While driving in France as a tourist is not difficult, visitors may find navigating the different road systems and driving rules confusing.
That’s why It’s always a good idea to review driving rules in France, including speed limits, road signs, and traffic regulations.
With these tips on driving in France in mind, you’ll be well-prepared to enjoy your trip safely and confidently.
Who is this guide for?
My husband and I have been living in France for over a decade, so we’ve done our fair share of driving. From thousands of short trips to the grocery store and romantic weekend getaways to long cross-country road trips with a car full of kids.
However, when we first arrived in France, we were a bit confused by some of the rules of the road, driving norms, signage, and other miscellaneous things.
So, I decided to create this guide for anyone interested in legally and safely driving in France as a tourist or as a newly arrived resident based on my experience and the current French
What this guide is not!
This is not a comprehensive
We’ll cover everything from the type of driver’s permit you need, basic driving rules, important French road signs and other helpful tips for driving in France, such as how to manoeuvre in and out of a roundabout.
So buckle up; let’s start with the basics.
Tips for driving in France as a tourist: Crash course
Can tourists drive in France? (with a foreign driver’s license)
One of the most important legal requirements for driving in France is to have a valid driver’s permit.
If you have one issued from another country, you may be wondering whether you can legally drive in France with it.
Yes, tourists can drive in France using their foreign driver’s permit.
- Your foreign driver’s license must be valid.
- Your foreign driver’s license must have been issued by the country where you usually reside.
Other conditions need to be met depending on which country issued your driver’s license, which I’ve detailed below.
Do tourists need an international driving permit while driving in France?
Whether or not you’ll need an international driving permit while driving in France depends on whether your license was issued in certain European countries.
These European driver’s license holders do not need an international driving permit.
If your driver’s license is from a country in the following European areas, you do not need to carry around an international driver’s license.
- The E.U. (European Union)
- The EEA area (European Economic Area -Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway).
- Switzerland (part of the single market), Andora, and Monaco (both are microstates).
American, Canadian, U.K. and all other driver permits issued outside of the above European areas.
If your driver’s permit was issued outside of the E.U., EEA, Switzerland, Andora, or Monaco, you must carry an international driver’s license or a translation of your foreign driver’s license while driving in France.
- International
driving permit: You can carry an international driver’s permit with your foreign driver’s license or… - A Legal Translation of your driver’s permit: If you don’t have an international driver’s license, you can carry a legal translation of your license. How you go about getting a legalized translation of your permit depends on where you get it translated.
- If your driver’s license is translated abroad: The translated driver’s license must be legalized by a guaranteed apostille service with an official seal.
- If your driver’s license is translated in France, Translation must be done by a sworn translator. In French, you would ask for a “traduction assermentée.” (source)
What is the legal age to drive a vehicle in France?
You must be 18 to drive a car.
The legal driving age in France is 18.
That means, even if a minor has a valid driver’s license from another country, such as the U.S. or Canada, they cannot legally drive a vehicle in France until they turn 18. This rule also applies to minors living in France.
Plot twist.
Minors who are legal residents of France CAN drive a motorcycle, 50CC moped or lightweight vehicle called a “Voiture sans permis” with a special French license.
But minors travelling to France as tourists cannot get these special licences. Only legal residents living in France can.
Misc but important things to know about driving in France
You know the old saying, “You don’t know what you don’t know?” Never assume anything about France’s
Here are a few things that may differ from where you come from.
What is The Driving Side In France?
Roughly 35% of the world’s population drives on the left side of the road, but France is not one of them.
In France, you drive on the right side of the road with the steering wheel on the left. Countries that drive on the left side of the road and many old British colonies such as Cyprus, Malta, India, Pakistan and Australia. Thailand also drives on the left side of the road but was never a British colony.
French Stoplights are not where you expect them to be
If you’re used to driving in the United States or Canada, you’re accustomed to looking across the intersection to see the red light. However, in France, the red light is on the same side of the street, which can be confusing for first-time drivers in France.
For example, if you’re the first person at a red light, the stoplight will be located on your left or right, sometimes at or near eye level and close enough to reach out and touch the light if you want.
French cars usually have manual transmissions (stick shifts, not automatic)
If you tell someone in France you’re an American and drive an automatic transmission, be prepared to get heckled.
