It has been a busy month in France, with plenty of changes taking place.
This includes more changes to road rules in Paris, and the new autumn/winter vaccination campaign.
However, many recently announced changes will start from the beginning of 2025, including electricity price drops, and new requirements for energy efficiency tests.
Read our recap below.
Electricity bills drop
Around 80% of households in France – those on regulated tariffs – will benefit from a 9% reduction in electricity bills from February 1, the government has pledged.
This is due to falling market prices and will apply despite plans to increase an energy consumption tax that forms part of the bill.
It was reduced in 2022 during the energy crisis.
Read more: Electricity prices will reduce for most French households in January
DPE renewals
Homeowners looking to sell or rent property in France need a new energy performance test (diagnostic de performance énergétique, or DPE) if their previous one is dated between January 2018 and July 2021.
DPE tests from these dates will be invalid from January 1, 2025 onwards.
In theory, a DPE lasts for 10 years, but tests done between the above dates are not valid from next year due to changes in calculation methods after July 2021.
The new methods are stricter, so many properties could see their ratings fall.
Read more: Old energy efficiency ratings for French properties invalid from 2025
Winter vaccination season begins
Jabs for Covid-19 booster shots and the seasonal flu have been available in France since October 15.
Covid-19 jabs are free for all, and over 17 million people can receive a free flu voucher, if they belong to a vulnerable group.
Read more: Covid and flu vaccination campaign starts in France - who is invited?
Stricter CT tests
Contrôle technique (CT – roadworthiness) tests are set to become stricter for cars in 2025, with the introduction of new checks to detect manipulation of gas emissions.
This is due to increasing cases of illegal modifications to anti-pollution systems and motors.
Read more: Roadworthy CT tests expected to change for car owners in France in January 2025
Empty house tax in more areas
The taxe sur les logements vacants (tax on homes left unused and unfurnished) is being imposed in more and more French towns, with 3,697 affected in 2024, compared to 1,100 in 2023.
It is only applied in towns under ‘housing pressure’ (zones tendue).
Owners can claim exemption if they show a property has been lived in for more than 90 consecutive days a year or has been empty for reasons outside their control, such as not being able to find a tenant.
Read more: More owners will pay French empty home tax in December 2024
Minimum wage increase
The minimum wage (Smic) is increasing by 2% for adults on November 1, to €1,426 net per month, up from €1,398.70.
It is automatically recalculated on January 1 each year, but also increases if inflation reaches 2%.
Prime Minister Michel Barnier said the increase is “in anticipation” of January 1.
It is unclear if it will rise again in the new year.
Read more: What is the net and gross minimum wage in France in 2024?
New driving rules in Paris
Vehicles with a Crit’Air 3 rating are to be banned from Greater Paris from January 2025, but can be granted access for 12 days a year.
Read more: Crit’Air 3 vehicles to be allowed limited access to Paris in 2025
Meanwhile, cameras along the périphérique (ring road) have started catching drivers exceeding the new 50km/h (down from 70km/h) limit.
The limit began on October 1, with 160 new signs warning of the change.
It means the fine for speeding has changed from a class three to a class four, with drivers liable to a €135 penalty if speeding up to 20 km/h over the limit, up from €68.
Read more: Paris mairie publishes first results from ring road speed drop to 50 km/h
Mushroom picking warning
Health officials have issued an alert over the risks involved in eating wild mushrooms after more than 400 cases of poisoning since July 1.
Advice includes picking only mushrooms you can ‘perfectly’ identify.
Doubts should be checked by a fungus specialist, such as a pharmacist or member of a mycological association, rather than relying on smartphone apps.
Read more: Alert over wild mushrooms in France: 400 cases of intoxication since July
Paper Ryanair tickets
Low-cost carrier Ryanair is set to end the use of paper tickets, with French flights among those affected.
From May 1, 2025 customers will have to check in online and receive boarding passes on a smartphone app or via email.
Most passengers – around 60% – already use the Ryanair app but the firm wants to increase this to 80%.
It is part of plans to remove all Ryanair ticket desks at airports to keep prices low.
Read more: Ryanair to change boarding pass rules: French flights affected
Motorbike tests
More motorbikes and scooters are soon due contrôle technique tests, depending on when they were first registered.
Since April, all category ‘L’ vehicles have required a CT.
The first deadline was in August for vehicles registered before January 1, 2017, and put into circulation before April 15.
The next deadline is December 31 for vehicles registered before January 1, 2017, and put into circulation after April 15.
Read more: Next roadworthy check deadline for motorcycles in France approaches
Pension increase
The Agirc-Arrco supplementary retirement pension, which more than 14 million retirees receive, is set to rise by 1.6% on November 1.
This is based on Insee’s economic outlook published in October, which predicted an inflation rate of 1.8% for 2025.
Express coaches
Express coaches have been announced by new transport minister François Durovray, and could be on the road by the first quarter of 2025.
Billed as a greener alternative to cars, they are aimed at people living outside urban areas who often commute.
In practice, these will be bus lines but operated by coaches, with reserved road sections to guarantee quick journey times.
Distances will generally be between 30km and 50km and a ticket will give you a seat, a USB plug and Wi-Fi.
Phone scam law
A new law requires phone companies to set up systems to check that a number calling your phone and the number showing on its screen are the same.
It is to combat ‘spoofing’, where fraudsters posing as your bank use software to make the phone show you the bank’s real number to gain your confidence.
Read more: New telephone law aims to reduce bank fraud in France
Paris-Berlin TGV
A direct TGV train linking Paris and Berlin starts on December 16.
It will take eight hours and be jointly run by the French and German state rail operators.
It will shave around an hour off the fastest current link, which requires a change for travellers, and is four hours quicker than the overnight train.
Second-class tickets start at €59, increasing to €69 for first.
Read more: Paris – Berlin direct TGV train link to start December 16
Vape ban closer
France can now ban single use e-cigarettes (puffs), although there is no set date yet, after the European Commission gave the green light.
The exact date they will be banned has not yet been determined, however.
The process began in December 2023 with a vote in the Assemblée Nationale.
Belgium has banned ‘puffs’ starting from 2025.
Read more: EU gives go-ahead for France to ban disposable vapes
Minimum student income trials
Several dozen towns are testing a ‘minimum income’ for university students to tackle student poverty and boost local economies.
The bursary is worth up to €4,000 a year and is named revenu minimum étudiant.
Towns including Chenôve (Côte-d’Or), Dunkirk (Nord), and Plougastel (Finistère) have set up the scheme, with some handing out the bursary for free and others requiring action, such as volunteering, in return.
Read more: French towns experiment minimum income for students
Ski resort opening dates
The opening dates of many of the major French ski stations in the Alps and Pyrénées have been published.
Chamonix, Val Thorens and Tignes will open on November 23.
Val d’Isère, Alpe d’Huez, Les Deux Alpes and Montgenèvre open on November 30, and Courchevel, Les Menuires, Méribel and Serre Chevalier Briançon on December 7.
Openings are subject to snowfall and may change.
Read more: 2024-25 dates for ski slopes to open in French Alps and Pyrenees
