Practical

French gas prices: should you switch to a fixed deal before May rise?

Bills may increase by €200 per year due to increase in global gas prices

Italy announces 25c per litre drop in fuel price: will France follow suit?

Decree also provides for tax credits for haulers to prevent rises in consumer goods

How best to grow your capital in France in the current financial climate

Making your capital work for you in the current financial climate

practical

How to save money on getting married in France

The average French wedding costs €19,921

Trace forgotten French bank accounts with government tool

€164 million recouped in 2025 from old accounts

Why is La Poste refusing to send my letter to the US?

There has been confusion over how customs rules apply to letters

Fuel prices continue to rise in France: tips to keep costs low

Diesel reaches €2.07 per litre on average, 20% higher than end of February

IVF treatment in France made me discover strength I never knew I had

One in 25 of all births in the country result from fertility treatment

Official tool lets you estimate your French tax for 2025 income

Simulator can help taxpayers check what payments may be due later in year

Can the French tax office seize money from my bank account?

This can happen if you leave such bills unpaid, usually after several reminder letters

How to find a notaire following a bereavement in France

A notaire will need to be involved with administration of an estate when property is involved

My son got a speeding fine while driving my car in France - is my licence at risk?

Speeding fines are sent to the person registered as the car’s owner

What types of child custody arrangements exist for parents in France?

Family judges are sometimes required to rule on custody cases

How long does récépissé for Brexit card renewal last?

Holders of five-year cards are now renewing document

What are your rights if police pull you over in France?

Police can stop drivers at any point for a roadside check

Checks planned at French petrol stations over fuel prices

‘I have never seen such a sharp rise in so quick a time’

I had no debits taken for French residential tax - what should I do?

Amounts taken depend on how much, and when, you are scheduled to pay

I have overstayed the 90 day rule in France - what will happen?

Rules limit how long travellers can remain in EU without requiring a visa

Chimney sweeping rules in France: Can you do this yourself - and how often is required by law?

Insurance companies have their own requirements

Why buying in Paris is harder than it looks for foreign buyers

Many international clients are surprised by the fragmented nature of the French property market

Ultra-light solar car takes to the road in Brittany

Adjustable solar panels enable the vehicle to run largely on its own power

Is there an exemption for helping my child buy a home in France?

2025 finance law gives time-limited exemption with regard to gifts of money for this purpose

Can UK vehicle be registered at French second home?

Confusion over ‘proof of address’ required for request

When can you seek a second medical opinion in France?

Some mutuelles include cover for a specific service related to this

Fuel costs: should drivers fill up tank across the border outside of France?

Fuel prices have risen globally but some countries less affected than others

Water bills rise by up to 40% in parts of Normandy

It follows the installation of remotely-read meters to homes around Caen in Calvados. Authorities claim previous readings were incorrect

New rules to define heat pumps eligible for energy grants in France

List set to be published in September 2026 as bodies call for more available aid

Concrete barriers are replacing metal ones on many roads in France

Authorities seek more durable infrastructure and fewer maintenance closures

Why almost a million French households risk higher electricity bill in March

EDF must implement ‘red day’ tariffs before end of month

Unpaid bills led to a million electricity and gas ‘cut-offs’ in France in 2025

The number of accounts affected has risen by 79% since 2019

Low-cost British airline adds three new UK-Strasbourg routes

Jet2 to operate from Strasbourg airport for the first time

Make sense of... the role of mayors in France

Responsibilities include maintenance of communal roads, and civil services such as registering births, marriages and deaths

Drivers in France rush for fuel amid price rises and fear of shortages

Country has three-month supply but global instability has caused rush to the pumps

How to renew your Brexit residency card: the Lot prefecture explains

Department says process has gone well so far but extra staff were recruited to cope with workload

Can drivers park in French delivery zones?

