Driving

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

practical

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

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

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

What are the rules for UK driving licences for people who live in France?

Date when licence was first issued is significant

Are older drivers in France required to take a medical test for licence renewal?

Recent EU vote and MP proposals have caused confusion

Graph: last month was deadliest August on French roads since 2011

Several prefectures are looking at ways to tackle rising fatality rate

Driving in France: Rules around when to use hazard lights

Drivers risk fines for misusing these warnings

Prefecture in south-west France launches ‘accidentoscope’ to improve road safety: what is this?

Accidents increased by 10% in August 2025 compared to previous year

French prefecture threatens to suspend licences for using phone when driving

Motorists could be without licence for up to six months. A trial period next month will decide on course of action

New road signs drivers in France should be aware of

Free-flow motorways, level crossings, and ‘stopover villages’ all affected

Unmarked radar cars to begin patrols in two new French departments

Radar cars will patrol roads with speed limits of 70 km/h or higher and focus on areas near major cities

France launches new €1,000 grant for electric cars with European-made batteries

Purchasers will automatically receive discount on final price

France looks to digitalise traffic fines

Online platform set to simplify administrative procedures and end the problem of fines getting lost in the post

Car part thefts on rise in France: Item stolen every five minutes

Headlights, wheels and catalytic converters are most common items stolen

Speed cameras in France: how far from warning signs are they?

The authorities use these signs to inform drivers they are approaching a speed camera

What to be aware of when lending a car to family or friends in France

Vehicle insurance policies include specific clauses detailing who is authorised to borrow it

Issues with my new French camping car: who should I contact?

New purchases in France are covered by warranties

‘120km/h to zero in seconds’: Phantom car-braking on motorway near Lyon

Driver calls for urgent recognition of the risks posed by automatic systems

EV charging in France: tips from a Tesla driver with second home in south

Jonathan Wort, 73, regularly travels across from the UK

Connexion reader US-bound after driving licence issue resolved in France

Ron Kirk lost his ‘A’ category for riding large bikes after moving to France 15 years ago

Electric car leasing, winter tyres, ‘malus’ system expanded: What will impact drivers in France in coming months?

We look at what you need to know to make savings, avoid fines and penalties and stay within the law

Mont Blanc tunnel closure - see alternative options

The tunnel will close from September until mid December

Can British classic car be registered in France?

There are both benefits and restrictions to registration as a véhicule de collection

Mass fines issued as speed limit lowers on key road near Nice

Locals claim change was not made clear, but mairie says information was given in several ways

What is the meaning behind these sombre roadside signs in France?

The black silhouettes are not common but can be seen along certain accident-prone roads

French taxi strikes in September called off... for now

Drivers threatened airport and station blockade amid incoming medical transport fee changes

Graph: Increase in road deaths across France in July 2025

Several departments are attempting to tackle the issue of road deaths with increased police presence and more frequent checks

Peugeot 308 cars recalled in France due to seatbelt fault

Drivers must contact dealership if vehicle affected

Drivers of popular family car warned over seat theft risk in France

Warning comes after spate of thefts targeting rear seats

Unnecessarily driving in the middle lane in France can result in a fine

More than half of motorists drive in this lane on motorways at night and weekends

Reports of ‘phantom braking’ by cars on French roads raise safety concerns

Fear that potentially faulty braking assistance systems could lead to major crashes

Tips for saving money on motorway travel in north France

Some motorway service stations in France offer discount deals on food, drink, and fuel

Section of major French motorway to close for most of August

Closure of A14 that links Paris to western suburbs will heighten busy summer traffic for holidaymakers returning to the capital

Spanish authorities are systematically stopping cars with certain French number plates

Police believe the cars may be stolen or linked to crime

Two French companies to sell fuel at cost price this weekend

Some 1,500 stations will sell petrol at reduced rate during busy holiday traffic period

What to do if your French vehicle breaks down abroad

There are steps to follow to ensure that you are best prepared should this happen

Can neighbours park outside of my house in France?

It is sometimes illegal to park in front of your own property

French driving rules that surprise foreign drivers

Priorité à droite, alcohol limits and mandatory equipment can catch drivers out

Why does France have so many quirky motorway sculptures?

