Practical

Paris,,France,,15-09-2023,:,Sign,Of,La,Poste

US-France postal disruptions make sending gifts costly – how to work around it

Three attempts and more than €200 later, American Greg Marshall still has not been able to send a 2.6 kilogram gift package back to the US

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

Yellow La Poste mailbox on a Paris pavement next to a stone wall.

How will proposed changes to La Poste affect people in France?

Slower letters, fewer postboxes are included under suggested reforms

practical

Can we donate furniture to French charity shop before move?

Websites help residents find local collection services

Can I travel between France and UK with national ID card and not French passport?

EU and UK both have electronic border systems in place

Roadside radar speed camera warning sign against trees and blue sky.

What happens if a speed camera flashes two cars at once in France?

Modern speed cameras have lane-distinguishing technology

Solar panels mounted on a terracotta-tiled roof with trees in the background.

Do solar panel electricity sellers in France need to sign up for electronic billing?

Changes to system applies to sales subject to VAT

Notaire data on how the French coastal property market is faring

Fluctuation in housing prices come as flats see more steady change

What is the best way to find weather alerts in my department in France?

State forecaster issues official alerts for many weather disturbances

Does free legal help exist in France?

Some insurance policies include coverage of legal fees

What changes in France this August for your budget?

Energy bills change for millions, savings accounts see new interest rates, and back-to-school grant paid out

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

Is it really worth leaving the motorway in France to save on buying fuel?

Research shows this can depend on fuel type

Five questions for the new French civic knowledge test: Republic, politics and your rights

Thousands of foreign residents in France must pass before obtaining longer-term residency cards

France’s 2026 property tax bills: when they will arrive and what to expect

Taxe foncière is levied on all properties regardless of use with only a few exceptions

Up 17.3%, down 6.7%: how flat prices are changing across France

Largest cities saw little change but other areas vary considerably in fortunes

How are house prices changing in your area of France?

Notaire data shows strong growth in north but big cities such as Paris and Bordeaux see prices drop

More areas of France face highest level of tap water restrictions

44 departments now have at least one commune at ‘crisis’ level

How Americans can access France's healthcare system – and why it takes patience

Admin, long waiting times and uneven access to English-speaking doctors need to be factored in

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

Third year of popular programme sees 50,000 contracts available

Repairing cracked walls in our French home: what help is available?

Millions of homes at risk with early prevention and corrections now encouraged

Why does it take so long to get air conditioning approved for a flat in France?

Unit installation requires wider approval from co-owners

18 recent and upcoming changes in France in July 2026

Includes electricity bills, taxes, and an end to cold calls

Close-up of water dripping from a metal tap against a blurred background.

French drought update: 40 departments on highest level of tap water restrictions

All but 13 departments have at least some restrictions in place

Americans in France: how to vote in US midterm elections

French mail polices reported to be causing some complications

French wildfires: how are people told to evacuate? We do not have a French phone for texts

More than 200,000 residents and tourists have been evacuated in recent days following as blazes have spread

Mother and daughter loading a suitcase into the back of a silver car outside a house.

Free French police checks for your home and vulnerable relatives when absent

How to sign up for the Opération Tranquillité Vacances service and special wellbeing check

Historic house seen across a green lawn with yellow flowers and large trees in the foreground.

Can we claim ‘public land’ our home was built on in France?

‘Public domain’ land is treated in different ways

Fuel prices in France: outlook 'extremely uncertain'

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

Visa,Application,Form,And,Flag,Of,France

What are ‘local requirements’ for spouse of EU citizen to stay in France

Free five-year residency cards are available

Doctor taking a patient’s blood pressure with a digital monitor in a clinic.

Will GHIC cover Britons for 12-month French visa?

Health card provides ‘medically necessary’ healthcare at same rate as for citizens

Elderly person driving an electric mobility scooter beside a roadside verge.

Do mobility scooters in France need insurance?

Some home policies automatically cover such vehicles

What happens to the family home in France when your spouse dies?

The survivor enjoys strong protections over the family home – even if the children want to sell

Converted French barn with tiled roof, shutters and grassy garden under leafy trees.

Can we save tax by stopping renting out French gîtes before selling property?

Reader has been advised that they could have to pay additional amounts on parts of the property available to holidaymakers

How can I prevent mosquitoes in my garden and home?

Tiger mosquitoes transmit several tropical diseases and are now present across all French regions

Which areas of France are most prone to tornadoes?

Official observatory tracks violent storms

Close-up views of water pouring from taps and a hose into a pool.

France water restrictions: Five questions answered

We review rules for rainwater, wells, filling swimming pools, and penalties for infractions

Rate of inflation in France falls, remaining below EU average

Previous easing of Middle East tensions saw inflation fall in many countries last month

A tied stack of US $100 bills resting on euro banknotes.

