You’ve finally decided to take that once-in-a-lifetime trip to France. Now you’re wondering how you’ll be able to make the most of your time there while still enjoying the breathtaking scenery at your speed. Your best bet is renting a car and driving around France, to enjoy the scenery and somehow experience life as a local.
Driving in France is not that different from driving in other countries, but there are some subtle and not-so-subtle distinctions that you need to be aware of to prevent getting into an accident and experiencing a significant amount of frustration.
Want to know more about how you can drive around France as a tourist? Check out our guide for all the information that you need to drive safely and hassle-free in France.
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Driving In France As Tourist
Renting A Car in France
Renting a car is a good alternative to bringing your vehicle if you’d like to maximize the comfort of your trip. It can be challenging to figure out where and how to rent a car in France, but here are a few things you need to consider.
Rental Car Agencies
You can reserve a car in advance of your trip, or you can look into rental firms in person once you reach France. You can easily contact many of these businesses right from the airport, and you may even specify where you want to be picked up.
Companies like Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Europcar, Hertz, National, and Sixt are just a few examples of automobile rental agencies.
If you need to reserve a car, you can do so with the help of your smartphone. Make sure you’re only ever using trusted sources for your web browsing. Provide only the information that is required to complete the transaction. You should avoid being a target of fraud and scams at all costs.
You can also make a walk-up reservation at the airport if you’re having trouble with the online booking system.
Requirements when renting a car
Always examine the rental company’s policies beforehand, as they may differ from those of other companies. Minor variations in the law regarding the operation of a rented vehicle in France are possible, however, the following are some of the more standard requirements:
- A current, and legitimate local driver’s license
- A valid French international driver’s license
- A passport
- Any international debit or credit card can be used for a deposit or a full payment of an advanced booking.
- You must bring a voucher or documentation showing that you paid for the rental before picking it up.
Vehicle Categories
There is a large selection of rental vehicles available, so you may pick one that best suits your needs and preferences while on vacation. Mini-vehicles and economy cars are available for rent if you’re looking for something more maneuverable and cost-effective.
Family and compact cars offer plenty of space for everyone and their bags on long road trips. In France, you may even rent high-end cars.
Car Rental Cost
Getting behind the wheel of a rented car in France is more affordable than in any other country. If you’re lucky, you can rent a car for as little as €15 to €45 per day.
However, rental rates can change based on the vehicle type. Make sure you know how many people will be riding in the rental vehicle before you start asking around for the rental charge. You can also use a credit card to rent a car in France.
Regulations Regarding Age
Each car rental company sets its minimum age limit per its policies. In France, you must be at least 18 years old to rent a car from most agencies, while others will require you to be at least 21 or 23.
In France, if you are under the age of 25, you may be subject to a daily surcharge of €30–€40 that is not included in the price of your virtual booking. You’ll have to fork over cash on the day of pick-up, and it could prevent you from renting some vehicles anyway.
Car Insurance
Most car rental businesses in France, especially those catering to younger drivers between the ages of 18 and 21, include insurance in their base pricing. This is because drivers there are required by law to hold third-party insurance. If you currently have auto insurance, you may want to verify that it covers travel to France.
If you’re concerned about potential rate hikes or hefty deductibles while making a claim, all-inclusive automobile rental insurance can be a good option for you. If your existing policy doesn’t provide enough protection, this one will.
Insurance Coverage
Included in the cost of your insurance premiums are things like sales tax, fire protection, theft protection, medical payments coverage, and roadside assistance.
Rental fees in France may be more expensive if you’re younger than 25. Renting a car with a major credit card like Visa, MasterCard, or American Express may come with complimentary insurance.
If you choose that route, make sure you have proof of insurance and registration ready to present to the automobile rental place.
Updated French Road Regulations
Drivers in France should be aware of recent changes to the law:
Allowable Blood Alcohol Content
Less than 0.2 grams of alcohol per liter is permissible for drivers and passengers with less than three years of experience. The limit drops to 0.5 g/l after three years of experience.
- Headphones
No one may use a headset or headphones while driving a car or riding a motorcycle. But this doesn’t apply to fully integrated motorbike helmets.
- Reflective outerwear
If riders’ bikes break down or something else goes wrong, they must have fluorescent jackets to keep them safe.
- Reduced-emissions zones
Fuel and diesel vehicles manufactured before 1997 are not permitted in Paris’s Low Emission Zone, which is in effect between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Since 2020, only cars and trucks built after 2011 are permitted.
Paris also prohibits the use of diesel and gasoline buses and tractors manufactured before 1997. Learn more about the pollution regulations in France here.
- Smoke-free zone sticker
If you plan on driving through specified municipalities, you’ll need to get a Crit’Air sticker. It costs $3.60, and drivers can be fined nearly $120 on the spot if they are caught driving without one.