Just kidding, but one of the stereotypes about American drivers is that everyone drives an automatic and that most Americans don’t know how to drive a stick shift (drive a manual transmission)
Many French drivers prefer the feel of a manual transmission. Maybe it’s because they grew up
Although the number of automatic transmissions has slowly increased over the years, before 1997, less than 2.6% of new cars in France had one. The higher cost was the main obstacle to the widespread use of automatic cars.
This may only affect you if you plan on driving a rental car in France because automatic transmissions may not be available or cost more to rent than a car with a manual transmission.
No Mobile phones or texting while driving:
Using your phone while driving, including texting, is illegal in France. However, the use of a hands-free kit is permitted.
You need proper motorcycle and scooter equipment.
When
No right turn on red light (only on green or blinking yellow)
In some countries, you can treat a red light like a stop sign and turn on a red light once you’ve made a complete stop. Not so in France. You must wait until the light turns green or, in some cases, when the light blinks yellow to turn right.
Surprise speeding tickets arrive in the mail.
France has a very efficient way of telling if you’re speeding; it’s by speed radar.
I can’t tell you how many times my husband and I have returned home from a road trip only to receive a speeding ticket in the mail two weeks later.
Important French Street Signs and Road Signs in France
France shares many road signs with other countries, such as the Red stop sign; however, others are less obvious, which can confuse foreign drivers.
Like most countries, the shape of the sign indicates the type of sign. For instance:
- Warning and yield signs are always triangle-shaped.
- Informational signs such as crosswalks or speed bump signs are always square.
- Directional signs are always rectangular with pointed ends to indicate the direction of the destination in question.
- And round signs are rules and obligations you must follow, such as speed limit signs.
Here are some of the more important road signs in France that you should know.
One-way street sign
One-way street signs in France are always blue signs with a white arrow, which could be pointing up, left, or right.
Dead End Signs in France
The three main dead-end signs you should familiarize yourself with are the dead-end sign with no exit, the dead-end sign with a pedestrian exit, and the dead-end sign with a bike and pedestrian exit.
Speed bump ahead sign
Any time you see a black speed bump in a white triangle, it indicates a speed bump ahead and that you should slow down. The white triangle can be in a blue box or a red warning triangle.
No parking sign
No parking is allowed if you see a round blue sign in the center of a red circle with a red bar across the top.
Speed limit signs
Speed limit signs are always shown on a white circle with a red border.
Kilometre markers
If you drive along some of the older French roads and see something that looks like a little tombstone planted in the ground to the right side of the road, relax; no one is buried there.
These are simply kilometre markers, and they let you know what road you are on and at which kilometre you are located on that road. They may also tell you what direction you are
One of the most famous kilometre markers is Paris Point Zero, located right in front of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, which looks like an ornate manhole cover.
- Yellow is for the departmental roads (Letter D followed by the number of the road.
- Red is for national roads and autoroutes (Letters N or A).
- White is for rural roads (Letter C or R)
If all these French road types are confusing, then read the section about French roads.
Who has the right of way? Priority driving in France
Many road signs, such as the “Stop sign,” are universally recognized throughout Europe; however, certain road signs are unique to France, and many have no text, so it’s beneficial to understand the basics.
One of the most important but misunderstood aspects of driving in France as a tourist is the concept of the “priorité à droite” or “priority to the right.”
Since, 2019, to obtain your french driver’s license, you must know the priority rules and be familiar with the priority signs.
You must yield and give way to vehicles to the right (priorité à droite)
At some intersections, if not otherwise indicated, the “priorité à droite” rule applies. This means that vehicles entering from roads on your right have the right of way, so you should yield to them. This is why it’s called “Priorité à droite” (priority to the right.)
Although this rule isn’t as common as it once was, it can still catch drivers off guard in specific areas. As a tourist driving in France, it’s important to stay alert and be prepared for situations where the right has priority over the main road.
Here are some examples:
- If you approach a stop sign, you must let the car on your right pass before you can proceed.
- When driving on a road, you might encounter situations where you need to yield to cars attempting to merge onto the road (though they often do not have priority).
- If you come across a yield sign, you must yield to other cars because they have the right of way or priority.
- At an uncontrolled intersection (no traffic lights or signs), yield to vehicles approaching from your right before proceeding.
- In residential areas, watch out for side streets on your right, as vehicles exiting those streets might have the right of way over the main road you’re on.
TIP: Even if the burden may be on the vehicle on the left to slow down and yield, assume that cars are not going to stop.
In the event of a collision, the car approaching from the left will likely be at fault if the vehicle approaching from the right has the right of way.
