Driving

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 six service stations out of stock; depot blockaded in south

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

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

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

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Drivers in France visiting Spain warned over new traffic light rules

Changes to flashing orange lights look to improve pedestrian safety

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

French driving updates: recalls, radar cars and mobile use

Driving changes and safety updates for summer 2026

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

Red fuel nozzle inserted into a blue car at a petrol station.

When will fuel prices in France drop after oil price fall?

Both petrol and diesel costs increased across July as tensions flared in the Middle East

Major section of A1 motorway closes for nearly two weeks in northern France

Drivers heading towards Lille, Belgium and the Netherlands should allow extra time and follow diversion routes

Collage showing office documents, call centre staff, a gas stove being adjusted and a car refuelling at a Beyour petrol station.

What changes for residents in France in August 2026

Bills will change for millions of households, fuel scheme extends, and savings accounts see new rates

Blue van driving on a rural road beside fields, with a warning sign and French road sign.

Explained: Driving on France's busy summer roads

Take note of the rules of the road as holiday traffic brings congestion and increased police checks

What are criteria to apply for France's electric car leasing scheme?

Third year of popular programme sees 50,000 contracts available

A13 between Paris and Normandy to close for nine months from November

The closure will affect traffic towards Normandy as safety work is carried out on the Saint-Cloud tunnel

Fuel prices in France: outlook 'extremely uncertain'

Government remains unsure over future prices, while TotalEnergies relaunches price cap

How can I know if the speed limit is 80 or 90km/h on French roads?

An interactive map shows which departments have restored the higher limit and how many kilometres of roads are affected

TotalEnergies electric charging station with several charging points at a roadside site in Trementines, France.

Electric vehicle charging assistants deployed at busy French motorway service stations

Bornistes help drivers use busy charging hubs and resolve technical problems during the peak getaway period

Isère to restore 90km/h speed limit on 3,000km of roads

Alpine department will return many roads to the higher limit, reversing 2018 national reduction

New motorway costs if driving from France into Belgium

Proposed system is intended to make all road users contribute to maintenance costs

‘Intelligent’ traffic lights appearing across several French communes

How French towns are using technology to adapt road safety

Why can car washes in France remain open despite drought restrictions?

Professional car washes often include water recycling systems

Driver-monitoring cameras: What is changing with new cars in France

New measures are aimed at preventing serious accidents

Can I get a French driver's licence ‘from scratch’ without exchanging my US one?

You cannot hold more than one valid driving licence for use in France at the same time

Traffic expected across French motorways as school holidays begin

Roads will be particularly busy in north and west as second-highest traffic warnings raised

Drivers in France bring legal case over ‘phantom braking’

‘My car suddenly stopped on motorway at 100km/h’

90 km/h road sign in front of an old house and greenery in rural Dordogne, France.

Normandy department goes against court ruling to keep 90km/h speed limits

Higher limits will remain until at least January 2027 as new accident studies carried out

Most private radar car flashes in France do not result in fines, says driving organisation

Four out of five recorded flashes did not lead to a fine in 2024, it claims

Controversial A69 motorway in south-west France to go ahead after court battle ends

Earlier annulation of environmental permits was unjust, rules country’s highest administrative court

Call for EU limits on SUV size to protect parking and pedestrians

Paris could lose up to 12,000 on-street parking spaces by 2040 if cars continue to get bigger, report claims

Peugeot and DS cars recalled in France over door handle safety defect

Owners can check affected models in government list

Electric vehicle leasing, gas bill rises: what changes in France in July 2026

Card payments are also set to begin on Parisian public transport

Why are many French roads turning white during the heatwave

White streaks can be seen on roads from Brittany to Lyon

Four in 10 French garages breach fraud and malpractice rules

1,600 garages of all sizes inspected by government watchdog

The rules on exchanging a UK licence for a French licence

Exchange deadline depends on date licence was issued alongside other factors

Beware of a common summer driving habit that could land you with a €35 fine in France

Many drivers are unaware that their choice of footwear could lead to a fine

Common mistakes foreign drivers may make in France

From Crit’Air stickers to alcohol limits, the rules of the roads can vary compared to other countries

Worst traffic days in France revealed for summer 2026

Bison Futé predicts ‘extremely difficult conditions’ during peak holiday periods

Tax on importing a UK car to France: rules and exemptions

Brexit trade rules can come into play to reduce levies on certain vehicles

More drivers face instant licence loss in France for phone use

500 licences already revoked as another western-France department starts measure

A view of a certificat d'enregistrement or carte grise

Driver in south-east France registered car to daughter, 9, to avoid fines

She took father to court after turning 19 and finding out she had €5,000 of penalties

Motorist caught speeding at 136 km/h on Nice’s Promenade des Anglais

Man taken into custody after driving at high speeds in 50 km/h zone

Car leasing in France: fee disputes flagged by consumer watchdog

Popular contracts are not subject to typical protections

Can French police suspend foreign driving licences?

Departments are cracking down on mobile phone usage behind the wheel

30,000 EV chargers on major French roads by 2035

Ministries must coordinate to implement plan

Price of new cars in France fell for first time in five years in 2025

The cost to purchase a new car has increased 29% since 2019

Green compact SUV, Renault 5 E-Tech, in side view on a colourful gradient background.

Electric car sales rise sharply in 2026: grants and eligibility in France explained

Up to €5,700 is available for lower income households

New stretch of contested A69 motorway in south-west France opens

Entire road should be fully operational by mid-October

French PM warned against lowering VAT on fuel

Proposal measures described as too costly by advisory body

France’s speed cameras are infuriating – and that’s why they keep getting vandalised

Columnist Samantha David says the devices seem designed to catch drivers out

Why some cars have red, pink or green number plates in France

Coloured plates are used in specific circumstances

A view of a number plate showing the ‘F’ for France sign

I fell victim to number plate fraud in France - fines kept arriving

Resident fined multiple times even though he was in US at the time of offences

Diesel price at lowest since mid-March but do shortages loom?

Fuel supplies may enter ‘red zone’ in July or August due to increased summer usage

France road deaths rise in 2025, official figures show

Speed and alcohol remain the leading causes of fatal crashes

Close-up of a hand holding a French identity card in Paris.

Does taking a test to obtain a French licence make you a ‘new driver’ for insurers?

It is not possible to request a simple exchange of some US driving licences

Spain’s new speed cameras can catch drivers ‘before they have time to brake’

The new laser-based AI speed cameras can identify vehicles from over 200 metres away

TotalEnergies extends fuel cap in France throughout June

Drivers will benefit from current cap at all stations for at least a further month

Speed camera box beside a road as a blurred car drives past

Drivers in France face more cameras and harsher penalties

Rising road deaths are ‘intolerable’, minister says

Speed limits reduced across France as heatwave drives ozone pollution alerts

Regional measures aim to reduce emissions and limit health risks during peak temperatures

French driver fined €43,000 for traffic offences he did not commit

A French driver spent four years fighting fines for offences he says he never committed

A damaged roadside speed camera stands near a rural road, with two police officers and a vehicle nearby.

Drivers in France destroy ‘abusive’ countryside speed camera on hill

‘You can easily hit 100km/h without realising’

New fuel aid announced for drivers in France: who can claim and how much?

€1.2billion support package announced due to high petrol prices

Constitutional Council blocks removal of low-emission zones for drivers in France

Vote to end zones à faibles émissions (ZFEs) overturned on review

Can speed cameras in France check if a car is insured?

Discover how automated road systems actually work in practice