This guide is for UK drivers taking their own car to France. It covers the Channel crossing, the kit you must carry, French speed and drink-drive limits, priority rules, autoroute tolls, fuel, parking and Crit'Air low-emission stickers. Get the basics wrong and you risk on-the-spot fines. For a one-page summary, see driving in France at a glance.
Getting to France: Channel Crossing Options
You have two main options for getting your car from the UK to France, and the right choice depends on your budget, schedule, and where you're headed.
Eurotunnel Le Shuttle
The Eurotunnel runs from Folkestone to Calais in approximately 35 minutes. You drive your car onto the train, stay with your vehicle, and drive off the other side. Departures run up to four times per hour during peak periods. Prices vary wildly depending on when you book and travel dates, but expect anything from about £80 to £300 each way. Our Channel Tunnel vs ferry guide compares the options in detail. Booking well in advance, especially for summer and school holidays, saves significant money.
Ferry Crossings
Several ferry routes connect England to northern France:
- Dover to Calais. 90 minutes, the most frequent and usually cheapest option
- Dover to Dunkirk. around 2 hours, often slightly cheaper than Calais
- Newhaven to Dieppe. 4 hours, useful if you're heading to Normandy or western France
- Portsmouth to Caen. 5.5–7 hours, ideal for Brittany and the Loire Valley
- Portsmouth to Le Havre. 5–8 hours depending on the service
- Portsmouth to St Malo. around 11 hours overnight, perfect for Brittany
- Plymouth to Roscoff. 5–8 hours, great for western Brittany
If you're heading south of Paris, don't automatically choose the shortest crossing. A longer ferry from Portsmouth to Caen can save you hundreds of kilometres of driving and expensive autoroute tolls on the other side.
Mandatory Equipment for Driving in France
France requires you to carry specific items in your car at all times. Police do check, and fines for non-compliance start at €11 but can reach €135.
What You Must Carry
- Warning triangle. must be placed 30 metres behind your vehicle in case of breakdown
- High-visibility vest (gilet jaune). at least one for the driver, kept within reach inside the car (not the boot) so you can put it on before getting out; one per passenger is sensible
- Headlight beam deflectors. UK headlights dip to the left, which dazzles oncoming traffic when you drive on the right. You need stickers or adjustable settings to correct this. Many modern cars have a setting in the headlight menu; check your handbook
- Full driving licence. your photocard licence (the paper counterpart was abolished in 2015)
- V5C vehicle registration document. the original, not a photocopy
- Valid motor insurance certificate. a Green Card hasn't been needed in the EU since August 2021, but check your policy covers France
- UK sticker or number plates with UK identifier. since Brexit, the GB sticker is no longer valid; you need a UK sticker or plates that display "UK"
- Passport. it must have been issued less than 10 years before the day you enter, and be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave. Since October 2025 you also register fingerprints and a photo under the EU Entry/Exit System on your first crossing
The Breathalyser Situation
French law technically requires you to carry a certified NF-standard breathalyser, but there is no fine for not having one. They cost under £5, so many people carry one anyway.
Buy a "France driving kit" from Halfords or Amazon before you travel. For around £15–25, you get the triangle, vests, headlight stickers, and a breathalyser all in one pack. Much cheaper than buying them at the port.
French Driving Laws and Speed Limits
France drives on the right. This sounds obvious, but it catches people out most often at roundabouts, quiet rural junctions, and when pulling out of car parks or petrol stations. The instinct to drift left is strong, so stay alert, especially in the first hour.
Speed Limits
French speed limits are strictly enforced by fixed and mobile radar cameras. The limits are:
- Built-up areas: 50 km/h (about 31 mph)
- Outside built-up areas: 80 km/h (about 50 mph) on single carriageways, though some departments have gone back to 90 km/h on certain roads; follow the signs
- Dual carriageways: 110 km/h (about 68 mph)
- Autoroutes (motorways): 130 km/h (about 81 mph)
In wet conditions, all limits drop: 110 km/h on autoroutes, 100 km/h on dual carriageways, and 80 km/h on open roads. New drivers (less than 3 years' experience) face lower limits too: 110 km/h maximum on autoroutes, 100 km/h on dual carriageways and 80 km/h elsewhere.
Other Key Rules
- Priorité à droite: In towns, vehicles coming from your right have priority at unmarked junctions. This catches out UK drivers constantly. Watch for diamond-shaped yellow priority road signs. When you see a crossed-out one, you've lost priority
- Drink-driving limit: 0.05% BAC (lower than England's 0.08%), and 0.02% for drivers with less than three years' experience. In practice, even one glass of wine could put you over
- Mobile phones: Completely banned while driving, including hands-free earpieces. Using a phone carries a €135 fine and 3 points. Bluetooth built into the car stereo is permitted
- Radar detector apps: Illegal. Waze and Google Maps are fine as they show "danger zones" rather than camera locations, but dedicated detector devices can result in a €1,500 fine
- Overtaking: Never overtake on the right on single carriageway roads. On autoroutes, stay in the right lane except when overtaking
Autoroute Tolls: How the System Works
French autoroutes (motorways beginning with "A") are mostly toll roads operated by private companies. They're well-maintained, fast, and expensive. A drive from Calais to the Côte d'Azur can easily cost €80–100 in tolls one way.
