Driving

Yellow lights for pedestrians in many cities in France - what do they mean?

The lights are being trialled in six major cities until 2027

Exemption from fees to register electric car to end across most of France from May

Applying for a carte grise will soon become more expensive

Drivers in France reminded of this little-known, strict car wash rule to avoid large fines

Environmental regulations impose a €450 fine – even outside drought periods

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Approval of roadside noise cameras in France will see fines issued against loud vehicles

The devices known as meduses already exist in several cities but so far have only been ‘instructional’

Leclerc supermarkets to sell car fuel at cost price for Easter

The initiative will apply to diesel, petrol, and LPG

How to check whether you have been issued a speeding fine in France

Fines can be sent anytime after an incident

Which French motorway toll subscription offers the best deal?

The ‘best’ packages vary depending on how often you use the road, the type of vehicle, and your destination

Look out for these three new French road signs to avoid €135 fine

Signs reinforce laws improving road safety on multiple-lane roads

Check traffic warnings near you in France for busy Easter weekend

Several regions are facing warnings across the period

Fines for driving in central Paris delayed until September

‘Educational period’ to be extended with drivers only cautioned for breaking rules

Are there smartphone apps that show the location of parking spaces in France?

There are several digital methods to pay for a parking spot

Must address on UK driving licence be changed after moving to France?

UK drivers may have to exchange their licence for a French one after moving

Map: Car insurance costs rise in France - see the average in your region

Multiple studies show that costs are rising by around 5% year-on-year, with major differences by region and vehicle model

Foreign drivers in France: three ways that new licence rules could impact you

New rules on exchanging a driving licence are among those scheduled to come into place

Briton crashes after driving 10km wrong way on French motorway

Police believe the 88-year-old was confused by driving on the opposite side of the road to the UK

How to check French second hand car is not stolen

Advice follows police seizure of a vehicle which was bought in good faith for €25,000

MPs push to remove low emission driving zones in France

Critics say the zones penalise lower-income households, but the government has warned abolishing them could cost billions

Map: where are there free motorways in France?

Only around one-quarter of France’s main road network is free from tolls

Motorcycle riders in France face significant rises in insurance fees

We look at how age and where the vehicle is parked impact costs

Three changes – and a potential new law – affecting drivers in France this April

Petrol prices are set to stay low following a production boom

Is it dangerous to drive a Tesla in France at the moment?

Several vehicles have been burned as anger rises against Tesla CEO Elon Musk

Five questions for British and American drivers in France on new driving licence rules

Digital licences will be widespread by 2030

Driving licences: New rules on medicals, UK exchanges and renewals in France

Planned EU legislation seeks to modernise documentation and improve road safety

Graph: See how French road fatality figures compare to previous years

195 deaths were recorded in February 2025

List: What you must carry in your car in France in 2025

French law stipulates equipment and vehicle standards that drivers must abide by year-round

Normandy - Paris motorway toll gates removed as part of nationwide ‘free flow’ effort

Land around 300-tonne structure will be reclaimed by nature

Tesla sales are plummeting in Europe - how does France fare?

Experts have blamed increased sales of European models, and Elon Musk’s political leanings

How are insurance details provided following road accidents in France?

Green insurance stickers were rarely used following accidents

French government wants work on A69 to continue despite court ban

Separate appeals against ruling and ban on work have been filed

Paris residents vote to pedestrianise 500 extra streets

Referendum was marred by low turnout and lack of concrete plans

Too many wrong-way drivers on French motorways

France intensifies efforts to prevent wrong-way driving incidents causing fatalities on motorways.

Map allows drivers to check out fuel prices across stations in France

The interactive tool uses a variety of sources to offer a real-time display of fuel prices

Prefect calls headlight flashing a security risk: when is it legal (and when not) in France?

‘Headlight flashing allows wanted individuals to avoid the police’

Map shows the cities in France with 30 km/h speed limits for drivers

The map shows where the lower limit is in force, along with the year it was adopted

French motorway that has been free for 40 years to reintroduce tolls

Stretch of motorway sees 50,000 passengers daily

Roadworthiness checks for motorbikes remain obligatory, rules French court

The ruling comes despite fierce opposition to the contrôle technique from many riding groups

Second-hand cars: Understand new French tax that looms

The new ‘malus écologique’ will be calculated based on CO2 emissions, weight, and kilometrage

How to check that your car is listed in France’s new digital insurance database

Green insurance stickers on windscreens were phased out in 2024

Can a car French insurer refuse to offer cover based on age?

