Driving

Is car park surge pricing already in France?

Reports of existence in country exaggerated

Changes coming to several French low-emission zones in 2027

Tougher restrictions and fines for drivers in some cities

British motorists living in France may be eligible for car compensation

Find out which vehicles qualify and how much drivers could receive

driving

France wants 750 urban speed cameras in operation by end of 2027

Up to 150 such cameras are currently deployed on French roads

French supermarkets invest in more electric car charging points

Motorists can benefit from cheaper charging as retailers compete to offer lower prices

Cybersecurity attack sees information of 847,000 French number plates reportedly for sale

Hackers also claim to have taken email addresses and telephone numbers, with information potentially being used for fake fine scams

France-Spain motorway plans to introduce 100km/h speed limit

Nearly 200km of AP-7 in Catalonia would use AI cameras to help control limits

Petrol pumps and coloured fuel nozzles at a TotalEnergies station in Solaize, France

Fuel shortages worsen across France, hundreds of stations entirely out of supply

Release of 10 million barrels of diesel aims to drop prices from November 1

Close-up of green, black and red fuel nozzles at a petrol station

French fuel price cuts of up to 18 cents per litre from November 1

Government releases strategic diesel reserves under new decree

A14 motorway set to become free as A13, linking Paris and Caen, will close temporarily

The measure replaces a previous 50% planned price discount

French roads suffer from cracks following summer droughts

Repairs underway as clay soil shrinkage and expansion impact roads

A69 due to open in south-west France and work starts on A412

Protests and delays have slowed the arrival of France’s two newest autoroutes

Another speed camera destroyed by fire on motorway in southern France

The incident follows several recent attacks on speed cameras

Why a driver was charged €425 on a French motorway for a €1.70 journey

Find out what you should do if your toll tag is not detected by the machine

Three more speed cameras vandalised in Nouvelle-Aquitaine

The incidents come amid a wider wave of damage to speed cameras

Lorry drivers join protests against fuel prices, blocking motorway toll in south of France

Some 50 lorries are involved in the ‘go-slow’ demonstration, leading to traffic jams stretching nearly 10km in both directions

Can a car fail a contrôle technique check due to missing its reversing camera?

Find out when a car can fail its inspection and how drivers can challenge the decision

France’s A69 motorway opening delayed as protesters gather

Weekend demonstrations planned against new road as toll prices are announced

Video surveillance of drivers spreads to over 500 French towns and cities

Hundreds of communes now track driving offences such as speeding and mobile phone use with CCTV

How I imported right-hand-drive vehicles to France – and sold them without a loss

‘Judging by the number of people who rang there is no shortage of British buyers’

Wrong-side driving hazard is more of a risk when returning to the UK

UK slip-roads are better for avoiding wrong-way driving, says reader, but drivers can fall back into French habits

Close-up of multicoloured petrol pump nozzles at a gas station.

Fuel prices in France rise: latest as of October 5, 2026

Shortages affect 15% of stations nationwide and TotalEnergies sites in particular

Dark blue car with a crumpled bonnet, broken grille and damaged front bumper after a crash.

Driving on wrong side in France is easily done

Reader provides a warning based on experience

French town set to replace speed bump with ‘intelligent’ traffic lights

Light turns green when approaching drivers are travelling within the speed limit

Driver holds a smartphone over a steering wheel inside a car.

Phone at the wheel: drivers now face licence suspension anywhere in France

The measure was previously introduced by individual prefectures

France expands cameras that catch drivers running stop signs

Follows successful trial of system near Paris

Several changes come in for residents of France in October 2026

Gas price rises and a new leasing scheme for heat pumps are among updates

312km/h: Porsche driver commits biggest speeding offence recorded in France

The foreign driver was travelling at over double the motorway speed limit

Toll reduction for A69 motorway in south-west France rejected

Toll to be determined before motorway between Toulouse and Castres opens

France’s ‘virtual points’ for drivers with foreign licences: your questions answered

French nationals who have exchanged their French licence for a foreign one also affected

Volkswagen recall: drivers in France expected to be impacted

Owners can check online if their car is affected

Cars queue along an urban road on the Côte d’Azur.

Driving changes in France you may have missed in September 2026

Includes fuel price cap and mobile phone use

Blue hatchback driving on a motorway with an inset map of France and nearby roads.

Anger over late-payment fees on France's tollbooth-free motorways

‘Non-payment should be treated as an error to be corrected not as a crime’

Stolen car tracked across Paris before owner cuts engine to stop thieves

Three young suspects were arrested after the car was stopped

France to relaunch fuel aid scheme and expand it to 5.5 million drivers

The €100 aid will be renewed, with drivers who benefitted from first round of scheme seeing automatic payments

Motorcyclist checks a device beside a white Hyundai hatchback on a rural road

France advances plan for virtual points for foreign drivers

Aim is to end inequality between French and foreign-licence holders

Close-up of a hand holding a diesel fuel nozzle inserted into a vehicle at a petrol station.

