Driving in France: why are the roads more deadly than in the UK? The number of fatal accidents is high despite good infrastructure
New rules are killing off older cars unable to adapt in France EU safety regulations include a range of high-end technological updates that older models may not be able to satisfy
SEE: the 10 cars most-prized by thieves in France in 2023 Cars that draw the eye attract unwanted attention too Big rise in car thefts in France: these are the models most stolen Can I be fined for not de-icing my car in France? Can I renew expired UK driving licence from France?
SUV drivers set to pay much more to park in Paris The Mairie is set to vote on the issue next month, following similar rules in Lyon and Bordeaux
Lyon to base parking fees on weight of car and driver income The mayor said the three-tier tariff system will help ‘transform’ the city, save on pollution and space
Compost, cars, cakes: Five French practical updates We recap recent articles which you may have missed
Cars, licences, driving: what changes in France in 2024? Changes include temporary closure of key roads, and new driving licence trials
Here is the list of electric cars eligible for aid in France in 2024 Vehicles made in France or the EU will be prioritised
Scheme to rent electric car for €100-a-month launches in France We look at the government's social leasing scheme, explain who it is for, and how to apply
Toulouse tests using AI to reduce driver wait at traffic lights The system connects to cars automatically to help its AI algorithm interpret the road conditions
Flights, cars, metro: How Paris 2024 Olympics will affect travel Restrictions are set to include no-fly zones, traffic bans, and double-price metro tickets
Black Friday sales, Air France strike: 7 French travel updates We also look at the rising cost of Christmas plane tickets, the decline of cars in Paris and more
Paris to hold vote on whether SUVs should pay more for parking The proposal is the mayor’s latest move against large, pollution vehicles - but opponents have called it a ‘diversion’ tactic What are ‘WW’ car registration plates in France? Winter tyres, Crit'Air stickers, book charge: ten updates in France What is the HistoVec website in France and how can it help drivers?
Tips to avoid kilometrage fraud when buying second-hand car in France Around one in ten second-hand cars is thought to have a false reading on their odometer Rise in car thefts in France, SUVs and hybrids remain main targets How electric car grants are changing in France Easyjet summer tickets, TGV line delay: 8 French travel updates Where in France are low-emission zone restrictions being eased? Map: This is where private speed camera cars are operating in France
Recap: 5 practical updates from the last week in France Changes cover online prescriptions and the launch of a new ZFE low pollution car zone
Northern French city to offer cash bonuses for carsharing on motorways Up to €80 per month will initially be available to drivers who replace their usual solo journeys with carshare trips
Climate activists deflate tyres of 90 SUVs in Toulouse The environmental activists struck again this week, in another attack on SUV tyres to denounce what they call a lack of action on climate change against more polluting vehicles
Fuel shortage in France: Tips on how to save petrol consumption Driving less aggressively and keeping your vehicle well-maintained are just some ways that you can save up to 40% fuel
Renting an electric car in France: where, how and how much? With fuel shortages around the country, more people are turning to renting electric cars – we look into different ways you can do the same
Climate protestors let down tyres of SUVs in southwest France Activists in Toulouse are the latest to join the global movement, saying that government action on the more polluting vehicles has been ineffective so far
How did French garage get my details to send letter about car test? We look into why this happened and what you can do about it
Traffic conditions ‘extremely difficult’ across France this weekend The first weekend in August always sees both returning and departing holidaymakers, causing severe difficulties on the roads at peak hours, especially on Saturday
TotalEnergies announces extended fuel discount on French motorways The 12-centimes discount will last until at least August 31 at service stations across the country and comes in conjunction with the countrywide government discount
French drivers force Nissan and Renault to court over ‘faulty engines’ The class action group wants the release of internal documents which, it claims, show the firms knew about the problems
Louvre night guard photographs French toy cars in surprising locations Making the mini-cars appear full size - Félicien Michaut always has a vehicle in his pocket ready to take a photo and delight his 25,000 facebook fans
