Driving Tips in France

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• Car Hire Depots
• Driving Distances
• Driving Licence
• Driving Age
• Rules and Regulations
• Equipment
• Child Safety Seats
• Speed Limits
• Drink Driving
• Tolls
• Road Signs
• Parking
• Visa Information
• Winter Driving

Depot information

We search & compare the best rates and choices with reputable suppliers in France. Our Suppliers are located throughout major cities in France. Click here for more information.

Driving Distances in France

• Aix En Provence to Avignon - 90 kms (1 hr)
• Avignon to Marseille - 105 kms (1 hr / 10 mins)
• Biarritz to Bordeaux - 205 kms (2hrs / 10 mins)
• Biarritz to San Sebastian (Spain) - 55 kms (45 mins)
• Bordeaux to Toulouse - 245 kms (2hrs / 20mins)
• Marseille to Nice - 205 kms (2hrs)
• Montpellier to Lyon - 300 kms (2hrs / 50mins)
• Paris to Calais - 400kms (3 hrs)
• Toulouse to Montpellier - 250kms (2 hrs / 20mins)

Licence Requirements

A full valid driver's licence is required for a minimum of 1 year. An International Drivers Licence is required for Australian drivers licence holders.

Age Restrictions

Generally the minimum age is 21 years, but can vary between the car hire company and location. Maximum age limits apply in some locations, a young/senior driver surcharge may apply. Please check terms & conditions when making an enquiry or booking.

Rules, Laws and Regulations

General driving, laws rules and regulations in France;

• Driving is on the right hand side of the road.
• Overtaking is on the left hand side of the road.
• Seat belts are mandatory by all.
• The use of a mobile phone while driving is prohibited, with the exception of a hands-free system.
• Radar detect devices are prohibited.
• Bus lanes are reserved exclusively for taxis, buses and bicycles.
• Drivers are to carry at all times while driving, a valid drivers licence, registration documents and insurance documents.
• Dipped headlights to be used at poor daylight visibility.

Equipment

It is mandatory to carry the following equipment in your vehicle, which is to be used in the event of an accident, incident or breakdown:

• Warning Triangle - to be used at the event of an accident or breakdown to warn following traffic.
• Visibility Vest - must be worn before stepping out of the vehicle in the event of a breakdown, incident or accident.

Motorists are also required to carry a spare set of bulbs and fuses.

Child Safety Seats

Children under the age of 10 years old are required to be seated only in the back seats of the vehicle and be wearing a seat belt or fasted in an appropriate restraint.

Speed Limits

Speeding is taken very seriously in France, with many speed camera's in operation around the country along with hidden mobile police radars. Below are the speed limits in France, unless posted otherwise.

• Low Visibility (less than 50m): 50km/h
• Urban Roads (built up areas): 50km/h
• Rural Roads (outside towns): 90km/h and 80km/h when raining
• Dual Carriageways: 110km/h and 100km/h when raining
• Motorways: 110-130km/h

Drink Driving

The legal blood alcohol content (BAC) in France is 0.05g/1L. There are plenty of police out on the roads who have the authority to pull over drivers for checks, so stay sober to avoid any sort of infringements or imprisonment.

Tolls

Highway tolls are applicable on most Autoroutes marked with 'A'. Tolls are determined on distance travelled and payments are accepted in cash and with most major credit cards.

Road Signs

Road Signs in France adopts the standardization of the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals which many European countries now utilize, but with slight variance. Signs in France are commonly found in the countries local language however English is also used on city roads and state highways. The signs are very easy to understand as the vast majority of them are posted with symbols.

• Warning Signs are generally triangular in shape with a red border, white background or yellow and a symbol in the middle.
• Prohibitory Signs are signs which motorists must follow. These signs vary in shapes from a circle, octagon and a box. You will find these signs in either blue with a white symbol in the middle and white with a red border.
• Information Signs are indicated with a blue or green background and white text providing motorists with information.

Parking

Within many large cities in France, parking is generally on a fee basis. Parking is only permitted in spaces marked in white and those marked in yellow are only permitted for commercial vehicles. Parking is to be paid for if you see a sign saying 'Payant'. Parking tickets are to be purchased from machines located along the street, which accept cash and most major credit cards. Tickets can be purchased up to 2 hours and will need to be displayed on the front windscreen of the vehicle. For extended parking there are many parking lots readily available but can get quite costly. Parking is strictly monitored, vehicles found without a ticket, over their time limit or illegally parking may find having their vehicles towed and left with a fine.

Visa Information

Visa, Passport, and entry requirements for Australians visiting France:

• Australian passport holders do not require a visa for the purpose of tourism and business for stays up to 90 days. Contact the France Consulate in your local state for special visa's or stays exceeding 90 days.
• A valid passport is required with at least 3 months validity left on return into Australia.

Winter Driving

Winter driving in the mountains of France - particularly the French Alpine regions and the Pyrénées - can involve snow and ice conditions. As well as preparing for a mountain or ski trip, it is worth remembering that a vehicle will also be affected by the cold and snow and should be well-prepared. Visit our winter driving page for more information.

All information provided is to be used as a guide only. Distances and time may very according to the route taken. The information shown on this page may have changed since the date of publication. Please refer to the countries local tourist office for up-to-date advice. Last updated: September 2023