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Driving

What is diamond sign that has appeared on major road near my French home?

Trial for use of sign is underway

Six ‘black traffic’ days predicted in France for 2026

Highest-level warnings occur around public and school holidays

Is it possible to register for barrier-free motorway alerts in France with a UK-registered car?

Concessionaires offer alerts notifying drivers when vehicle has passed through such routes

practical

Is there a way to check official information on French low-emission zones?

The future of ‘ZFEs’ remains unknown, but 25 are currently in place

Trending

France speed cameras 2026: phones and seatbelts not detected - yet

Recent reports in French media claim systems can identify these offences

How to lower the amount you pay for insurance in France

‘Big three’ insurances all set to see costs rise in 2026

Excessive speeding in France can now result in jail sentence

Over 60,000 cases of excessive speeding were recorded last year

'Remove traffic lights and road signs to encourage safer driving', says Louis Sarkozy

Son of former president says it would encourage 'more responsible' driving

Cars and driving: What's new in France in 2026

Changes include licence exchange fees, motorway toll changes and speed camera changes

More than a quarter of new car registrations in France are electric

EV sales hit new record in November 2025

Cheaper car fuel as French supermarkets launch two-day promotion

Cost-price fuel may also entice buyers into the supermarket

Map: French motorways and major roads to avoid as families head to slopes

Red traffic warnings are in place for Friday December 19

Are French speed limits lower when it is raining? How severe must weather be?

Several weather conditions affect maximum speeds in France

Graph: road fatalities in France in November 2025 higher than previous year

More than 1,200 serious injuries were recorded alongside 270 fatalities

Are there exemptions for customs duties when importing a car to France from outside the EU?

Some UK cars are exempt based on where parts originate

France’s first 100% electric service station set to open in 2026

Station in Brittany will include six ultra-fast charging points

How to survive driving while senior and nervous on French roads

Columnist Cynthia Spillman provides some useful advice on getting behind the wheel

‘Radiator road’ that never freezes under test in France

High costs could prove barrier to widespread installation of the technology

Speed cameras 'set to flash visibly again' as France's radar network expands

The new system will help to educate drivers, officials believe

New €40 fee for exchanging non-French driving licence proposed

Incoming fee would apply to all licence exchanges

Motorway fees to increase in 2026 - see where and by how much

Annual increase is lowest for some years

Travellers to Spain reminded of overtaking rules: French drivers affected

Rule change in 2022 set to stay but is unknown by many

EU rules on driver medicals: a call for full enforcement in France

Driving lawyer backs new directive proposing obligatory health checks on licence renewal

Why hundreds of road signs across France have had flames added to them

Signs in at least two dozen departments have been targeted in recent days

Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians warned of major road change in Nice

Court rules that widely used one-way seafront road must become two-way

Drivers in France warned to stay vigilant on roads this weekend

Winter road safety plan has been launched as icy conditions expected

Why thousands of parking spaces will soon disappear across France

Deadlines for changes from the 2019 Mobility Law are fast approaching

Can you be fined for using a smartwatch when driving in France?

Highway Code warns against use of mobile phones, but not smartwatches

New police check campaign in south-west France as road deaths rise

Fatal accidents are up significantly, prompting authorities to launch a new safety campaign

Mass police checks in Dordogne see hundreds of drivers stopped

Rise in burglaries and road deaths leads to three-hour operation at motorway A89 toll barrier

Roadside sculptures: France's motorway art

Explore the history of the 1% artistique scheme that publicly funds artworks

New driving app coming soon for Spain-France motorway

Vocal alerts and live traffic updates will allow users to adapt their journey

How ‘margin of error’ works for French speed cameras

Accidentally sped past a camera? Here is how they really record your speed

How to check your driving licence points online in France

French licences have 12 points on them which can be removed following driving offences

Driving at night in France: What are the rules on headlights?

Rules are dependent upon where the road is, the exterior lighting, and weather conditions

Can I have both US and French driving licence and use latter at second home?

Those obtained from certain US states and other countries cannot be exchanged for one from France

Several motorways in France to remove toll tickets, but keep exit barriers

System removes need for paper tickets but ensures drivers do not forget to pay tolls

How can drivers get a disabled parking badge in France?

UK versions of the badge should now be recognised in France

Is it a good idea to change car insurance providers regularly in France?