Insurers can cancel contracts for several reasons

List: The sanctions cyclists risk if they break road rules in France

It comes after the Paris mairie promises harsher sanctions after a campaign to spot rule-breakers

What are rules for police checks on drivers - and why so many in south-west?

‘We want to make dangerous drivers worried’, says police chief

Older drivers in France increasingly want to maintain road skills

More than three in five older drivers would welcome training to ensure they stay safe on the roads

Error leaves 75,000 vehicles uninsured in France (drivers unaware)

Uninsured vehicles include HGVs and buses. Drivers should check their policy if insurance was provided by the broker in question

Licence-free car insurance costs are rising in France

Increased sales and accidents drive up insurance premiums for voitures sans permis (VSP)

Map shows location of new toll barrier-free motorways in France (attention you still need to pay)

Drivers without a toll-badge or account have 72 hours to settle up for their trips

Extra aid for people buying an electric car in France

The aid applies to multiple vehicle manufacturers in France

Driving speed limits lowered in Paris amid pollution spike

City sees fine-particle pollution exceed normal levels

New car-sharing lanes on Paris ring road and two motorways: how do they work?

Limits will be in place for rush hour traffic with fines of €135 for rule-breakers

9 updates for drivers in France: Toll rises, Paris car-sharing lanes and fines

Including a new car-sharing lane in Paris and the pedestrianisation of Lyon city centre

Court rules that half-built motorway in south-west France is ‘illegal’ and stops work

The government plans to appeal ‘historic decision’ over A69 and has asked for work to continue

What to do in case of a road accident in France

Guide to handling vehicle accidents and insurance protocols, including using the 'constat amiable'

How ‘friendly’ are drivers in France compared to the US and UK

France did not make the ranking’s top five…

How your Crit’Air car sticker rating correlates with insurance costs

Energy-efficient vehicle owners are unlikely to see cheaper insurance premiums

French speed radars: can you check if you have a fine online in case missed in post?

Outstanding fines can be found online

‘Careful’ road signs appearing in French towns and villages: what do they mean?

Signs display up to five blue hearts and are source of pride for local communes

Good news for electric car owners in France as thousands more charging stations to be installed

MPs recently rejected plans to bring forward ban on petrol vehicles

Holiday traffic jams: Avoid these routes in France this weekend

School holiday season sees many heading to – or returning from – Alpine resorts

Why repairing your car in France is becoming increasingly expensive

The cost has soared by more than 25% since 2020, with electric vehicles most dear, a new report has shown

Speed cameras in France: how do they compare in number to the US and the UK?

More fines are issued per-camera by French radars than many other countries

Photo: new road hazard for drivers in Brittany… a wallaby

The mysterious animal has been seen several times since December

Driving getting safer in France, suggest January 2025 road safety statistics

Fewer drivers, motorcyclists, and cyclists died last month - but more pedestrians lost their lives

Can UK paper driving licences be used to hire vehicles in France?

Some have highlighted issue of using non-French licences to hire vehicles

Faulty airbags: 236,000 Citroen owners in France told to stop using cars

Manufacturer says drivers should check if the airbags could be faulty and if so not to drive the vehicle until repaired

ZFE: Basque Country to ban most-polluting vehicles from June 2025

It comes as increasing numbers of towns in France are introducing low emission zones

More French communes bring in ‘intelligent’ traffic lights to fight speeding

The lights force approaching drivers to slow down to the correct speed limit

Photo: mystery of upside-down camping car in ditch in Brittany

The vehicle was found in an almost vertical position with no one inside or at the scene

List: Car models with potentially dangerous airbags in France

Millions of vehicles made between 1998 and 2019 are affected

These types and models of cars are most likely to be stolen in France

Thieves are also increasingly using electronic methods to steal vehicles, research shows

Drivers from France may soon be subject to new alcohol limit when visiting Spain

The new measure is expected to be rolled out in 2025

Record number of driving fines in France confirmed in latest official report

43 million fines for driving offences were recorded, a rise of 500,000 year-on-year

More French roads set to return to 90km/h speed limit

More than half of departments have overturned 2018 rule change which capped speeds at 80 km/h

Tips to save money when hiring a car in France

From comparing deals to private swaps, and checking for extra costs and insurance, here is how

Driver wins French speeding appeal due to radar day and time error

The man was not even on the road at the time stated on the fine

How to avoid massive traffic jams amidst holidays and ski season

Roads in the east will be particularly busy this weekend

Report older drivers who are potentially dangerous, prompts French prefect

France does not require medical checks for elderly drivers to keep their licences