Driving licence exchange rules
We start with an in-depth overview of driving licence exchanges in France.
Depending on whether you are coming from an EU country or not, you may have to exchange your licences within the first 12 months of moving to France.
For UK driving licence holders, it also depends on the date the licence was first issued.
We also cover how to exchange licences if and when needed, and what specific rules pertain to people from the US, who may need to take a French driving test regardless.
Read more: Driving: When do you need to swap foreign licence for French licence?
Vehicle emission rule changes
Three cities have seen their timelines for banning cars that emit a certain level of pollution eased.
Marseille, Rouen and Strasbourg have all seen air quality levels improve, and will no longer need to ban ‘Crit’Air level 3’ vehicles in January 2025.
The first two cities have already confirmed they will not ban the vehicles, however Strasbourg already has an ‘educational’ ban in place.
It may revert the changes that came into force earlier this year.
Read more: Air pollution improvement: Three French cities can ease car ban rules
Stopping cold calls to your mobile
You can use a free online service to draft a letter to your mobile network provider, asking them to stop passing your data onto third parties.
The ‘respectmesdatas’ site can help you prepare a letter to any of the main mobile phone operators in France, and should in theory see the number of cold calls to your mobile phone reduced.
It also shows you where to find the information certain major tech companies hold on you, through each website’s own settings.
Read more: This quick step could stop cold calls to your French mobile
Do you need to complete mandatory property form?
The Biens Immobiliers form is back for 2024, however not all property owners need to complete it, as they did in the previous year.
Only those who have seen certain changes to the status of their property – such as owner or tenant – or who did not complete the declaration the first time around, must do so.
The current deadline to do this is July 1. A paper form will be available this year, however.
Read more: Who has to complete the new French property declaration in 2024?
Are new €60 consultations on way in France?
The French healthcare service has raised the possibility of creating a ‘long consultation’ for certain elderly and disabled patients.
These would cost €60 – as opposed to the current standard of €26.50 – and be for over 80s and disabled people who have undergone certain treatments, are eligible for certain benefits, or have recently left hospital.
Social Security believes it will help strike an agreement between the government and medical unions, with the agreement being signed in the coming weeks.
Read more: Doctors: New €60 ‘long consultation’ for over-80s proposed in France
It comes as a study shows waiting times for certain appointments, including for GPs, have doubled in the last five years.
Read more: Wait to see health specialists grows in France: here is what to expect
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Car insurance, solar panels, bank scams: 5 French practical updates
Parked cars, property form, burglaries: 5 French practical updates
Driving licence exchange rules
We start with an in-depth overview of driving licence exchanges in France.
Depending on whether you are coming from an EU country or not, you may have to exchange your licences within the first 12 months of moving to France.
For UK driving licence holders, it also depends on the date the licence was first issued.
We also cover how to exchange licences if and when needed, and what specific rules pertain to people from the US, who may need to take a French driving test regardless.
Read more:Driving: When do you need to swap foreign licence for French licence?
Vehicle emission rule changes
Three cities have seen their timelines for banning cars that emit a certain level of pollution eased.
Marseille, Rouen and Strasbourg have all seen air quality levels improve, and will no longer need to ban ‘Crit’Air level 3’ vehicles in January 2025.
The first two cities have already confirmed they will not ban the vehicles, however Strasbourg already has an ‘educational’ ban in place.
It may revert the changes that came into force earlier this year.
Read more:Air pollution improvement: Three French cities can ease car ban rules
Stopping cold calls to your mobile
You can use a free online service to draft a letter to your mobile network provider, asking them to stop passing your data onto third parties.
The ‘respectmesdatas’ site can help you prepare a letter to any of the main mobile phone operators in France, and should in theory see the number of cold calls to your mobile phone reduced.
It also shows you where to find the information certain major tech companies hold on you, through each website’s own settings.
Read more:This quick step could stop cold calls to your French mobile
Do you need to complete mandatory property form?
The Biens Immobiliers form is back for 2024, however not all property owners need to complete it, as they did in the previous year.
Only those who have seen certain changes to the status of their property – such as owner or tenant – or who did not complete the declaration the first time around, must do so.
The current deadline to do this is July 1. A paper form will be available this year, however.
Read more:Who has to complete the new French property declaration in 2024?
Are new €60 consultations on way in France?
The French healthcare service has raised the possibility of creating a ‘long consultation’ for certain elderly and disabled patients.
These would cost €60 – as opposed to the current standard of €26.50 – and be for over 80s and disabled people who have undergone certain treatments, are eligible for certain benefits, or have recently left hospital.
Social Security believes it will help strike an agreement between the government and medical unions, with the agreement being signed in the coming weeks.
Read more:Doctors: New €60 ‘long consultation’ for over-80s proposed in France
It comes as a study shows waiting times for certain appointments, including for GPs, have doubled in the last five years.
Read more:Wait to see health specialists grows in France: here is what to expect
Related articles
Car insurance, solar panels, bank scams: 5 French practical updates
Parked cars, property form, burglaries: 5 French practical updates
