| Driving in France 🇫🇷 18:21 - Feb 25 with 2218 views | GaryHaddock |
Taking a trip there soon, but have heard horror stories of UK drivers getting nicked and fined over there for not having triangles, breathalysers, and brie knives (joke).
I know we have a few Gallic based Rs here, can anyone provide some advice or send a good link to guidance on what I need to carry? |  | | |  |
| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 18:25 - Feb 25 with 1808 views | Landshark |
I've driven through France lots of times and never been stopped, that's probably because I carry the things they require. I'm sure if I forgot to pack them one time then that's when I'll end up getting stopped.
My only thing to say is be careful of the toll roads, it's quite expensive driving through France. |  | | |
| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 18:27 - Feb 25 with 1807 views | dmm |
I believe they drive on the right in France, but best check before you go. |  | | |
| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 18:39 - Feb 25 with 1744 views | Wilkinswatercarrier |
Drove around the Avignon region a couple of years back, rules I picked up:
Ignore speed limit
Never give way
Never signal
Offensive hand gestures mandatory
They don't like the English
Follows these and you'll be fine 🙂. | | | |
| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 18:59 - Feb 25 with 1660 views | essextaxiboy |
We have driven to Zurich a few times in UK registered hire vans , never been stopped , always treated well , even when I got lost in Nancy trying to find an overnight hotel . |  | | |
| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 19:01 - Feb 25 with 1660 views | GaryHaddock |
| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 18:59 - Feb 25 by essextaxiboy |
We have driven to Zurich a few times in UK registered hire vans , never been stopped , always treated well , even when I got lost in Nancy trying to find an overnight hotel . |
She sounds like an accommodating woman. | | | |
| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 19:04 - Feb 25 with 1633 views | StreathamRanger |
Drove down to the Dordogne last summer. Absolute pleasure. Tolls not too expensive considering you get to drive on some excellent motorways. Roads so much better than ours. When you come back and get on the motorway at Ashford you really see how awful our motorways are by comparison. | | | |
| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 19:11 - Feb 25 with 1596 views | HantsR |
I've driven in France many times and never been stopped, but in any case always carried the required items and generally behaved myself on the road. Remember to get a Crit Air sticker for your car, in case you go to any of the towns that have their Ulez equivalent. Oh probably stating the b obvious, but euro cash cards e.g. from Post Office, are really useful, especially for the peage ( toll booths) [Post edited 25 Feb 19:12]
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| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 20:01 - Feb 25 with 1471 views | derbyhoop |
As 1 of our French residents, apart from driving on the right, you should take high vis jackets, a warning triangle, a copy of your insurance and vehicle reg docs. Breathalyser kits came in a few years back but I've never carried one.
As others have said, motorways are excellent, but tolled. Be a good idea to get a tag for the windscreen. Saves time at les gares peage.
Mway speed limits generally 130km/h (76 moh, i think). National speed limit is 80, but its 50 in towns. Town name is a rectangular sign with a red surround. Leaving the town there should be a sign with a line through it. Any alternative limits will be signposted. Speed cameras are widely used, but there's often a warning 500m before.
Drop me a DM if you need more. [Post edited 25 Feb 21:01]
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| "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the Earth all one's lifetime." (Mark Twain)
Find me on twitter @derbyhoop and now on Bluesky |
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| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 20:18 - Feb 25 with 1408 views | Rsole |
Autoroutes are usually pretty relaxing, smooth and traffic free it’s out of rush hours and holidays. The Peage stations can require some patience if you pay cash and petrol/diesel requires a credit card for prepay in most locations but the instructions can be selected in English.
On the smaller roads, watch out for the slowest driver in France in front of you and the fastest behind you, usually in a Renault - insert Made up Name.
When I say behind you, I mean actually in the boot/hatch.
Same in Italy but it’s a Fiat-Alfa sandwich. [Post edited 25 Feb 20:19]
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| Those possessed by devils, try and keep them under control a bit, can't you ?
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| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 20:43 - Feb 25 with 1361 views | PunteR |
Were going to France too this year.
Haven't properly checked this yet but i think you need to check your fuel emissions and have some sort of sticker to prove the level.
Also, we've used the Emovis toll tag/scanner which automatically pays when you drive through.
We're going down south in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
This info could be useful to anyone going to France, apart from Haddock as he has me on ignore.. lol |  |
| Occasional providers of half decent House music. |
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| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 21:43 - Feb 25 with 1254 views | derbyhoop |
| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 20:43 - Feb 25 by PunteR |
Were going to France too this year.
Haven't properly checked this yet but i think you need to check your fuel emissions and have some sort of sticker to prove the level.
Also, we've used the Emovis toll tag/scanner which automatically pays when you drive through.
