France

‘priority to the right’ and toll roads

Traveling by car in France definitely has it's pro's and con's from long stretching motorways to toll road confusion. That is why it is best to plan ahead. We have put a guide together for you below so you can make sure that you stay legal whiles driving in France.

IMPORTANT: The ‘priority to the right’ rule; you may be driving down a main road and a car simply zips on to it from a blind corner on the right, and, surprisingly enough, they have priority.

For a link to advice from the AA please click here

*information correct at time of publishing

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Documents you must carry in the vehicle

• Driving licence
• Passport
• Green card (or insurance document) - we supply this for rentals
• VE103 (or log book - photocopy is unacceptable) - we supply this for rentals
• 'Letter of Authority' to rent the vehicle - we supply this for rentals
• Rental Agreement - we supply this for rentals

What you must have in the vehicle

• Spare bulb set
• Warning triangle
• High Viz jack for every person traveling in the vehicle
• Breathalyser (unused)
• Snow chains - in accordance with local signs

Speed

• 31 mph (50 km/h) - Built-up areas
• 55 mph (90 km/h) - Main Roads
• 68 mph (110 km/h) - Dual carriageways separated by a central reservation
• 80 mph (130 km/h) - Motorways

Travelling with Children

• Children under 10 cannot travel unless they use a suitable restraint system
• Children under 10 cannot travel in the front unless there is no back seat or the back seat already has other children in them under the age of 10. 
• There is no minimum height to wear a seat belt - the EU directive is a min height of 150cm

Do's

• The sign “priorité a droite” (often seen in built-up areas) means give way to traffic coming from the right.
• At signed roundabouts bearing the words "Vous n'avez pas la priorité" or "Cédez le passage" traffic on the roundabout has priority; where no such sign exists, traffic entering the roundabout has priority.
• You must use dipped headlights in poor daytime visibility
• Wear seatbelts where fitted
• You can obtain parking discs for ‘blue zone’ parking areas from police stations, tourist offices and some shops.
• When overtaking a bicycle, you must leave a distance of at least 1m in built-up areas and 1.50m outside built-up areas between your vehicle and the bicycle.

Dont's

• You must not use headphones and headsets (any device that is attached to the ear) when driving.
• You must not overtake a stationary tram when passengers are boarding or getting off.
• You must not use your horn in built up areas except in cases of immediate danger
• You must deactivate the speed camera alert on sat navs or you could be slapped with an on the spot fine
• The French police can carry out random breath tests. The legal limit is 49 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood