Speeding in France: Rules and penalties explained

Speed limits vary considerably in France, as do the penalties for exceeding them. Here is how to avoid getting caught out, and how to challenge or pay a fine if you do receive a speeding notice.

What are the speed limits in France? 

Maximum speeds depend on the type of road, the location or surroundings, and the conditions.

• Motorways: 130 kph, and 110 kph in rain, hail, snow, or other bad weather

• Two carriageways and central reservation: 110 kph, and 100 kph in bad weather

• At least two lanes in the same direction: 90 kph, and 80 kph in bad weather

• Two-way roads without a central reservation: 80 kph (same in bad weather)

• Built up areas: 50 kph (same in bad weather)

• Busy villages/built up areas, winding roads, or near schools etc: 30 kph (same in bad weather)

In fog, or when visibility is less than 50 metres, the maximum speed limit is 50 km/h on all French roads and motorways.

Drivers from the UK and US are, of course, reminded that France uses kilometres per hour rather than miles per hour.

As a rough guide, 160 kph is 100 mph. This means that the top speed in France (130kph) is around 80 mph, and the lowest (30 kph) is around 18 mph.

Speed limits for young or new drivers in France

Speed limits are lower for young or new drivers. Anyone with a provisional licence must not exceed:

• Motorways: 110 kph (reduced from 130 kph)

• Two carriageways, central reservation, and speed limit less than 130 kph: 100 kph

• Other roads outside of built up areas: 80 kph

What are the penalties if you are caught speeding in France? 

The penalty depends on factors including the location of the offence, and whether it is your first offence.

 Sanctions include:

• A fine

• Points deducted from your driving licence

• The requirement to attend a course to raise awareness of road safety (stage de sensibilisation)

• Suspension of your driving licence

• Confiscation of your vehicle

In contrast to the UK, driving licences in France have six points on issue, and each year thereafter a driver gains two points until they reach the maximum 12. It is a penalty to have a point taken away, rather than added (the opposite of the UK system). 

If all points are lost, the driver will lose their licence for at least six months. In some cases, taking a stage de sensibilisation course can restore up to four points.

Points deducted can range from one to six, and up to eight can be taken at once if the driver is found to have committed multiple serious offences together.

• 1 point: Speeding 5-19 kph over the limit on a road where the speed limit is above 50 kph (more points can be taken for this level of speeding in areas with a lower speed limit)

• 2 points: Speeding 20-29 kph over the limit

• 3 points: Speeding 30-39 kph over the limit

• 4 points: Speeding 40-49 kph over the limit

• 6 points: Speeding more than 50 kph over the limit

In practice, if you are caught speeding more than 30 kph above the limit, you are likely to have your licence suspended or revoked. You can also be banned from driving certain vehicles, and be required to attend a road safety awareness course.

Penalties can also be more severe if you are caught using a mobile phone while speeding.

What is the fine for speeding?

The initial fixed fine for speeding is €135, with the exception of: 

• €68: Speeding less than 19 kph over the limit on a road where the speed limit is above 50 kph

• Up to €1,500: Speeding more than 50 kph over the limit

How do you know if you have been caught speeding in France?

There are two main ways that drivers are caught speeding in France: 

• A camera, either a fixed roadside device, or one on a private radar car

• A police roadside check.

In the first instance, you will be sent your notice and fine within 15 days, although this can sometimes take up to a month or longer.

If you are caught by a police roadside check, the police will show you evidence of your offence, and have the authority to require you to pay a fine immediately. This can usually be paid by credit card, cash, or cheque.

How do I pay a speeding fine in France?

If you receive a notice to pay a fine, the best way to do it is on the dedicated website: amendes.gouv.fr. 

You will be prompted to enter details from your speeding letter or fine notice, including the telepayment number and ‘key’ mentioned.

You can also pay the fine via the amendes.gouv app (available to download on the Google Play or Apple App Store) or by telephone on 08 06 20 30 40 (within France).

What if I want to contest a speeding fine in France?

There is a set process for contesting a fine in France. 

Firstly, remember: if you want to contest a fine, do not pay it first. 

Rules on this changed in France recently; now, if you pay the fine, this is seen as an admission of guilt. Your case will be closed, and you will not be able to contest it afterwards.

However, even if you do contest a fine, you may still be asked to pay a deposit (‘consignation’) in the meantime. If you win the case, you will later receive a letter from the public prosecutor, which you can use to receive a refund of the amount paid.

What can I contest? 

You cannot contest the fine amount, but you can contest the following:

• The validity of the fine

• The infraction itself

• Whether you were the driver at the time

Fines are automatically increased if not paid within the first 15 days, and then 45 days. If you did not receive the fine notice within this time period due to a legitimate reason (e.g. wrong address), you can also apply to only pay the lower level of fine.

In some cases, you can also apply for the right to pay your fine in instalments.

You should keep your address and other details up to date to avoid any fines accidentally going to the wrong place. These can be updated online; our article here explains how.

Where do I contest a fine?

You can contest a fine in one of five ways: 

• Via registered letter, enclosing the original notice of the fixed fine

• By letter addressed to the public prosecutor (address on the fine)

• Online on the ANTAI website (Agence Nationale de Traitement Automatisé des Infractions)

• Via the new Flash Radar app

• By telephone on 08 11 10 20 30 (€0.05/min + cost of a normal call, within France)

What if I receive a fine but am only visiting France, or not a resident?

Police can legally ask people without an address in France to pay speeding fines immediately when issued. 

If you are not a French citizen or resident and get caught speeding, but believe this is wrong, you can refuse to pay. However, in this instance you may have your vehicle confiscated for 24 hours while the local public prosecutor’s office considers the case.

If you do receive a notice from France to a foreign address, you have one month extra – in addition to the time limits stated on the notice – to contest a fine, explains the ANTAI website.

Fighting fines

Several million speeding fines are issued each year in France, and there have been a number of high-profile cases of incorrect speeding and other driving offence fines. 

This includes a driver who successfully challenged a fine in court, after proving that he had not used that road the day where he was purportedly photographed speeding.