We're going down south in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
This info could be useful to anyone going to France, apart from Haddock as he has me on ignore.. lol |
Emissions checks apply in certan cities. In France you can get a Crit Air sticker on line for a few Euros but Im not sure how you can get them in UKAsk the AA:RAC? | |
| "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the Earth all one's lifetime." (Mark Twain)
Find me on twitter @derbyhoop and now on Bluesky |
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| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 21:49 - Feb 25 with 1243 views | Boston |
They drive on the right here in the USA as well but it's bloody annoying having to change sides so I've resolutely stuck to the left thank you very much. Over four decades and I've never had an accident, which is more than I can say for the clowns around me, absolute chaos! | |
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| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 22:07 - Feb 25 with 1198 views | baz_qpr |
Buy a £20 kit off amazon and chuck it in the car. GB badge and headlight deflectors on older cars are mandatory. Driven many times never been pulled over or even seen anyone pulled over. Tolls are all tags or contactless cards now |  | | |
| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 22:20 - Feb 25 with 1165 views | loneranger1 |
Have driven a few times over the last few years and all good.
Haven't driven in Paris, but generally find French driving better than here in the UK - tend not to have any muppets sitting in the middle lane of motorways (people actually drive in the correct lane depending what speed they're going at!) and compared to driving in London, drivers seemed more patient - have never had someone beep their horn at me, where I get that every now and then here in London for things like not breaking the speed limit. Lol.
Got the Crit Air sticker before last year's trip - easy enough to get it delivered to a UK address, ours came very quickly (within a week IIRC, although you're advised to apply for one further in advance).
As noted above, you notice the difference when you come back to the UK and the 50mph speed limit on the M20, punctuated by that lovely bumpy road surface. | | | |
| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 23:07 - Feb 25 with 1070 views | ChrisNW6 |
Echo what others have said, we tend to do at least one big drive in France every year and have never been stopped or used the driving kit. I think it needs to be accessible at all times and mine is normally buried under litres of cheap wine.
Avoid start and end of school holidays on the Eurotunnel. When it works it's great but all it takes is one technical fault and the delays can be horrible. Definitely aim to be there over 1hr before crossing as passport checks are slower now.
Avoid the Peage (toll) first two weekends in Aug, especially the 15th as it's a big holiday and everyone is on the road. Delays can be horrendous if you time it wrong. You know your in trouble if the car in front gets the picnic set up roadside.
If you can come off the Peage at times, it's worth filling up as much cheaper and less boring. | | | |
| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 05:10 - Feb 26 with 909 views | PlanetHonneywood |
All of the above plus...
There seem to be more cameras about looking for speed and traffic light infringements. Although the toll roads seem less populated of these things. Mrs PH and I have both been caught and if you are caught, don't lose the summons as it is a nightmare trying to pay the fine without it.
Secondly, on some roads vehicles are allowed to join from the right where frankly, you'd expect them to have to wait. There aren't always signs to indicate this either.
August is merde on the roads, more so in and around tourist areas, obviously. I live down south, and I don't know what it is about camper van and caravan drivers, but their driving abilities and basic human effing awareness of other road users, present one with very slow moving chicanes. If you're travelling during peak times, parking can be fun to find.
Generally, if you're driving a right hand drive car on the right, take your time until you've become acclimated. I try to avoid driving around Toulouse after sunset. There are northern pit ponies operating in more light then drivers are afforded. |  |
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| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 06:15 - Feb 26 with 864 views | Spaceman_P |
Drove to UK from Spain in 2023.
I think make sure you have the Crit air sticker, although not in all regions of France some regions mainly in the North have Cameras which snap these on cars. Although quite honestly can't imagine how they'd even bother fining you in the UK about this exactky like us in Spain, just seems too much paperwork.
I think just have what you need to have in your car. If you follow what they need then there will be no problems.
In terms of the driving obviously in a UK car just be careful of cyclists on your side of the car especially on bends.. get your missus to be your eyes in this case.
Also when driving in Europe don't do what I did when I started by over compensating to the right... you will hit peoples mirrors.
Also one thing to mention at least here in Spain and parts of France I've driven.... they don't know how to do roundabouts properly like us.... they all go round it on the outside lane which is perfectly legal in those countries.
Think also the French are a bit funny with hi vis jackets too so have them.