How Tolls Work
Most toll sections use a ticket system:
- Take a ticket from the machine when you enter the autoroute (press the button if one doesn't appear automatically)
- When you exit, feed the ticket into the machine at the toll booth (péage)
- Pay the amount shown. Cards are accepted at most booths; look for lanes marked "CB" (carte bancaire). Avoid lanes marked with a "t" unless you have a Télépéage tag
Some autoroutes now have no barriers at all, including the A13 and A14 between Paris and Normandy and the A79. Cameras read your number plate and you pay online within 72 hours (or automatically with a tag). If you don't pay, a fine follows, so watch for the "flux libre" signs.
Saving Money on Tolls
- Use the route nationale (N-roads) instead, free but slower, and often far more scenic
- Consider a Télépéage tag if you drive in France regularly: it gives small discounts and lets you breeze through barriers
- Plan your route on ViaMichelin to compare toll costs for different routes
The free old N7 from Paris to the Riviera (the historic "Route Nationale 7", much of it now renumbered as D-roads) takes longer, but you pass through towns like Valence, Montelimar and Aix-en-Provence. For a mountain alternative to the coast, see the Route Napoléon. Plan this trip using our route planner.
Fuel, Parking, and Practical Tips
Fuel
Fuel in France is sold in litres. You'll see:
- Gazole / Diesel. diesel (usually a yellow or black pump)
- Sans Plomb 95 (SP95). unleaded petrol (green pump)
- Sans Plomb 98 (SP98). premium unleaded
- SP95-E10. unleaded with 10% ethanol (cheaper, check your car is compatible)
Supermarket fuel stations (Carrefour, Leclerc, Intermarché) are significantly cheaper than autoroute stations, often 15–20 cents per litre less. Plan to fill up before hitting the motorway and at supermarkets along the way.
Parking
In French towns, parking works on a colour-coded system:
- Blue zones. free but time-limited; you must display a blue parking disc (disque de stationnement)
- Pay and display. feed the meter, display the ticket on your dashboard
- Underground car parks. common in cities, take a ticket on entry and pay at the machine before returning to your car
Crit'Air Vignette
Several French cities, including Paris, Lyon, Strasbourg, and Grenoble, operate low emission zones (ZCR/ZFE). You need a Crit'Air sticker displayed on your windscreen. Order it online from the official French government website (certificat-air.gouv.fr) at least 3–4 weeks before travel. It costs under €5 including postage; ignore reseller sites that charge more. Driving without one in a restricted zone risks a €68 fine. France's low-emission-zone rules have been under political review, so check the current position before you go.
Planning Your French Road Trip
France is enormous, the largest country in Western Europe, and its regions are strikingly different. Don't try to cram too much in. Here are some of the best road trip routes:
- Normandy and Brittany: Cross from Portsmouth to Caen and explore D-Day beaches, Mont Saint-Michel, and the wild Breton coast. 5–7 days ideal.
- Loire Valley Chateaux: Castle-hop from Chambord to Chenonceau to Amboise. Flat, easy driving through beautiful countryside. 3–5 days.
- Provence and the Riviera: Lavender fields, Roman ruins, hilltop villages, and the glamorous coast from Marseille to Nice. 7–10 days. Plan this trip
- Alsace Wine Route: Half-timbered villages, vineyard-draped hills, and exceptional food. 3–4 days. Perfect in autumn.
- The Pyrenees: Mountain passes, deep gorges and far fewer crowds than the Alps. 5–7 days for a proper exploration.
Use our destination pages for Paris, Nice, and Lyon to research points of interest and build your itinerary.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in France?
No, not with a UK photocard licence. If you only have an old paper licence, check the UK government's guidance, as you may need one. See using your UK licence abroad.
What happens if I get a speeding fine in France?
French camera fines do reach UK addresses, so don't assume a flash will be forgotten. They can take a few weeks to several months to arrive. Fines start at €45 for minor speeding (paid within 15 days) and increase for higher speeds. On-the-spot fines from police must be paid immediately or your vehicle can be impounded. Ignoring a French fine can cause problems on future visits.
Can I use my UK breakdown cover in France?
Most UK breakdown providers (AA, RAC, Green Flag) offer European cover as an add-on. Check your policy before you travel and buy European cover if it's not included. On autoroutes, you must use the orange emergency phones (or call 112) for assistance. You cannot call your own breakdown provider out onto the autoroute. The autoroute operator will send a tow truck (at a regulated price), and your breakdown cover can reimburse you afterwards.