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France
France is a great country for
the motorist. Good roads and varied scenery all make driving in France a
pleasure. Even the cities aren't as difficult to negotiate as you would be
had believe.
Autoroutes (Motorways, Freeways)
The autoroute network is fantastic, but it comes at a price. Most of the
roads (and certainly the best ones) are toll (marked as Peage), but
well worth the cost. Using the autoroute network is easy. On joining a toll
road you will have to take a ticket from an automatic machine. This will
usually be on the left hand side of the vehicle so those travelling alone in
right-hand drive cars will have to be prepared to stretch across the
passenger seat to reach. At some peage stations there is a lane marked for
British and Irish cars with a ticket machine on the right hand side, but
these are few and far between once you stray far from Calais. When you exit
the autoroute, or pass into a free stretch, you pay an attendant for the
distance travelled, or you can risk the credit card lane. Don't lose your
ticket or you will have to pay for the maximum journey possible on that
autoroute.
Conspiracy theory: Your ticket is time-stamped. It's quite easy to work out
what your average speed must have been between toll booths. Completing 180
km in an hour is obvious evidence of speeding.
Breaking your journey
Service stations in France are great. Called Aires de Repos, you will find
one every 10 km or so, although the facilities will vary. As a general rule
you can expect to find an aire with petrol station and restaurant every
40km. Even the more basic aires are clean and pleasant - ideal spots for
picnics.
Petrol (Gasoline)
Petrol in France is slightly cheaper than in the UK, but much more expensive
than in the USA. It is more expensive on the autoroute than in supermarkets,
but not prohibitively so. You will find unleaded, diesel and LPG. No leaded
fuel is sold. Most petrol stations work along UK lines, where you fill up
and then pay a cashier (caisse) either in the forecourt shop, or on the
actual forecourt itself. Some petrol stations are automatic and require a
credit card, although mixed success is had operating these with cards issued
outside France.
Crime advice
Car crime exists, but is not a problem if normal precautions are taken. Cars
with foreign license plates may be targeted so ensure that you remove
anything that a thief might wish to steal from your vehicle when unattended.
Even driving a hire car into a neighbouring département (the license plate
indicates the place of registration) may mark you out as a tourist.
In the Calais region, British cars may be targeted in supermarket car parks.
There have been incidences of British cars being flagged down (either for a
flat tyre or for a lift) and then robbed in this region, as well as in Nice
and the Rhone-Alps.
In the South of France, particularly in the Marseille to Menton area, you
are advised to keep doors locked and windows shut when driving as bag
snatching is not uncommon (an air-conditionned car is therefore essential).
In Corsica you should not leave your vehicles unattended by the roadside
especially on coastal/beach roads, as thefts are common. Armed robbery has
occurred, but rarely.
There have been reports of thefts and muggings at isolated Aire (i.e. those
with basic facilities) and you are not advised to sleep overnight in your
car or camper van at such a rest point.
At Nice Airport, particularly at car rental car parks, bags have been
snatched as drivers have been loading luggage into hire cars.
Law enforcement
There are mixed messages about the stringency of French traffic law
enforcement, although officially a hard line is being taken. The police can
now confiscate on the spot the license of a foreign national breaking a
French traffic law, meaning that a vehicle would have to remain where it
stands until someone with a license can drive it away. Speeding offences can
now be punished with on the spot fines.
Radar detectors are illegal in France and possession in your vehicle is a
crime punishable with a sentence of up to two years, a fine of 30,000 Euros
and seizure of the vehicle.
Speed Limits - see our
speed converter
Motorway - car 130 kph (110 when wet), with
trailer 100 kph (100 when wet)
Dual Carriageway - car 110 (100 when wet),
with trailer 100 kph
Open Road - 90 kph (80 when wet), with trailer 50 kmh
Town - 50 kph
Minimum age for car drivers
18 (even if you legally hold a license at a younger age in your country it
is still illegal to drive in France if not 18)
Documentation
At all times you must be able to prove that you are a) licensed to drive the
category of vehicle you are in b) either the owner of the vehicle or that
you have a owner's permission to drive c) insured. Licenses must be
photocard licenses. If you do not have one you must also carry your
passport.
Country of origin stickers
Country of origin stickers (e.g. GB stickers) must be used in France, unless
your license plate has the sticker pre-applied.
Headlights
Right-hand drive cars must be adapted using headlight deflectors before you
can drive in France, even during daylight hours. Spare bulbs are
recommended.
Warning triangle
Warning triangles are compulsory if hazard lights are not fitted. Note that
if you intend to drive on into Spain or Italy you will need two.
Fluorescent vests
Fluorescent vests are not required in France, but they are required in
Italy, so if you are travelling into this country a vest must be carried and
worn in the event of a breakdown.
Alcohol
The blood alcohol limit is very low at 0.25 milligrams of alcohol per litre
of blood (much lower than the UK at 0.4mg/l) so the simple advise is don't
drink and drive. See our guide to
maximum blood alcohol limits.
Seat belts
Seat belts must be worn front and rear.
Children
Children under 10 cannot travel in the front seats. In the rear, children
under 15kg must be in a child seat and children over 15kg must use a booster
seat if required.
Alenda Car Rental has taken care to
ensure that the information in this website was correct at the time of
publication. However, we can take no responsibility for any harm, or
misfortune, caused by following the advice on this website. You should
always consult the authorities in the country in which you are travelling
for up-to-date advice. |
Suppliers include:
Agg, Alamo, AA, Auto Europa, AutoUnion,
Avis, Budget, Crown, Drive A Matic, Easy Car, Europa, EuroPark, Europcar,
Fox Autorent, Haro, Helle Hollis, Berent, Rentauto, National, Sixt, Niza
Cars, Star Rent a Car, Stoutes, Thrifty.
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