Finally
Blue cheese or not blue cheese that is the question. |  | | |
| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 06:37 - Feb 26 with 841 views | GroveR |
| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 18:39 - Feb 25 by Wilkinswatercarrier |
Drove around the Avignon region a couple of years back, rules I picked up:
Ignore speed limit
Never give way
Never signal
Offensive hand gestures mandatory
They don't like the English
Follows these and you'll be fine 🙂. |
I still have PTSD from having to drive around the Toulouse ring road (Périphérique de Toulouse) a few years back. It was an ordeal I can only liken to a cross between the sheer brutality of a Mad Max movie and Smoky and the Bandit for the amount of comedy fà nny-tickler moustaches on display. I'm a good driver but that was fùcking brutal. |  | | |
| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 06:48 - Feb 26 with 824 views | Spaceman_P |
| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 06:37 - Feb 26 by GroveR |
I still have PTSD from having to drive around the Toulouse ring road (Périphérique de Toulouse) a few years back. It was an ordeal I can only liken to a cross between the sheer brutality of a Mad Max movie and Smoky and the Bandit for the amount of comedy fà nny-tickler moustaches on display. I'm a good driver but that was fùcking brutal. |
I also have PTSD about driving in Paris. | | | |
| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 07:01 - Feb 26 with 798 views | Rsole |
I also have what used to be called the Coyote App for RADAR = cameras.
There are plenty of signs for fixed cameras but not for mobile and when you get tired, you don’t always remember to adjust after the signs so having a reminder like snooze on your alarm can be useful.
The free version has a few ads to navigate but it’s a good safety blanket when activated and just running in the background.
Think it’s called RadarBot these days. Has a sideline in identifying players unsuited to the championship regardless of their data.
Agree completely about fuel prices - never fill up on the autoroute if you have a choice. Supermarket fuel is usually the best value and it gives you an opportunity to get a better bite to eat if you find a decent relais routier or similar.
As with skiing, we always drive/ski through the 12-2pm period when most French people stop for what feels like a mandatory 3 course meal with wine (if it’s hot). | |
| Those possessed by devils, try and keep them under control a bit, can't you ?
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| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 07:10 - Feb 26 with 772 views | Rsole |
I would also take copies of your car insurance and proof of ownership wit you.
The Rozzers will almost certainly ask to see something that shows you own the vehicle if you get stopped.
You'll also get breathalysed and if there's any for of speeding fine, expect to be escorted to the ATM to extract the cash before they allow you to drive on.
I suspect that they spent mine on lunch given that I was stopped around 11:30am and let go shortly before 12noon. | |
| Those possessed by devils, try and keep them under control a bit, can't you ?
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| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 08:06 - Feb 26 with 714 views | kernowhoop |
Once you have got used to driving on the RHS, you should find that driving in France is a more comfortable experience than driving in UK. The roads are better maintained and the much lower density of population means that - generally but not always - the traffic is more manageable. But, when they see your number plate, many French drivers feel free to pull out in front of you on a roundabout. You get to expect it. They are also fond of tail-gating and also of overtaking when it is a bit risky (the annual road deaths are higher than ours).
Enjoy it, but stay alert.
I spend almost five months of the year in France, mainly in the SW. I prefer driving there. | | | |
| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 08:33 - Feb 26 with 664 views | ericgen34 |
Everything has been said really. I'll only add a couple of points:
Here, it's town councils that decide road layouts so you get some weird things like a stop sign in the middle of a main road by a dirt track that has priority - all in the name of reducing speed through the village. Bloody annoying, especially that the gendarmes like those to make a bit of cash by often hiding to catch those who don't fully stop.
Another stupid thing is priority on the right, and some people do take advantage of that, knowing they have priority, they bomb out of side roads onto a main road without looking. That's mostly through little villages or little town. Just be aware of those as you go through built up areas and you'll be fine |  | | |
| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 08:43 - Feb 26 with 649 views | R_from_afar |
Some great advice on here.
I've been driving in France for well over 30 years and it has mostly been fine. The crazy "priorite a droite" nonsense, whereby vehicles on your right have priority, even if they are on a tiny side road, seems to have become far less prevalent, thankfully.
Two additional tips:
- Don't push your luck when you're getting low on fuel. There are some areas where petrol stations are very few and far between. We struggled to find any in central Brittany and there are none in the whole of the Castagniccia region of Corsica. Also, they may not be open late or at weekends.
- Speed limits are lower in rain or other types of bad weather. More here:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_limits_in_France |  |
| "Things had started becoming increasingly desperate at Loftus Road but QPR have been handed a massive lifeline and the place has absolutely erupted. it's carnage. It's bedlam. It's 1-1." |
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| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 09:05 - Feb 26 with 613 views | PlanetHonneywood |
| Driving in France 🇫🇷 on 06:37 - Feb 26 by GroveR |
I still have PTSD from having to drive around the Toulouse ring road (Périphérique de Toulouse) a few years back. It was an ordeal I can only liken to a cross between the sheer brutality of a Mad Max movie and Smoky and the Bandit for the amount of comedy fà nny-tickler moustaches on display. I'm a good driver but that was fùcking brutal. |
Do it after sundown for added shithousery! | |
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