Changing can save you hundreds, but a new poll shows many are missing out

Private radar cars begin to patrol roads in the Alpes-Maritimes

Three unmarked vehicles cover 2,500 km of roads along an initial 44 routes

Photos: Unique wooden Mercedes 300 SL up for auction in northern France

Cabinet maker built car out of Asian teak

Can I contest a failed roadworthiness test in France?

All test centres work with a mediator to resolve disputes

Tests underway on French motorway into recharging electric vehicle as you drive

‘World-first’ scheme sees quicker charging times than traditional methods

How to declare the sale of a car in France - and why it is important to do this

You must complete sale transfer form online or risk receiving the new owner’s driving fines

What is an FPS parking fine in France and how can it be contested?

Parking fines have a three-month payment deadline

Drop in French radar fine income in 2024 after damage to cameras

Fixed cameras generated €76 million less revenue than in 2023

Six models of Renault cars recalled in France over fault with handbrake

Issue can see vehicles move when drivers undo seatbelts or try to exit the car. Affected models will be repaired for free

Driving licence changes confirmed across EU: France affected

Rules on medical tests, licence renewals and information sharing for serious penalties all updated

Winter tyre rules mandatory in French mountain areas from November

See which departments require the tyres and which only partially apply the law

Cheaper car repairs in France as court reduces manufacturer monopoly on spare parts

Change in ruling means garages now able to source parts from shops that have opened all over the country

Why hundreds of thousands of number plates in France are turning pink

New government measures target temporary plates

Car ownership costs on the rise in France

Up to 80% of monthly household transportation budget goes towards vehicle costs

Nouvelle-Aquitaine speed camera catches 540 drivers in one day

The temporary camera has broken records for a single device

Registering a used car in France may cost more from 2026. Here’s why

Malus system for heavy and polluting cars will be applied to some older vehicles when sold

Why French drivers are turning towards long-term car rental

Despite higher costs lease rental now dominates the market

Road accident hotspot in Normandy prompts calls for speed camera action

Local authorities want speed camera installed ‘without consultation’ to be placed in better location

Car hire in France: supermarket rentals, peer-to-peer options, and how to save

Popularity has risen over the past decade with convenient and affordable options

Dynamic speed limits begin on A7 motorway near Lyon in bid to improve road safety

Lower limits - down to 50 km/h - will be implemented in heavier traffic or adverse weather conditions

Most departments in France using private unmarked radar cars, more to follow this month

Vehicles are switched frequently between areas

What is ‘bridging insurance’ for non-French vehicles?

Vehicles being relocated to France require temporary insurance if not covered by domestic policy

Speeding in France: Rules and penalties explained

What are the limits, and what should you do if you receive a fine (especially if you want to contest it)?

EV grants, low-emission zones, winter tyres: seven French driving updates for October

Including EV leasing returns, recalls, malus changes, and winter tyre rules

Are French driving licences valid for life?

Rules around renewing depend on which kind you have

Is it worth getting breakdown cover in France?

This can be an optional extra if not already provided in insurance policy

How can I check my car is registered for French barrier-free motorway tolls?

Several barrier-free motorway péages now exist in France

Who is eligible for France's new electric vehicle leasing scheme?

Rates to have use of a new electric car start at €95 per month, with the new scheme open today

France tightens number plate rules – but certain plates now more at risk of fraud

The reforms have been planned since 2021

Are major changes to France’s contrôle technique taking place next year?

Transport Ministry has responded after several articles sparked confusion

Confusion over list of electric vehicles set to benefit from new eco-discount in France

Official list of vehicles that can benefit from €1,000 bonus contains several errors

French driving rules: what is ‘right of way abuse’?

‘Abus de priorité’ means drivers can be penalised even if they have right of way

Roadside police checks increase in southern France to combat accident rate

Police can ask drivers to pull over to confirm documents or check they are driving safely

How to contest incorrect speeding fines in France

Have you fallen victim to a defective camera or incorrect information? Here is what to do

Can new arrivals in France insure vehicle on foreign licence?

Insurers should bear in mind validity rules for different countries’ licences

‘Lizard’ road sign in France - this is what it means

Livestock, deer…lizard? The sign warning of a rare kind of animal hazard

Driver in Brittany dies after being swept away on flooded road

Woman was driving to work in the early morning after heavy storms