French fuel crisis: summer diesel extended; 14% shortages at pumps

Prices hover at record levels but government will not cut fuel taxes

French mechanics point to foreign brand as most reliable

Its vehicles can travel up to 500,000km without major issues

TotalEnergies gas station with pumps, parked vehicles and trees in Nice, France.

Why are fuel prices so different across France?

Prices can differ by more than 25 cents per litre

Hospital in Nouvelle-Aquitaine to make some parking spaces paid: how common is this in France?

The hospital said the measure will prevent long-term parking by non-hospital users

Are older drivers in France required to use an ‘S’ sticker?

Stickers making buzz on social media as claims of new mandatory rules resurface

Tourist gets stuck driving caravan over south-west France bridge: rule reminder

Incident offers a timely reminder of caravan towing rules for drivers in France

Blockades spread across southern France as fuel shortages continue

Fishers say blockades will remain in place until government delivers aid to sector

French fishers blockade new fuel depot as shortage fears mount

Petrol prices continue to rise as hundreds of stations run out of fuel

Motorcyclist hospitalised after being struck by lightning in north-eastern France

The man was airlifted to hospital in Reims after the freak accident on road in Marne department

TotalEnergies petrol station with vehicles refuelling at multiple pumps

French government rules out further fuel aid: how much tax is in one litre of fuel?

Calls to cut VAT on fuel sales could cost billions

A view of someone using a SP95 petrol pump

France fuel crisis: one in ten service stations out of stock; depot blockaded in south

All-time record prices for petrol recorded at end of last week

Yellow Renault SUV parked in a lot with other cars and trees behind it.

What happens to a car lease in France if the leaseholder dies?

Insurance policies can cover payments

How to find free or discounted electric car charging in France

Free charging is available in some communes, usually for a limited period

French petrol prices reach record highs amid ongoing conflict in Middle East

A fifth of households now spend a month of annual income on fuel

Drivers in France visiting Spain warned over new traffic light rules

Changes to flashing orange lights look to improve pedestrian safety

Screenshot of heavy urban traffic with cars, vans and motorcycles queued on a multi-lane road

Paris ring-road radar that flashed at 30km/h to be moved and fines cancelled

Thousands of fines estimated to have been issued each day

A view of an electric Fiat 500 being charged

Study suggests electric cars cost three times less to run than petrol cars in France

Petrol and diesel prices remain above €2 per litre

France authorises tests of self-driving Tesla cars on its roads

The tests come less than two months after France raised safety concerns over the system

US self-driving taxi company sets up business in France

Waymo claims its taxis are safer than cars driven by humans

Another French commune cuts speed limit to 30 km/h

The move in the Somme commune of Longueau follows similar measures in other municipalities

Motorists angered as new Paris speed camera flashes at just 30km/h

Drivers have been reacting to the new installation on social media

Why are French car models most targeted for thefts of parts?

Stolen components feed a black market in France and abroad

French police catch tailgater with road patrol by plane

Driver caught after aircraft spotted the action from above

France’s ZFEs: what are the rules and have they made a difference?

A new Insee study looks at the effects of ZFEs since their introduction

Another French department introduces licence suspension for using phone when driving

The crackdown is spreading across France, but the length and conditions of suspensions vary between departments

Irish driver crashes in south-west France after driving on wrong side of road

Head-on collision in Tarn a timely reminder for British and Irish drivers in France

Will France introduce a per-kilometre tax on electric vehicles similar to the UK's new EV tax?

The UK is preparing to charge electric car drivers according to how far they travel

Map: unleaded petrol shortages grow – worst-hit areas

Localised shortage caused by record drought

Teenage female driver holding a smartphone in the driver's seat of a car.

French driving updates: recalls, radar cars and mobile use

Driving changes and safety updates for summer 2026

French driving licence document beside a car key on a table.

Can I switch from pink paper driving licence to French plastic one?

All licences must be converted to modern format by 2033

France unveils aid for second-hand electric car purchases and leasing

Some workers can benefit from up to €2,360 in aid

Strikes and heavy traffic make for a difficult weekend for travel in France

EasyJet cancellations, SNCF disruption and heavy road traffic are expected over the August 15 weekend

France tests road signs to protect endangered lynx

A three-year trial in the Haut-Jura aims to assess whether signs can reduce road collisions

British family who repeatedly defrauded motorway tolls handed €3,000 bill

The family had been avoiding the toll for some six months by lifting the barrier

How many high-vis vests are you required to keep in your car in France?

Confusion remains over the road rules for yellow jackets

Best places to stop to break up a road trip through France

Not-to-be-missed sightseeing, overnight stays, tourist attractions and picnic stops a short drive from the autoroute

Roadside radar speed camera warning sign against trees and blue sky.

What happens if a speed camera flashes two cars at once in France?

Some modern speed cameras have lane-distinguishing technology

New AI cameras detect phone use on France-Spain motorway

The pilot project caught thousands of motorists using their phones while driving

Aix-en-Provence creates France’s first parking spaces for small, no-licence cars

Orange bays are for vehicles under three metres long and the scheme also includes free electric charging and discounted parking in the city centre