Right of way driving signs in France
If you see a sign that is a yellow diamond inside a white diamond, this is an indicator that you are on the priority road until you see it cancelled by a black diagonal line through the sign. It means you have the right of way.
If you see a red triangle sign with an X in the middle, this panel indicates a priority on the right. The driver facing this sign does not have priority and must give way to all drivers on the right.
If you see a diamond-shaped sign with yellow in the middle, it indicates that the driver is on a priority road. Consequently, vehicles coming from the right and left will have to give way to it.
If you see a triangle sign with a pointy symbol pointing up, it indicates that other drivers will have to yield to you at the next intersection. This is a one-time priority and only concerns drivers who will go straight at this intersection.
How do roundabouts work in France?
Don’t know what is a roundabout?
What is a roundabout, aka traffic circle?
In British English, it’s called a roundabout; in North America, it’s known by a few names depending on the region: traffic circle, rotary and sometimes roundabout.
A roundabout is a circular road, usually with a center island, that works like a circular intersection where multiple roads converge. The benefit of a circular intersection is that it eliminates the need to wait at red lights and U-turns and makes traffic flow more smoothly, reducing idle time for drivers. And if you miss your exit, you continue around the roundabout again.
Although the concept of circular intersection has ancient origins, the roundabout is considered a French invention. French urban architect Eugène Hénard built the first one in Paris in 1906 to improve traffic flow at Place Charles de Gaulle (formerly known as “la place de l’Étoile), with the arc de Triomphe at the centre of the island.
How to enter a roundabout:
As cars approach this circular road/intersection on connecting roads, they gradually slow down to enter the roundabout without having to make a complete stop.
Drivers enter the roundabout and travel around a center island in a counter-clockwise direction, then exit off one of the connecting roads.
- If you enter a roundabout and miss your exit, stay in the roundabout and circle around again to the correct exit.
How to exit a traffic circle
When exiting a roundabout, put on your blinkers and move to the right so that cars trying to enter the roundabout know you’re exiting. They can then enter safely rather than waiting to see if you exit or stay in the roundabout.
Who has the right of way (priority) on a roundabout in France?
There are 2 types of Roundabouts, aka traffic circles in France.
- Carrefours à sens giratoire: Loosely translated as “Roundabout intersection” or “Roundabout junction.”
- Rond-point: Literally translated to “Round point.”
The main difference between these two types of French roundabouts is the priority rule (right-of-way driving.)
In many countries, vehicles already on the roundabout have priority; however, this isn’t always the case in France.
Most people in France use the term “Rond-Point,” regardless of the type of roundabout.
Carrefours à sens giratoire: (Traffic circle / Roundabout)
Drivers already in the Carrefour traffic circle have priority.
- Drivers trying to get onto a “Carrefour” must yield and wait for an opening to enter the traffic circle safely.
You’ll know you’re approaching a carrefour because the entrance to this kind of roundabout will be marked with a red and white upsidedown yield triangle with the words (cédez le passage) “Give way.”
Rond-point (Traffic circle / Roundabout)
Drivers entering the roundabout have priority.
At a Rond-point (traffic circle), the “priority to the right” (priorité à droite) rule applies.
- Drivers trying to enter the traffic circle have the right of way (priority of the right).
- Cars already in the traffic circle must yield to the cars trying to enter on the right.
There are no traffic signs or markings as you approach a rond point indicating you have the right of way, but the general rule is if there is no signage, drivers trying to enter have the right of way.
Beware, not everyone will obey these rules.
The Arc de Triomphe is at the center of France’s largest “Rond-point” (roundabout).
The world-famous Arc de Triomphe in Paris is situated in the center of one of France’s largest and oldest roundabouts, Place Charles de Gaulle (formally known as Place de l’Étoile.)
There are 12 roads running into it, which means that drivers have 12 entry and exit points.
Vehicles entering the roundabout have the right-of-way (priority), meaning that this is a rond-point, not a carrefour. Vehicles already in the circle must yield to the cars trying to get in. And those on the inner areas must give way to those on the outer rings trying to move towards the centre.
This can make navigating the roundabout challenging due to the high traffic volume and the complex layout of multiple lanes converging.
Main Roads & French Motorways in France:
France is a vast country with an array of roads, from dinky one-lane country roads to main roads and high-speed French motorways.
There are three main roads in France that you should familiarize yourself with and their speed limits. All three are easily recognizable because each has a clever lettering and number system to help you tell them apart.
