at intervals along the way. You can find out how much you will have to pay on any given route by using the Route Planner on the Michelin Mapfinder website. Tolls vary in price and in some cases, parts are free. The AA publish maps which show the toll-free sections.

Rush hour
This only really applies in Paris and the major towns. Traffic is at its most congested when people are setting off for, or return from work - usually between 7:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. and between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. On Fridays, the rush starts earlier, especially around Paris. Between rush hours, traffic is usually fluid, even in Paris.

Maps
Road maps can be ordered from Go-to-France.co.uk or bought in bookstores and in all service stations. IGN maps give the most detailed coverage of France. Michelin maps cover main road networks and regions.

Parking

• Dotted road markings indicate parking spaces. Remember that you can only park on white spaces; those marked 'Payant' are pay-for-parking spaces and unmarked spaces are free.
• Yellow markings indicate spaces reserved for utility vehicles and other markings (GIC-GIG) for people with the relevant card.
• Dotted yellow lines on the edge of a pavement indicate that brief stops are authorised (for dropping off passengers).
• Many parking spaces in major cities are regulated by parking meters that can be found along the edge of pavements. You can pay for between 15 minutes and 2 hours.
• A ticket must be clearly displayed. You risk a fine in case of non-payment or for parking longer than the time allowed.
• There are plenty of modern underground car parks in town centres. They cost more than parking at ground level, but guarantee a space and flexible hours of stay.

Speed Limits
Radar speed traps are very common, and fines (which must be paid on the spot) are heavy. If oncoming vehicles flash their headlights at you it often means that there is a speed trap ahead. However, flashing headlights can also mean the driver is warning you that it is his right of way, the complete opposite of its accepted meaning in the UK.

Speed Limits in Dry Weather
Toll Motorway  130kmh/ 80mph
Dual Carriageway  110kmh/ 68mph
Other Roads  90kmh/ 56mph
Built-up Areas  50kmh/ 31mph

Speed Limits in Wet Weather
Toll Motorway  110kmh/ 68mph
Dual Carriageway  100kmh/ 62mph
Other Roads  80kmh/ 50mph
Built-up Areas  50kmh/ 31mph

Radar Detectors
In France it is illegal to be in possession of a radar detector, even if it is not fitted or being used and the French police can issue heavy on-the-spot fines, and confiscate equipment if found. Best advice is to remove detector and fittings from the vehicle before driving in France.

Items you should carry when driving in France

• Warning triangle: if your vehicle breaks down or is involved in an accident, you must give warning to approaching traffic by placing a warning triangel 50 - 150 metres behind your vehicle. The use of hazard warning lights alone is not enough.
• A complete set of light bulbs: all lamps, including lenses and reflectors must be in working order, even during daylight hours. Failure to be in a position to replace an exterior bulb could result in temporary cessation of your journey and/or an on-the-spot fine.
• Headlamp beam adaptors: failure to adapt your headlamps at any time, day or night, will render your vehicle unfit for use on the road and could invalidate your motor insurance.
• GB sticker: required by law to indicate country of registration.
• First Aid kit and fire extinguisher: The European Good Samaritan Law requires every driver to stop and provide assistance when an accident is encountered, providing it is safe to do so. This may require a first aid kit and fire extinguisher and it is advisable to have these items when driving in France.
• Reflective vest: Anyone providing roadside assistance or leaving a stranded vehicle should always wear a reflective vest for their own safety. This is now a legal requirement in a number of European countries. (EU ref: RD1428/2003 and Art.162 Cod4 Bis4 Ter - CDS 2003.)

Breakdowns

If your car breaks down:

• Move it to the side of the road so that it obstructs the traffic flow as little as possible. Seek help locally - there is no nationwide roadside assistance service in France. On autoroutes, emergency phones are located every 2km.
• Use a warning triangles or hazard warning lights -  mandatory in France in the event of an accident or break down.  
  

