It’s illegal to use a mobile phone while driving in France, however completely hands-free mobile phone units are allowed. It’s also illegal to use headphones or earbuds, including bluetooth devices. My best road map France expert is Gildas (my French/American husband). He has the best sense of direction of anyone I know and he really knows how to read a map and wouldn’t travel without one.

AA Road Atlas: Big Road Atlas France 2021 (Paperback)

Toll booths in France are designed for left-hand drive cars, so right-hand drive cars may find them hard to navigate without the help of a passenger. Toll-free routes Credit and debit cards are accepted at petrol stations. There are also many automatic petrol pumps that can be operated by credit or debit cards, though they do not always accept foreign cards. When driving in France, all vehicles must have tyres with a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm. If this depth is less than 1.6 mm – even in one place – the tyre is too smooth and must be changed. Winter tyre requirementsWinter tyres or snow chains. These are required during winter in certain regions of France. See our winter tyre requirements section below for more information. Children below 10 years old can’t travel in the front seat of a vehicle in France, unless there are no rear seats or the rear seats are already occupied by another child under 10. If you want to avoid spending any money on tolls, there are some toll-free routes through France. Though most motorways are privately-owned and tolled, there are a few free motorways, as well as some long-distance dual carriageways.

AA: Big Road Atlas France 2020 By AA |The Works

Drivers and riders mustn’t use headphones and headsets (any device attached to your ear). This covers devices used for phone calls as well as for listening to music, but you’re allowed to use a Bluetooth or integrated systems in a motorcycle helmet. The legal driving age in France is 18 years old, and all drivers need a full and valid driving licence. If you’re under 18 you’re legally not allowed to drive in France, even if you have a valid licence. What side of the road do I drive on in France? All vehicles driving in France must have a minimum of third-party insurance cover. You’ll need to have your insurance documents with you at all times. Fines in France On-the-spot fines Winter tyres must be ‘3PMSF’ (3 Peak Mountain Snow Flake) tyres, marked with the Alpine symbol and the letters ‘M+S’, ‘M.S’ or ‘M&S’. Motor insurance in France

Driving through a red light in France can lead to a fine of up to €300 if you’re caught. Seat belt rules in France Never overtake a stationary tram when passengers are boarding or getting off. Speed limits in France

AA Traveller Atlas France 2024 Flexibound (AA Road Atlas

If parking is free but controlled by time limits, disabled badge holders are generally allowed to park without time limits. France uses green, amber and red lights like the UK, however the meaning of the lights may differ slightly. Low Emission Zones in Paris, Lyon and Grenoble affect UK-registered vehicles too and ban access for older vehicles. ( Full details)Headlamp beam deflectors. In the UK headlamps are aligned to the left, which is an issue when driving at night in France as this means they shine into oncoming traffic. Beam deflectors can correct this. At this level of detail it lists all the roads in the region and is suitable for touring and exploring the sights. It’s possible to drive through the whole of France while avoiding any tolls, though this is not necessarily the best nor the most economical solution. Roadside assistance in France In response to a big rise in the number of road deaths in France, speed limits on two-lane (single carriageway) highways were cut from 90km/h (56mph) to 80km/h (50mph) in July 2018.

Aa Map of France by Aa - AbeBooks Aa Map of France by Aa - AbeBooks

If a serious offence is committed that is likely to result in the loss of the driver’s licence or a prison sentence, then visiting motorists must pay a guarantee.The drink drive limit for new drivers (less than 3 years) has gone down from 0.05% to 0.02%, the same as for bus and coach drivers. Most electric car charging stations in France are self-service, and paid for using either a credit or debit card, or an app which you can top up with money as required. Make sure to do your research on which method works best for you, and if using an app make sure to always keep it topped up with money so you don’t encounter any problems with charging. Each title includes several small street plans highlighting traffic arteries across the region’s main towns.