France lockdown: Can I drive to the shops with my partner?
Anyone going shopping must fill out an attestation and carry with them a valid ID. We look at the rules for shopping trips
Reader question: Despite looking on your site and in French media, we can’t find an answer to this simple question: Can a couple drive together and shop together under France’s confinement rules?
Short answer: Driving to the shops with a member of your household is allowed but not recommended.
To answer fully, it is best to look at driving and shopping separately.
Shopping
A phone operator for France’s official Covid-19 helpline told The Connexion that going shopping with members of your household is allowed.
The government has not made any official statement to the contrary.
However, based on what was said during the first confinement period, we understand that it would be generally advised for health reasons to avoid going out in groups and couples if possible.
In the spring, newspaper Libération reported that it would be up to the local police to decide if they should fine you for going shopping as a couple or a family.
The paper contacted the Ministry of Interior at the time and was told: “Individual trips are to be preferred. In all cases, it will be up to the discernment of the police forces”.
Accompanying a vulnerable person or taking care of a minor would be among good reasons for going shopping with someone else.
It is not thought that the police will fine you if you go shopping with someone from the same household and you both have correctly filled out exemption forms, you are both wearing masks and generally respecting social distancing and barrier gestures.
Updated attestations for November 28 rules
Driving
The Ministry of Interior has confirmed that driving a member of your household somewhere is possible for authorised outings. This includes taking them to work, to hospital or to do necessary shopping.
There has been no statement about if it would be considered acceptable to drive your partner to the shop if you both have driving licences and are able to drive.
In this case, it is best to follow the above advice: Driving to the shops as a couple is allowed, although not recommended.
Read more:
Can a couple go shopping together?