Accident Procedure

• In the event of a car accident, you must complete a damage assessment form (usually left in the glove compartment of your rental car or obtainable from your insurance company) It must be signed by the other party, and in the event of a dispute or a refusal to complete the form, you should obtain a constat d'huissier immediately. This is a written report from a bailiff (huissier). In the event of any dispute, call the police who will make out an official report.
•  In the event of an injury, telephone 15 for SAMU (Ambulance) or 18 for the POMPIERS (Fire Brigade). The POLICE - 17 - are only called out to accidents when someone is injured, a driver is under the influence of alcohol or the accident impedes traffic flow.
• Notify your car hire office/insurance company as soon as possible Regional Information Centres
  

Contact numbers for information on road conditions:

• Ile-de-France/Centre 33 (0) 1 48 99 33 33
•  North 33 (0) 3 20 47 33 33
• East 33 (0) 3 87 63 33 33 
•  West 33 (0) 2 99 32 33 33
• South-West 33 (0) 5 56 96 33 33
• Rhone-Alpes/Auvergne 33 (0) 4 72 81 57 33
• Mediterranean 33 (0) 4 91 78 78 78
• Autoroute info 33 (0) 1 47 05 90 01 

Information courtesy of:www.france-car-hire-rental.com
More information on road conditions, jams, maps and comprehensive instructions for driving abroad can be found on our Travel Page.

Euro Towing Law
The rules and regulations outlined are based on a visit of no more than two months.  They assume use of a normal, privately owned car (i.e. one with a maximum gross weight not exceeding 3,5000kg) towing a boat trailer with a maximum laden weight not exceeding 3,500kg. Boat papers:  Registration document, evidence of marine insurance  (original policy), radio licence (if relevant).  See also “What Else….” Crew papers:  If at the helm of a French-flagged vessel, either an International Certificate of Competence or a carte de mer for craft powered by engines between 6hp and 50hp operating in daylight hours within five miles of a harbour, or a permis mer for craft outside those limits.  A coastal version of the permis mer is available for craft powered by engines of more than 50hp and for use day or night but within five miles of the coast.  These French certificates are not available outside France but a foreigner carrying a Certificate of Competence issued on behalf of their own government may drive a French-flagged leisure motorboat covered by that certificate.  On inland waterways a Certificate of Competence and a copy of the CEVNI Rules (contained in the RYA Book of EuroRegs) must be carried.  A licence is required to navigate on the French canals:  you can obtain one from the local VNF office – addresses are obtainable from the national tourist office.  See also “What else….”

Driving licence:  No special requirements. Lights (car/trailer):  Dipped headlights must be used in poor daytime visibility.

Speed limits: 
Towing – in built-up areas 31mph (50kph):  outside built-up areas, single carriageway 49 mph (80kph), dual carriageway 62mph (100kph), motorway 68mph (110kph). 

Solo – in built-up areas 31mph (50kph), outside built-up areas 55mph (90kph), but 68mph (110kph) on dual carriageways separated by a central reservation and 80mph (130kph) on motorways.  Lower solo speed limits of 49mph (80kph) outside built-up areas, 62mph (100kph) on dual carriageways and 68mph (110kph) on motorways apply in wet weather and to visiting motorists who have held a driving licence for less than two years.  Holders of EU driving licences exceeding speed limit by more than 25kph will have their licences confiscated on the spot by the police.   

Trailer:  Maximum acceptable – height none (but 4m recommended maximum), width 2.55m, length 12m excluding trailer towbar, car/trailer combined length 18.75m.  If width exceeds 2.5m you must seek police permission to travel as a ‘large load’.  Boats extending 1m or more beyond rear extremity of trailer (3m is maximum) must be indicated by a suitable device; at night or in fog it must be indicated by a red light visible at a distance of 150m.  Warning:  Carry your passport at all times.  Warning triangle or hazard warning lights compulsory (it is recommended that a warning triangle always be carried).  Recommended that visitors equip their vehicle with a complete set of replacement light bulbs.  At signed roundabouts bearing the words Vous n’avez pas la priorite or Cedez le passage, traffic on the roundabout has priority; where no such sign exists, traffic entering the roundabout has priority. 

Only persons over the age of sixteen may take the helm on French inland waters.

While the information given in this factsheet is accurate to the best of our knowledge and belief, no liability is accepted by Go-to-France.co.uk for any errors it may contain.