Driving in France’s beautiful
countryside is a pleasure, if you have the time I suggest you take
it slow and give yourself time to enjoy its picturesque views.
Driving in France is fairly straight forward but there are certain
requirements and information that you must be aware
of.
The minimum age for driving a car in France is 18, however if you wish to hire a car you must be at least 20 years old and have had your license for at least a year. If you are planning on a stay that is less than 90 days then a valid EU driving license will be suitable.
Vehicles drive in the Right! in France so please be careful if this is your first time. Radar traps are very common in France and with an on the sport heavy fine I would recommend you keep an eye on your speed, as this may ruin your holiday. Unless stated otherwise the speed limits are:
50km/h in towns
80km/h on the ring roads
90km/h along the country roads
110km/h on national highways
130km/h on autoroutes
Unlike the motorways in the UK the autoroutes are rarely congested making them the ideal way to travel if you are planning on covering long distances in a short time.
Be warned however this does come at a price as there are charges for using these roads. This may seem unreasonable but if your stay is short then any fares will be worth it. If you do have the time, why rush if you don’t have to?
From July 2008 it is now mandatory for you to carry a warning triangle and high visibility vest in your car. The vest must be carried inside the car and not the boot, so if you do hire a car please make sure these items are available.
The police may carry out random checks and the fine is 90 Euros, a few seconds checking could save you a lot of money.
As in the UK all occupants must wear a seatbelt and children must have the appropriate restraints. The fines for this and driving whilst intoxicated are extremely high. With the alcohol limit being a lower tolerance than the UK it would be best not to drink and drive at all.
The rules for priorité à droite (yield right of way) are that the vehicle to the right has priorities in towns and cities. This can often be confusing when you come to a cross road so be careful and assume that right has priority unless you see a yellow diamond sign indicating otherwise.
Remember, take your time as things are a little different over there and enjoy the French scenery, Bon Voyage!
The minimum age for driving a car in France is 18, however if you wish to hire a car you must be at least 20 years old and have had your license for at least a year. If you are planning on a stay that is less than 90 days then a valid EU driving license will be suitable.
Vehicles drive in the Right! in France so please be careful if this is your first time. Radar traps are very common in France and with an on the sport heavy fine I would recommend you keep an eye on your speed, as this may ruin your holiday. Unless stated otherwise the speed limits are:
50km/h in towns
80km/h on the ring roads
90km/h along the country roads
110km/h on national highways
130km/h on autoroutes
Unlike the motorways in the UK the autoroutes are rarely congested making them the ideal way to travel if you are planning on covering long distances in a short time.
Be warned however this does come at a price as there are charges for using these roads. This may seem unreasonable but if your stay is short then any fares will be worth it. If you do have the time, why rush if you don’t have to?
From July 2008 it is now mandatory for you to carry a warning triangle and high visibility vest in your car. The vest must be carried inside the car and not the boot, so if you do hire a car please make sure these items are available.
The police may carry out random checks and the fine is 90 Euros, a few seconds checking could save you a lot of money.
As in the UK all occupants must wear a seatbelt and children must have the appropriate restraints. The fines for this and driving whilst intoxicated are extremely high. With the alcohol limit being a lower tolerance than the UK it would be best not to drink and drive at all.
The rules for priorité à droite (yield right of way) are that the vehicle to the right has priorities in towns and cities. This can often be confusing when you come to a cross road so be careful and assume that right has priority unless you see a yellow diamond sign indicating otherwise.
Remember, take your time as things are a little different over there and enjoy the French scenery, Bon Voyage!
Car hire information for France
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