{"id":65,"date":"2017-02-13T14:14:36","date_gmt":"2017-02-13T14:14:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.racshop.co.uk\/advice\/?p=65"},"modified":"2022-11-02T10:55:15","modified_gmt":"2022-11-02T10:55:15","slug":"driving-in-france","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.racshop.co.uk\/advice\/driving-in-france\/","title":{"rendered":"Driving in France"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Driving in France is a great way to see this beautiful and scenic country. Every year we see thousands of British motorists crossing the channel with their cars to enjoy the numerous delights France has to offer. Many other drivers choose to hire a car upon arrival, preferring to drive a left hand drive vehicle when in Europe. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Whichever option you decide upon, to avoid complications that could result in you getting on the wrong side of the law during your visit, you should be familiar with the basic rules and regulations of driving in France.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Below we set out the documents and items you must carry whenever you are behind the wheel, as well as some general driving tips. <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"panel-group\" id=\"custom-collapse-0\">\n<div class=\"panel panel-default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"panel-heading\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"panel-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-parent=\"#custom-collapse-0\" href=\"#custom-collapse-0-0\">Essential Documents<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"custom-collapse-0-0\" class=\"panel-collapse in\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"panel-body\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There are a number of important documents you will need to carry whilst driving around France.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Your full UK driving license, including the photo and paper counterpart. However, if, for whatever reason you don\u2019t have access to both parts, then we recommend you carry your passport with you at all times, or even better, apply for an International Driving Permit before setting off. This can be purchased for about \u00a35.50 from most post office branches.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Evidence of motor insurance and your vehicle registration document (VSc).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We also recommend a Green Card and Camping Card International. <\/span><\/li>\n<li>Your passport.<br \/>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"panel panel-default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"panel-heading\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"panel-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"collapsed\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-parent=\"#custom-collapse-0\" href=\"#custom-collapse-0-1\">Other important items you need to drive in France <\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"custom-collapse-0-1\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"panel-body\"><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Before you hit the road in France, it\u2019s essential you have all of these other compulsory items:-<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.racshop.co.uk\/headlamp-beam-adapters-to-convert-headlamps-for-use-in-the-eu.html\">Headlight converters<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.racshop.co.uk\/warning-triangle-e-approved.html\">Warning triangle<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>High visibility vest<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>A clearly displayed UK sticker<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.racshop.co.uk\/rac-vivo-van-and-truck-first-aid-kit.html\">First aid kit<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Alongside the compulsory items, we recommend that you also carry these:-<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.racshop.co.uk\/neolux-h1-h4-h7-spare-bulbs-kit-headlamp-rear-indicator-fuses.html\">Spare bulb kit<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.racshop.co.uk\/fire-extinguishers-en3ce62-standard-1-kg-dry-powder-abc.html\">Fire extinguisher<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Snow socks and snow chains ( depending on the season)<\/li>\n<li>To help comply with regulations and prepare you for driving in France, take a look at our <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.racshop.co.uk\/european-car-kits\">European Driving Kits<\/a><\/strong> to ensure that you are fully equipped for your journey.<br \/>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"panel panel-default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"panel-heading\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"panel-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"collapsed\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-parent=\"#custom-collapse-0\" href=\"#custom-collapse-0-2\">French driving requirements<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"custom-collapse-0-2\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"panel-body\"><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Some of the requirements and rules when driving in France are similar to those in the UK, however, take a few minutes to familiarise yourself with the do\u2019s and don\u2019ts listed here;<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>All drivers must be 18 or over<\/li>\n<li>It\u2019s compulsory to wear a seatbelt<\/li>\n<li>There are toll charges on motorways<\/li>\n<li>Radar detection devices for speed cameras are not allowed, if you are caught with one you could be fined \u20ac1500 or have your vehicle taken away. This also applies to Satellite Navigation or GPS devices, so ensure that you disable this feature in the settings.<\/li>\n<li>Children under 10 years of age must always sit in the back\u00a0of the vehicle in an approved child seat<\/li>\n<li>It is illegal to sound your horn in a built-up area unless you are in danger<\/li>\n<li>In slow moving and stationary traffic, the last car\u00a0in the line\u00a0must have\u00a0its hazard warning lights switched on<\/li>\n<li>If you want the car in front to give way, simply flash your lights<\/li>\n<li>Call 112 if you need the emergency services<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The alcohol limit for all motorists is 50mg and random testing is commonplace. French police may confiscate your licence and your vehicle if you are found over this limit. Saliva testing is also common to check for the presence of drugs.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"panel panel-default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"panel-heading\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"panel-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"collapsed\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-parent=\"#custom-collapse-0\" href=\"#custom-collapse-0-3\">Speed limits and driving zones<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"custom-collapse-0-3\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"panel-body\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The French police take speeding very seriously, so familiarise yourself with speed warning signs and the various speed limits before taking to the road. <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Towns &#8211; dry\/wet roads 50km\/h (although in some areas it is 20-30km\/h)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Secondary rural roads &#8211; dry roads 90 km\/h and wet roads 80km\/h<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Dual carriageways and motorways without tolls &#8211; dry roads 110km\/h and wet roads 100km\/h<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Toll motorways &#8211; Dry roads 130 km\/h and wet roads 100km\/h<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Foggy conditions on the motorways &#8211; 50km\/h<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In the left hand lane on the motorway &#8211; minimum speed 80km\/h<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">However, if you have held your full driving license for less than 3 years, you must not exceed 100km\/h on urban motorways, 110km\/h on motorways or 80km\/h on other roads<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And note, there are low emission zones in Paris, Lyon and Grenoble which you should be aware of if you are driving in or passing through these areas.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We hope this post prepares you for driving in France<\/span>, and remember to take a look at our\u00a0<strong><u><a href=\"\/european-car-kits\">European driving kits<\/a><\/u><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong><u><a href=\"\/european-driving-accessories\">accessories<\/a><\/u><\/strong>\u00a0before setting off.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Disclaimer<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Even though we try to ensure the information given here is current &#8211; rules and regulations do sometimes change without warning, so please check for revisions as we cannot be held responsible for any infringements to French driving laws.<\/span><\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Driving in France is a great way to see this beautiful and scenic country. Every year we see thousands of British motorists crossing the channel with their cars to enjoy the numerous delights France has to offer. Many other drivers choose to hire a car upon arrival, preferring to drive a left hand drive vehicle [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":224,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[25,27,28,24],"class_list":["post-65","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-european-driving-advice","tag-breakdown-tips","tag-driving-in-france","tag-european-driving-laws","tag-european-driving-tips"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.racshop.co.uk\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.racshop.co.uk\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.racshop.co.uk\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.racshop.co.uk\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.racshop.co.uk\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.racshop.co.uk\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.racshop.co.uk\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/224"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.racshop.co.uk\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.racshop.co.uk\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.racshop.co.uk\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}