Driving in France from the UK: what you need
Checked against official sources on 8 November 2026 · Sources at the bottom of this page
Driving your own car to France? You need:
- A UK sticker, unless your number plate shows "UK" with the Union flag GB stickers are no longer valid: remove or cover them
- Your photocard driving licence, logbook (V5C) and insurance certificate No international driving permit or insurance "green card" needed. Still have an old paper licence? You may need an international driving permit (£5.50 at a PayPoint) Hire or lease car from the UK? Take a VE103 certificate instead of the logbook
- A passport for everyone in the car See the passport rules for France below
- A Crit'Air sticker to drive in Paris, Lyon, Grenoble and other low-emission zones €5.11 from the official French site only. See below
- A hi-vis vest and a warning triangle Keep the vest within reach, not in the boot
- Headlights set for driving on the right, so they don't dazzle oncoming drivers Many newer cars do this from a setting in the car's menu (check your handbook). Others need beam deflector stickers
- Winter tyres or snow chains in mountain areas from 1 November to 31 March
🛂 Before you get to Dover or the Eurotunnel
French border checks happen before you leave the UK, and the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) now records your passport and fingerprints there. Make sure your passport meets France's rules first: it must be less than 10 years old on the day you arrive and valid for 3 months after you leave.
Check your passport for France →Crit'Air sticker and low-emission zones
France's low-emission zones (ZFE) only let in vehicles showing a Crit'Air sticker, which shows how clean your car is. In central Paris, Lyon and Grenoble every vehicle needs one from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, and other cities may restrict access too, especially on high-pollution days. Some older vehicles can't get a sticker at all and can't be driven in central Paris during those hours.
You may have read that France was scrapping these zones. That law was struck down by France's Constitutional Council in May 2026, so the zones and the sticker rules still apply.
Speed limits in France
| Road | Normal | In rain |
|---|---|---|
| Motorways (autoroutes) | 130 km/h≈ 81 mph | 110 km/h≈ 68 mph |
| Dual carriageways | 110 km/h≈ 68 mph | 100 km/h≈ 62 mph |
| Roads with 2+ lanes in your direction | 90 km/h≈ 56 mph | same |
| Other roads (no central divider) | 80 km/h≈ 50 mph | same |
| Towns and villages | 50 km/h≈ 31 mph | same |
In fog or other visibility under 50 m, the limit is 50 km/h (≈ 31 mph) on every road. Newly qualified (probationary) drivers have lower limits: 110 km/h on motorways, 100 on dual carriageways and 80 on roads with 2+ lanes.
On other roads without a central divider, some local authorities have raised the limit to 90 km/h (≈ 56 mph). Signs show where.
Rules that catch UK drivers out
🍷 Lower drink-drive limit
0.5 g/l, lower than England, Wales and Northern Ireland (0.8). Just 0.2 g/l for drivers with less than 3 years' experience.
📵 No earphones, even for music
Handheld phones are banned, and so are earphones and headsets of any kind while driving.
📡 Speed-camera warnings are illegal
Any device or app feature that warns of speed cameras or police checks is banned: a €1,500 fine and the device can be taken. Turn the warning off in your sat-nav or phone app.
➡️ Priority to the right
At junctions without signs, give way to traffic coming from your right, even from a small side road.
💶 On-the-spot fines
French police can fine you at the roadside.
❄️ Winter tyres and chains 1 Nov – 31 Mar
In mountain areas of 34 French départements (the Alps, Pyrenees, Massif Central, Jura, Vosges and Corsica), cars must have four winter tyres or carry snow chains or snow socks. Road signs show where these zones start and end.
Only tyres marked with the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) count as winter tyres. With any other "snow" tyre you must carry chains as well.
Tolls (péage)
Most French motorways charge tolls. You take a ticket when you join and pay at a booth when you leave, by card or cash, or use an electronic toll tag. Prices vary by route: check the cost of your route before you go.
Breakdowns and emergencies
- Call 112 for police, ambulance or fire.
- On a motorway, use the orange emergency phones to report an accident or breakdown. They tell the operator exactly where you are.
- Motorway recovery has a set price: from 1 January 2026, €151 for a car up to 1.8 tonnes, plus 50% at night and at weekends.
- Put on your hi-vis vest before you get out: you must wear it on the road. Keep it within reach, not in the boot.
- Place the warning triangle at least 30 m behind the car, if it's safe to.
- Not wearing the vest, or leaving the car somewhere dangerous without warning other drivers, can mean a fine of €135 (up to €750). Not carrying a vest or triangle can mean a fine of up to €38.
Near Calais, people sometimes try to get into vehicles. Keep your doors locked.
Hiring a car in France instead
- Hire companies usually want you to be 21 or over with a year's driving experience.
- They may ask for a DVLA licence check code. Get one on GOV.UK shortly before you collect the car: it's only valid for 21 days.
- It's your job to check the car has a vest and triangle, and to ask whether it has a Crit'Air sticker if you're driving into a city.
FAQs
Do I need an international driving permit for France?
No. A UK photocard driving licence is enough. You only need a permit if you still have an old paper licence.
Do I need a GB or UK sticker in France?
You need a UK sticker unless your number plate shows "UK" with the Union flag. GB stickers are no longer valid.
Do I need headlight beam deflectors for France?
Not always. Your headlights must not dazzle drivers coming the other way. Many newer cars can switch their lights for driving on the right from a setting in the car's menu, so they don't need stickers. Check your handbook. If your car has no setting, fit beam deflector stickers.
Is a breathalyser compulsory in France?
No. You don't have to carry one, although you'll still see them on sale.
What isn't compulsory in France?
You don't have to carry a breathalyser, spare bulbs, a first-aid kit or a fire extinguisher, although some are useful to have. The compulsory items are a hi-vis vest and a warning triangle, plus winter tyres or chains in mountain areas from 1 November to 31 March.
How much is a Crit'Air sticker?
€5.11 for a UK car, including postage, from the official site certificat-air.gouv.fr. Other sites charge much more.
Do I need a green card for my insurance?
No. Every UK car insurance policy includes the minimum cover needed in France.
More for your trip
Sources
Checked on 8 November 2026. Rules change, so check the official sources before you travel.
- GOV.UK: France travel advice, road travel · International driving permits · UK stickers · Insurance abroad · Taking your vehicle abroad (V5C, VE103) · Licence check codes
- French government: Speed limits · Compulsory equipment · Winter equipment · Crit'Air · Speed-camera warnings
- EU: Your Europe: road rules in France
- Motorway recovery prices: French government order of 8 December 2025 (prices from 1 January 2026)
- Low-emission zones: French Constitutional Council decision 2026-903 DC, 21 May 2026