Giant boars, cockerels, horses and strange geometric shapes - all can be traced back to a law that says a certain amount of the budget for new infrastructures must be spent on art

France resident hit with €1,195 bill for charging car in Spain

The British motorist charged his EV at a Shell Recharge station

Second-home owners: used car or rental in France?

Choice between registering a vehicle or renting one depends on number of factors

Can someone take a car for French roadworthiness test when its owner is away?

Vehicles without a test certificate cannot be used

French MP proposes all vehicles carry extinguisher to prevent wildfires

The rule is already in place in some other EU countries

France’s priorité à droite rule – what it means and when it applies

The priority to the right rule is a core – albeit confusing – principle of French driving law

Private speed camera cars to start operating on the French Riviera

It is one of several measures to reduce speeding drivers along Nice’s Promenade des Anglais

Road deaths on Nice’s Promenade des Anglais spark alarm over safety crisis

Popular seaside route described as ‘an open-air cemetery’

Are driving licence points deducted in France for cycling offences?

Cars are not the only vehicles in France regulated by the Code de la route

Can French radars flash drivers in both directions?

The country is upgrading how it monitors speeding, including new cameras and unmarked cars

France to change the rules to legitimise illegal speed bumps

Up to 400,000 speed bumps are to be legalised, angering road safety associations

Driving

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

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

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

Can I contest a failed roadworthiness test in France?

Trending

EasyJet offers 17 new winter routes to France, including several from UK

When and why do we say à faire pleurer dans les chaumières?

Official map reveals one in four people in France live in a flood risk area

More readers speak out on French citizenship denial over foreign income

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

Six key points about 2025 French property market identified by notaires

French second homes: tax-exemption time for capital gains may be reduced

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

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

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

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

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

Driving licence changes confirmed across EU: France affected

Winter tyre rules mandatory in French mountain areas from November

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

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

Car ownership costs on the rise in France

Nouvelle-Aquitaine speed camera catches 540 drivers in one day

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

Why French drivers are turning towards long-term car rental

Road accident hotspot in Normandy prompts calls for speed camera action

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

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

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

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

Speeding in France: Rules and penalties explained

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

Are French driving licences valid for life?

Is it worth getting breakdown cover in France?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Roadside police checks increase in southern France to combat accident rate

How to contest incorrect speeding fines in France

Can new arrivals in France insure vehicle on foreign licence?

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

Driver in Brittany dies after being swept away on flooded road

What are the rules for UK driving licences for people who live in France?

Are older drivers in France required to take a medical test for licence renewal?

Graph: last month was deadliest August on French roads since 2011

Driving in France: Rules around when to use hazard lights

Prefecture in south-west France launches ‘accidentoscope’ to improve road safety: what is this?

French prefecture threatens to suspend licences for using phone when driving

New road signs drivers in France should be aware of

Unmarked radar cars to begin patrols in two new French departments

France launches new €1,000 grant for electric cars with European-made batteries

France looks to digitalise traffic fines

Car part thefts on rise in France: Item stolen every five minutes

Speed cameras in France: how far from warning signs are they?

What to be aware of when lending a car to family or friends in France

Issues with my new French camping car: who should I contact?

‘120km/h to zero in seconds’: Phantom car-braking on motorway near Lyon

EV charging in France: tips from a Tesla driver with second home in south

Connexion reader US-bound after driving licence issue resolved in France

Electric car leasing, winter tyres, ‘malus’ system expanded: What will impact drivers in France in coming months?

Mont Blanc tunnel closure - see alternative options

Can British classic car be registered in France?

Mass fines issued as speed limit lowers on key road near Nice

What is the meaning behind these sombre roadside signs in France?

French taxi strikes in September called off... for now

Graph: Increase in road deaths across France in July 2025

Peugeot 308 cars recalled in France due to seatbelt fault

Drivers of popular family car warned over seat theft risk in France

Unnecessarily driving in the middle lane in France can result in a fine

Reports of ‘phantom braking’ by cars on French roads raise safety concerns

Tips for saving money on motorway travel in north France

Section of major French motorway to close for most of August

Spanish authorities are systematically stopping cars with certain French number plates

Two French companies to sell fuel at cost price this weekend

What to do if your French vehicle breaks down abroad

Can neighbours park outside of my house in France?