French company Renault pulls out of Russia: Why has it taken so long? It comes as a report shows nearly 50% of all top French companies operating in Russia have not made any move to withdraw or reduce activity there
Will the EU’s new black box rules affect French car prices? A shortage of materials such as aluminium are adding to fears that the change could push up prices, but manufacturers deny the claim
Why cars are being found on their sides outside French homes The mystery has been solved by police after rising reports of the incidents across the country, with models such as the Renault Twingo and Clio and Toyota Prius most affected
Toulouse introduces new low-emission zone for vans and trucks The zone, which covers three-quarters of the city, will eventually ban more and more vehicles, between now and 2024
Process, costs, carte grise: How to register a car in France We also explain what to do to bring a car over to France from the UK - although one specialist garage said they advise selling and buying afresh in France to avoid cost and hassle
‘Feuds’ ‘claim scams’ ‘rebels’: Why French cars get burnt at New Year This year 874 cars were set alight. The annual ‘event’ started in 1988 near Strasbourg
Can UK drivers hire nine-seat vehicles in France? My family are coming over in July and need to hire a nine-seater vehicle. They are all aged over 21 and have held licences for over two years. According to French law, will they be able to hire a nine-seater?
Car washes/jet washes during Covid-19 lockdown Reader question: Are car washes/jet wash facilities permitted for use during the Covid-19 lockdown? We see locals using them and would like to use them ourselves but are not convinced this is ‘essential’ and we understand only essential trips out are permitted.
How many yellow vests must you have in a car? A friend broke down and police officers checked the car and said she should have had a yellow vest for every seat in the car. Is this true?
Can I transport my car overseas by train? Your question, answered: do options exist to transport car long distance?
Can I get compensation for a car accident in France? Your questions, answered: what compensation is there if an uninsured driver bumps me?
France lockdown: what about car contrôle technique? Garages will remain open but the government is advising people only go for essential reasons
Are winter tyres a legal obligation everywhere in France? Currently you do not legally have to put winter tyres on your cars in France
How to avoid second-hand car sale kilometrage scams in France We summarise six ways to avoid being caught out when buying a used car; plus, the top 20 most-tampered with second-hand vehicle models
Am I allowed to wash my car on the street outside my house in France? A little-known French environmental law prohibits residents from cleaning their car while it is parked on a street, and those who ignore it could theoretically be fined
Brexit: Do I need to change sticker on my French car to drive in UK? A rule change means that British-registered cars require a new sticker to be valid in France. We explain the rules for going in the opposite direction
A guide to driving in France Did you know that France has more than 65,000 roundabouts and that drivers should always carry a reflective vest and triangle in the car?
Report finds 770,000 people driving in France without valid licence These drivers were involved in 6% of fatal accidents in 2020. The number of people driving without a licence has risen by more than 50% in six years, a new road safety report finds
Alfa Giulia TZ, Belmondo’s Ferrari: unique car auction in France Cars from a ‘hidden’ collection, discovered in Italy in 2019 by a couple of French car lovers, will be auctioned near Paris on December 12
Why now is the best time to sell a second-hand car in France Fewer cars being built is driving increased demand for second-hand models, with prices for newer second-hand cars almost equivalent to new vehicle costs
€8,370 fine for beeping wedding procession in southeast France Participants had a combined 108 points taken off their driving licences, and 62 tickets were issued for breaking the highway code
British-registered cars now need ‘UK’ number plate sticker in France Change is due to UK government decision - and not imposed by EU or UN as some reports today claim
The 10 most expensive cities to park your car in France City parking rates are rising as local authorities try to reduce car use. We list where to find – or avoid – the highest city parking fees in France
Tips to find cheap petrol as prices in France reach pre-pandemic level As demand for petrol surges amid post-Covid recovery, find out where can you find the cheapest options for fuel in your area