- Department Roads (D)
- National Roads (N)
- Autoroutes (Highspeed motorways: usually toll roads) (A)
Did you know that most French roads lead to Paris? You might be interested in reading Paris Point Zero: The hard to find milestone marker in the center of Paris
1) D= Department roads:
Departmental Road signs are recognized by the prefix “D” followed by a black road number with a yellow background, such as D45 and D34.
If you’re not in a hurry, want to take a more scenic route, and drive at lower speed limits than autoroutes, department roads are the way to go. Because D roads often take you through cities and villages, they are a great way to discover new towns along the way and get a view of France’s vast landscape.
2) N= National roads “Route Nationale”:
National road signs are marked with the prefix “N” followed by a number, usually in white lettering and red background, for example, N7.
Before autoroutes, the Routes Nationales was the highest road classification in France.
N roads are (trunk roads) typically the shortest route between major centres such as ports, cities and airports, which is why you’ll often see more freight traffic on these types of roads.
3) A = Autoroute: French motorway
The quickest, most convenient way to get around in France is usually on a French autoroute, known in English-speaking countries as a highway, expressway, motorway or freeway, depending on where you’re from.
Most autoroutes in France are toll roads (“Péage”) and are easily identified by the letter A followed by a number depending on the region. (See section explaining tolls in more depth).
Autoroutes also have rest stops (explained below).
- A1 is the autoroute around Paris.
- The 40s are near the Alps.
- The ’60s are in the south near Bordeaux and Toulouse region.
Toll Roads In France
As I mentioned earlier, the fastest way to get around while driving in France is usually the autoroutes, which start with the letter “A.” However,
You’ll know a toll booth is coming up when you see a blue sign with the words “Péage” written in white lettering. “Péage” is the word for toll.
PAYMENT accepted at tolls in France:
As you pull up to a toll booth on a French autoroute, pay attention to which lane you are in.
It isn’t very pleasant to enter a toll lane that only accepts cash when you want to pay with a credit card, so familiarize yourself with the French road signs above the toll lanes, which indicate the type of payment accepted in that lane.
NOTE: Sometimes, foreign credit cards don’t work at toll booths, so make sure you have some cash on hand to pay for tolls or bring multiple credit cards.
COST of tolls in France:
Various companies own autoroutes across France, so you’ll usually pay more than one toll to get across the country. The price depends on the distance driven and the type of vehicle.
We drove from the south of France to Paris on one of our road trips, which cost us about 100 Euros in tolls round trip.
FRENCH TOLL CALCULATOR: How To Calculate or avoid French toll charges
If you plan on taking the autoroute, sometimes it’s helpful to know how much French toll road fees will cost beforehand.
You can calculate estimated tolls by visiting the site autoroutes.fr, where you enter your start and endpoint to get an estimate of toll road fees one way.
The site will also estimate how long the journey should take and approximately how much gas will cost you for your trip.
If you want to avoid or minimize toll road fees or take a more scenic route, the site can help you build a
(See the screenshot below of an example itinerary from Montpellier to Paris).
How To Find A Rest Stop: Restrooms, Food and Gas on the autoroute
One of the benefits of taking autoroutes rather than the scenic toll-free departmental roads that there are REST STOPS at regular intervals along the way. On average, there is one rest area every 15 km with clean restrooms and picnic benches. Many rest areas also have restaurants, and some have gas stations.
To find a rest stop on a French autoroute, keep your eyes peeled for signs with the word “Aire De (some name)” on blue signs with white lettering. The French word Aire means “area,” and each rest area has a unique name.
For example, the sign in the photo above indicates that the rest area, called “Aire de Peypin,” is an 8km drive and has a gas station.
What is the speed limit in France by type of road?
The speed limit in France for cars and trucks that are less than 3.5 tonnes depends on the type of road and the weather conditions.
Speed limits will always be posted on a round red sign with a white center like the image above.
Below are the five main speed limits by road type.
Autoroutes:
130km/h (80 mph).
When raining, the speed limit is reduced to 110km/h
Four-lane expressways:
Usually 110 km/h.
When it rains, the speed limit is reduced to 100km/h.
2 & 3 lane roads: National Roads
As of July 2018, the speed limit was reduced to 80km/h (56mph).
When raining, the speed limit should be reduced to 70km/h.
Urban town roads: Department roads
The speed limit is capped at 50 km/ 31mph on roads within the city limits.