Special zones are found near commercial centres where high frequency of delivery vehicles are expected

Fuel price increase ‘inevitable’ in France following Middle East conflict

Prices estimated to rise between 7 - 20 cents per litre of fuel depending on length of hostilities

Several changes come in for drivers in France in March 2026

Vehicle registration fees and taxes on new vehicle purchases among major changes

Mosquitoes are already back in France – see areas most affected

Widespread hatchings reported in several coastal and eastern areas after an exceptionally wet and mild winter

How does repatriation from France to the US work after a death?

Local consulates should be informed of the death of a US citizen abroad

Is there a ‘bedroom tax’ in France for additional rooms?

The surface area of rooms is used to calculate property taxes

What changes for residents in France in March 2026

Major changes for drivers, hospital patients, and property owners

Map: How does France’s inflation compare to Europe’s in 2026?

EU finally reaches 2% target

Can non-citizens in France be foster parents?

Famille d'accueil are paid and considered employees

How much is second home insurance in France?

There is no legal obligation to insure a second home if it is a fully independent property

Can I get a UK S1 form as pensioner in France?

Anyone in the country who claims a UK state pension is typically eligible to receive an S1 form

Can I install chicken coop for my own eggs during shortage?

Coops are subject to taxes if over a certain size

Are ‘lifetime driving licences’ coming to an end in France?

Incoming EU rules on licences only partially affect France

Ski station near Nice closes for season due to lack of snow

Several southern Alpine stations are at risk of permanent closure due to changing climate

What do you risk if you hire someone for work on your home and pay cash-in-hand?

Undisclosed payments cost French economy billions each year

UK’s ETA transition period ends: what changes for residents of France?

Rules have been toughened for those with dual UK or Irish and another citizenship

294 French communes classified as natural disaster zones following flooding

Homeowners - including second homes - now have 30 days to make a catastrophe naturelle claim

France’s home renovations grants relaunch: key points to know

MaPrimeRénov’ is once again available to households of all income levels

Did you know? These plants are forbidden in French gardens

Invasive species cannot be sold, planted, or exchanged

Sending letters and parcels to US from France: what are the latest rules?

La Poste has now restarted Colissimo parcel deliveries

Can you vote by proxy in French elections?

French and EU citizens are eligible to vote in municipal elections

What are penalties for not conforming with new septic tank requirement?

Financial aid is available for homeowners needing to install new tanks

How can I reduce my wife's admin after my death in France?

Specialist UK firms can help ease things along and liaise with the notaire

How to get UK TV signal back in French home?

Newer satellite box models can help

Are second homes in France a good investment?

Investment picture is variable depending on geographical location

Cost price fuel available at hundreds of petrol stations this weekend in France

E.Leclerc and Intermarché deals coincides with winter holiday travel

More than a million people in France hit by bank account data breach

Account holders advised to check direct debits after cybertattack on national bank account register

Who decides if a political party is far left or far-right in France?

Parties can contest the status with which they are labelled

€1.2m Dubai case ruling shows importance of knowing French tax residency rules

Couple ordered to pay backdated taxes to France

Homeowners in France warned of solar panel scam danger

Unscrupulous sellers target homeowners who are keen to install solar panels, says consumer rights group

Why storms in France have indirectly caused carbon monoxide poisoning

We cover tips and rules for detectors

Thousands of BMWs recalled in France due to fire risk

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

How to save money on seeing a specialist doctor in France

Some specialists charge more than others for the same service

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

Thermal cure funding confirmed in France for 2026

Cure thermale is a prescribed medical treatment using fresh spring water in an approved centre

Explained: how to register a classic car in France

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

Inheritance tax guidance for UK nationals with assets in France

Inheritance tax allowances in France and the UK have been frozen for years

Explained: French civic tests for residency and citizenship

Cultural sessions now offered to newcomers undergoing the Contrat d’intégration républicaine (CIR) process via the Ofii immigration service

Is new healthcare fee for Americans still on the way in France?

Last year French MP told how he put forward plan aimed at ‘visitor visa’ holders

French police issue warning over new ‘fake bank card’ scam

Accompanying letter asks users to set up new card using fake bank website and QR code

Five-year WA card holders in France reminded to apply for renewal in good time

If you obtained your card in 2021, you should apply to renew it two months before the expiry date