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Driving

Thousands of BMWs recalled in France due to fire risk

Wear and tear of motor behind recall of vehicles manufactured in 2020-2022

Fourth French prefecture introduces on-spot licence suspensions for drivers using mobile phones

Northern department becomes fourth to allow police to impose immediate bans for motorists caught using phones at wheel

Car insurance fees set to rise - tips on how to make savings

Premiums are forecast to rise by four to six percent in 2026

practical

Explained: how to register a classic car in France

It is relatively straightforward to get a carte grise véhicule de collection for your vehicle

Trending

Bikers tag dangerous French roads to shame authorities

Operation carried out for a number of years by local groups of the Fédération française des motards en colère

Do I need separate caravan insurance in France?

Fixed and mobile models have different rules and coverage

How can I know if speed limit is 80 km/h or 90 km/h on road following changes?

More than 50 departments have partially or fully overturned 2018 law change reducing limits on secondary roads

+39% increase: Paris sees major parking cost changes in 2026

Arrondissements in the east saw the largest increase in costs

Traffic warnings in place this weekend as French school holidays continue

Many drivers will be heading to the Alps leading to congested roads

Private radar vehicles catch 4,000 drivers speeding in south west France in just four months

More than one-fifth of infractions were recorded on Toulouse ring road

Another French region to increase ‘carte grise’ costs in March: what are prices near you?

Seven regions now charge maximum ‘CV’ tax

Police across France hunt abandoned cars to free up spaces in urban areas

Vehicles cannot be parked on a public road in the same place for more than seven days

52nd French department abandons 80km/h speed limit

Eure is latest to restore 90km/h limit on some roads

Speed camera in France vandalised for fifth time since 2024

The device in south-west France had just been repaired…again

Flashes return on French speed cameras

The government says that flashes are a ‘good educational tool’

Speed camera in Brittany reinstalled after being burnt three times

Mairie says radar is ‘only response to safety concerns’ by local residents

French motorway breakdown fees rise in 2026: how does the system work?

Motorway operators are responsible for callouts on roads they control

Why it is becoming harder to park in urban areas in France

A new law is set to come into force this year

French driver fined €135 and has points removed from licence for using phone in parking lot

The move has been criticised for its overly-strict interpretation of driving regulations

Driving from France into Switzerland in 2026: latest sticker requirements

Sticker comes in physical or digital format, and failure to have it results in a fine

What are seatbelt rules on coaches and buses in France?

Police have been carrying out spot checks on school buses

New taxi fees for France: examples for Lyon, Nice, Paris

Fees and surcharges are regulated by government, with set prices for popular airport routes

Is French ‘malus’ tax being applied to second-hand cars?

Change was included in 2025 budget law

Departments in south-west France introduce tougher penalties for mobile phone usage when driving

Measure comes after record numbers of drivers caught using phones on the road

Farmer protests in France: Blockades in place on several major roads

Tractor convoys head for Paris ahead of a major protest planned for Thursday

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

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

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

French mayor fines engine idling motorists: What does the law say?

Is it illegal to keep your motor running when stopped in France?

Farmer protests: How to check which French roads are blocked today

Tractor blockades cause disruption to motorways and local traffic

Farmers block roads and clash with police in Occitanie over cow culling order

A75 blocked by around 100 tractors with protests set to continue into weekend

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

Work on A69 motorway in south-west France should continue, judges told

Appeals court will rule on the matter in January and usually follows rapporteur advice

Do drivers still need Crit’Air car pollution stickers in France?

Low-emission zones are set to be removed

French contrôle technique test to also check for faulty airbags from January 1, 2026

Vehicles fitted with Takata airbags that are subject to an ongoing stop-drive campaign will fail and be unable to be driven until issue resolved

Pink number plates officially arrive in France from 2026

The new system is designed to help curb fraud and make checks easier for police

EU ministers reject plans for annual roadworthiness test for older vehicles

Concerns over costs leaves EU Council backing current measures

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