Can you really afford France? Here's how major US states compare

Your home state can tell you a lot about how easy the transition to French living will be

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

Divorce dissected: custody, finances, common mistakes for residents of France

Lawyer Floriane Laruelle, a senior associate at Dawson Cornwell who specialises in international children’s law, highlights common issues for bi-national couples

Water restrictions in France: how to check rules in your area

Measures can affect everything from watering gardens and filling swimming pools to washing vehicles and irrigating crops

Online simulator for French pension now works smoothly

Technical problems hit the launch of the system

Blueprint,,Design,And,Hands,Of,Architects,Planning,Construction,,Strategy

What to do if your French property has a hidden defect

Hidden problems are called vices cachés and covered by Article 1641 of the French Civil Code

Electricity bills: French government announces 2.5% rise for regulated bills

Over 19 million households impacted, with the average bill rising €26 per year

New interest rates for millions of French savings accounts

Livret A interest rates rise but low-income equivalent remains frozen

Person wearing blue surgical gloves about to open a septic tank cover

Warning over impact of sewerage systems on property prices in France

Properties with sub-standard sewerage systems can be sold with an official certificate of non-conformity

A view of letters with the Assurance maladie and carte Vitale logos on the header

How do I obtain a social security number in France and what is it needed for?

Getting one allows for reimbursement of healthcare costs

Horse grazing in a grassy fenced pasture with trees behind.

Is it complicated in France to rent one of my fields to neighbours for their horses?

Rural land contracts provide tenants with many rights

Can you manage your spouse’s finances in France if they lose mental capacity?

The practical and legal difficulties can sometimes come as an unpleasant surprise to foreign residents

Green pharmacy cross sign on a sunny street in Nice, France, between tall buildings.

What restrictions are introduced when France faces a heatwave?

Local authorities can implement several temporary rules during hot weather

A view of a private swimming pool at a home

Are we responsible if we let neighbours use our French pool when away?

Pool ‘squatting’ is an increasingly worrying problem for owners

France facing ‘exceptional’ early drought, almost all departments on drought alert

Waterways and aquifers affected by intense heat despite strong spring rainfall

Four people standing together and smiling outdoors in a leafy garden area.

Britons praise local French officials in health emergency case

Prefecture acted swiftly to help family after 89-year-old fell seriously ill

A model of a house with construction items, a calculator, and DPE rating on a table

Do French renovation grants need to be repaid?

Payments are typically made directly to tradespeople rather than homeowners

Printed form with boxes, headings and a barcode-like block on a white page.

French tax notices will arrive soon - what to check

Annual avis d'impôt show whether you are due a refund or owe additional tax

A view of a fence in France saying ‘A vendre (for sale)’

‘Never seen this in 54 years’: French property market warning

Sale cancellations up as more mortgages refused, and rental market facing serious issues says major estate agency

Drought map: tap water restrictions tighten in France

Residents urged to check local rules

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

Professional car washes often include water recycling systems

If I leave my window open during heatwave am I still insured against burglary in France?

Not all home insurance policies include theft coverage

Businesswoman,Hands,Working,In,Stacks,Of,Paper,Files,For,Searching

Who can I complain to over French Brexit card renewal issues?

Authorities asked for cards to be renewed two months before expiry date

Your guide to understanding French terms around wildfires

Each term refers to a distinct stage in how firefighters bring a wildfire under control

Living in France: Five common questions readers ask

Queries range from healthcare and pensions to home renovations and citizenship

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

France moves to cut reliance on Microsoft for health data

Concerns over digital sovereignty prompt shift

How to save money on beauty and haircare in France

France is the second biggest market for cosmetics and personal care products in Europe

Two smiling colleagues seated on a sofa in a bright office.

How to get a French talent visa: American arts couple share their experience

Their first visa application was rejected

Traffic expected across French motorways as school holidays begin

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

What are penalties for overstaying 90-day allowance in France?

People who overstay their authorised time in the Schengen area risk penalties.

Brochure, smartphone and MacBook on a wooden deck beside a swimming pool.

Finding Your French Home: How an International Buyer’s Agent Is Changing the Game in Toulouse

Lianna Blazquez and her company, International Property Hunter, aim to make finding a property considerably easier

Close-up of a chrome kitchen faucet with a single drop of water falling.

Is France heading for a severe drought this summer?

‘This is the first time in 33 years that we’ve had to start releasing water this early in the season’

Incoming EU safety regulations impact new cars purchased in France

Flashing lights when braking heavily among several new mandatory features

A woman is on the phone and holds her bank card in her hand

French bank account fees increased 2.7% between 2025 and 2026

Account costs have outstripped inflation for last two years, but not across last decade

A view of an empty, unfurnished property

France to merge vacant home taxes from 2027

Two taxes levied on vacant homes to be replaced by a single tax

French business federation calls for tax increase on ‘wealthy’ retirees

Pensioners with a monthly income of €2,000 or above should pay more in social security contributions, said Medef leader