Man fined for driving Citroën DS on motorway with only three wheels Car stopped by police en route from Toulouse was type that saved President De Gaulle during assassination attempt, when bullets burst tyres but could still be driven away at speed
Did you know: World’s first ‘automobile’ was French The first motorised land vehicle and ancestor of the modern car was invented in France and had its first outing in 1770
New Hypercar class debuts at French 24 Hours of Le Mans race The new category, made up of Le Mans Hypercar and Le Mans Daytona h cars, promises to bring bigger manufacturers back into the historic endurance race, challenging Toyota’s monopoly over the title
The licence-free cars you can drive from age 14 in France A guide to how 'voitures sans permis' work, prices and options – and what it is like to drive one with its lawnmower noise
‘Very difficult’ conditions for road travel in France on Saturday Drivers should set off instead on Friday, August 13 or Sunday, August 15 to avoid the worst of the summer holiday traffic
French car club: EU plans to ban fossil-fuel cars by 2035 unrealistic The proposals do not take into consideration the progress made in reducing pollution from combustion engine vehicles, a spokesman for the country’s largest car association has said
Paris speed limit set to 30kph across most of capital The limit, which already applied to 60% of the city centre roads, will extend across the majority of routes except for some major boulevards and the périphérique
Tesla tops list of electric cars sold in France in 2021 New ranking puts the American brand ahead of usual favourites Renault and Peugeot, and was published just before government aid for electric cars dropped by €1,000
Know the rules in case your car breaks down on a French motorway When you can use the hard shoulder, who to call - and where from - how much it costs to get towed, and what happens if you run out of fuel...
Cost of a week's car rental in France jumps 35% in two years Average national price increase hides huge regional variations with visitors to popular tourist destinations bearing the brunt of rises
Paris street parking fees set to rise 50% and motorbikes must pay too The changes are part of wider reforms that aim to encourage vehicles to park underground to free up space in the street
Tips for saving money on air-con for your car in France this summer How you can keep the cost of refilling your car's air-conditioning down
What’s new for residents in France in June 2021? A delay to summer sales, new double authentication for online payments, rising gas prices, and a ban on older diesel vehicles in Greater Paris are among key changes this month
French government app ‘Simplimmat’ cuts paperwork on buying a used car Drivers should soon be able to complete the paperwork required to buy, sell and register ownership of a second-hand vehicle via the app, Simplimmat
Driver in south of France fined for driving too slowly on motorway The car was also found to be a non-licence vehicle, or a voiture sans permis (VSP), which are not allowed on motorways at all
France’s first highway code introduced 100 years ago in May 1921 It enshrined in law the rule of driving on the right-hand side of the road, although the country very nearly chose “English-style” left
Renault and Ikea team up to make a flat-pack car you build at home The vehicle is only at concept stage but, if successful, would contain 374 assemble-at-home pieces and cost around €5,300
Black boxes to be mandatory in new cars in France from 2022 The data recorders store information about driving conditions that will help police understand how accidents happen
Hire car shortage in France ahead of post-lockdown summer 2021 Fewer cars and a sharp rise for demand has seen hire costs more than double in several areas
Why cost of car repairs in France could plummet next year MPs introduce a new bill to end manufacturers' monopoly on certain spare parts. Price reductions of up to 70% for some parts predicted
Fine for not paying at toll gates in France rises to €375 The fine for not paying motorway tolls has been raised from €75, in preparation for new barrier-free péages in future
Europe’s ‘most affordable electric car’ on sale in France The Dacia Spring basic model will cost €12,403 with the government ecology grant, and opens for pre-orders next week
New Crit’Air sticker video surveillance for drivers in Paris From later this year, motorists driving without a sticker on their car, or with the wrong sticker, can receive a fine ranging from €68 to €450
Brexit: New rules for importing a UK car to France Extra formalities and costs are now involved in importing a UK car though they vary widely depending on personal circumstances and type of car
Rare Bristol was kept in French garage for 50 years A rare 1960 Bristol AC car that was kept in a garage at the bottom of a garden has been sold at auction for €369,520