- Speed limit
To prevent as many as 400 deaths annually, the French government has lowered the speed limit from 100 kilometers per hour (60 miles per hour) to 80 kilometers per hour (50 miles per hour) on several A and B routes.
Types of Roads in France
There are three distinct kinds of roads that connect different parts of France:
- Autoroute
These highways are known as “interstates” or “freeways” in the United States. The most lanes and the fastest speeds are on autoroutes. In France, autoroutes are indicated by blue signs and a capital letter prefix (e.g., A11). The usage of an autoroute typically incurs a fee in the form of “peages,” or periodic toll booths.
- Nationale
These are also called “highways.” In France, nationals are denoted by adding an “N” to the beginning of the road number (for example, “N10”). Typically, nationales do not have toll booths.
- Departmentale
Normally, a departmentale will only have two lanes, one going in each direction. These routes often meander through rural or suburban regions, as their maximum speed limit is lower.
There are white road signs to help you find your way, and the road number begins with a “D.” (e.g., D453).
Note that the speed limit is always clearly marked on the right side of the road in a white circle with a red border and a black number inside.
Traffic Rules in France
Traffic Signs
If you plan on driving in a foreign nation, it’s important to research road regulations and signage before you go. Some French traffic signs, like the ‘warning’ signs, are straightforward to understand even if you don’t speak the language.
However, others, like those indicating who has priority at specific times and places or those with French words on them, can be more challenging.
Fortunately, most French traffic signs are also used throughout the rest of the EU, so you may not need to learn too many additions if you plan to drive elsewhere in the EU.
Seatbelts
Belt use is mandatory for all passengers. The driver is the one who might be booked and fined if passengers are not wearing seat belts.
Safety seats for infants
Babies and infants of all ages must use appropriate car seats at all times. If the child is younger than one year old, the seat must be installed facing the back.
Children younger than 13 years old
Please check that any children under the age of 13 are properly restrained in age- and height-appropriate car seats, booster seats, or seat belt adjusters. The front passenger seat is also off-limits to anyone younger than 13.
Right of Way
Don’t second-guess yourself; always yield to oncoming traffic. If you’re traveling on a residential street, for instance, the routes on your right have priority.
It’s possible to encounter a sign that says “Vous n’avez pas la priorité,” which translates to “You do not have the priority,” even though there are other street signs that indicate who has the right of way.
This is a great illustration of why it’s important to familiarize oneself with the road signs and act accordingly when in a foreign country.
Traffic lights
A few things to take note of regarding traffic lights as you navigate the roads in France:
- There is no red-and-amber warning phase before the signal changes to green at a busy intersection. One of the cars following you might sound their horn gently to encourage you to move over if you take too long to do so.
In many cases, the lights are set too high for the first vehicle in line to see. A small repeater light mounted at the top of the post is commonly used for this.
- The lights go through a sequence of green, amber, and red. If you cannot come to a complete stop before the light turns yellow, you may continue through.
But if the rush hour traffic in a major city appears frantic, it’s best to exercise caution. Many motorists, impatient to get across an intersection, will try to do so during the amber period of the signal and may incorrectly assume that you will do the same.
- Drivers stuck in traffic are not permitted to proceed through a green-lighted intersection unless they are confident that they will be able to do so before the light turns red again.
In no circumstances, regardless of the color of the light, should you enter a junction that is blocked by cars, people, or anything else.
- Turning right at a red light is prohibited unless the light is illuminated with an amber right arrow and you have given way to all oncoming traffic and other road users.
- When the lights are out or flashing amber, you should obey the sign on the light pole or near where it was installed.
When there is no sign, you must follow the priority to the right rule, which states that you must give way to any vehicle approaching from the right.
Due to the rarity of disabled signals and the possibility of confusion and accidents during any service outage, drivers should exercise caution and lower speed in such instances.
- Emergency vehicles always have the right of way, regardless of the color of the light at the intersection.
More Reminders and Tips When Driving in France
Here are a few things to keep in mind while driving in France:
- You need to be at least 18 years old and in possession of a valid driver’s license from your country of residence. (In France, there is a program called “conduite accompagnée” that allows young drivers aged 16 or older to ride along with an adult, although this is unlikely to be of any use to foreigners.)
- You must come to a complete stop at STOP signs or risk a ticket on the spot. The same is true for red stop signs.
- Avoid driving after drinking alcohol and stick to the speed restrictions.
- It is not recommended to drive in Paris, Marseille, or Lyon due to the difficulty of finding parking and navigating the city.
To avoid parking hassles in the downtown area, taking public transportation in from the suburbs is your best bet.
Parking clamping has increased dramatically as a result of drivers consistently failing to pay the required price. A common consequence of parking in prohibited zones is having your rental car towed.
Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 40 countries and lived in 4 continents in the last 10 years, including France. A self-proclaimed Francophile, I love everything France.