City speed limits such as Paris, Lyon, Toulon etc
Driving in Paris: As of July 2021, Paris reduced the city-wide speed limit to 30 kilometres per hour (19 miles per hour) on almost all Parisian streets.
It’s not the first French city to reduce its city-wide speed limit. As of 2022, there are over 200 cities that have a 30km speed limit.
The goal is to reduce pollution contributing to climate protection, reduce noise and traffic accidents and improve safety for cyclists.
Below is an interactive map of France’s cities that have lowered city speed limits.
What do you need to carry when driving in France?
French driving kit
In addition to a valid driving license, French law states that you must always carry certain things in your vehicle when
If you’re driving in France as a tourist, most likely, your rental car will already have these things in the boot of the car.
– Warning Triangle:
Since 2008, the law in France states that drivers must carry an approved warning triangle (Un triangle de présignalisationé) with the mark E 27R.
If you have car trouble or need to stop on a public road, such as to change a flat tire, you must place the triangle 30 meters behind your car to give oncoming cars enough warning.
It would be best if you also put your hazard lights on. The fine is 375 Euros if you don’t comply.
– A Reflective Security Vest :
French law also states that you must have an approved reflective
If you’re renting a car, these things should already be in the car’s trunk.
– French Breathalyzer: Optional
Since July 2020, drivers are no longer required to have a breathalyzer (L’éthylotest) in their cars.
In France, it’s illegal to drink and drive. The tolerated blood alcohol level is very low, 0.5 mg. per ml, and 0.2 g/l for young drivers (license less than three years old), meaning one drink can put you over the alcohol limit.
You can buy a single-use breathalyzer for around 1€ to 3€ Euros in a pharmacy, Tabac shop, or some supermarkets.
What to do if you get into a car accident in France
Here’s what you must do if you end up in a fender bender or a more serious accident.
Fill out a joint accident report.
If you get into a fender bender while driving in France and no one is injured, you don’t have to call the police; however, you should exchange certain information with the driver of the other vehicle involved in the accident by filling out an accident report at the scene of an accident.
The accident report you should fill out is called a “constat amiable” (amicable report).
You are not obligated to fill out the form, but it’s in your best interest if you want or need to file an insurance claim.
The accident report helps the automobile insurance company identify the parties involved, the damage and the cause of the accident to expedite any auto insurance claim. It’s not an admission of liability.
You’ll need to fill out all the necessary fields for Vehicle A and Vehicle B on the form. There is also a box to draw the collision and points of contact on the vehicle.
If both drivers agree with the circumstances of the accident as reported on the accident report, they should both sign the document. However, if one party refuses to sign or complete the report, take down the other person’s license plate and enter it in the observation box specifying their objection.
You have five days to send your car insurance company the constant amicable.
Where to get an accident report.
There may be a report in the glove compartment of the car already. If not, you can ask the car insurance or car rental company.
Download an accident report.
You can also download an accident report (constat-amiable) by clicking here. (The form is bilingual in French and English.)
Smartphone app accident report
There is also a smartphone application called “e‑constat auto” that allows you to declare an accident to your insurer with photos.
Here is the link for “e-constat auto” for iPhone.
Here is the link for “e-constat auto” in the Google Play Store.
If you get into an accident and need to call the French emergency services, for instance, if someone is hurt, in danger of an explosion, fire, etc., you should contact one of the French emergency numbers.
French emergency service number if you are in a car accident
If you get into an accident in France while driving and need emergency help, you’ll have to figure out which service to call. The following are the direct numbers for France’s three emergency services.
- Dial 15: For a medical emergency
- Dial 18: For the Fire department
- Dial 17: For the police.
If you are not sure who to call, you can dial 112
Dial 112: Europe’s version of 911. An operator will answer and transfer your call to the appropriate emergency service.
I’ve written an in-depth article about the French emergency numbers here: No 911 in France? Important French emergency numbers explained.
Bon Voyage!! Did you check the type of gas your car takes?
One last thing about driving in France as a tourist.
Many cars are diesel “Gazole.” Unleaded is called “sans plomb.”
France plans to end the sale of diesel and petrol vehicles by 2040 as part of an ambitious plan to meet its targets under the Paris climate accord.
This site lists the latest gas prices in real-time by service station throughout France so you can choose the cheapest station along your route.
I highly recommend getting a rental car with a built-in GPS, but if that’s not an option, you can always use your smartphone or GPS-enabled tablet. You can always download a map on your device and use it offline without consuming expensive roaming data fees.
