Driving

Cars and driving: What's new in France in 2025

From AI speed cameras to low-emission zones, we look at the changes set to transform French roads and driving regulations next year

Traffic warnings in France as Christmas holidays begin: which roads to avoid?

Roads are expected to be especially busy near the capital

Car fuel sold at cost price at many Intermarché supermarkets today and tomorrow

Many - but not all - stores are taking part - see the list here

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What fines do motorcyclists risk after trial for ‘inter-filing’ on French roads ends?

A report in 2025 on the trial will set the tone for legalisation of the manoeuvre

Are there rules to follow when changing a vehicle’s numberplate in France?

Plates can be ordered from garages or online

Camper vans on the road in France boost local economy

Happy campers are bringing new life and wealth to French towns

Police warn drivers of car headlights rules in France

It is advisable to carry spare bulbs when driving

Christmas parties: what are drink-drive limits and breathalyser rules in France?

Rules are stricter than in some parts of the UK

How to recognise French road signs for recommended, not obligatory, behaviour

The signs are becoming increasingly used in some areas

French road sign expands to Spain - but most drivers unaware of its meaning

Road sign is only in use for specific weather conditions

Photo: French police stop driver over car covered in Christmas lights

Officers were appreciative of the decorations and took photos - but demanded that they were all removed

New pollution bans from January: Which cars and which cities in France?

Changes mean vehicles with Crit’Air level 3 will be banned in four cities

Fréjus Tunnel that connects France and Italy to close this weekend

The tunnel will close for 12 hours and not the 56 hours originally announced

Do drivers have to change number plates if they move to new French department?

Plates show a regional logo as well as department code - a source of pride for some

See which offences can result in a car being impounded in France

There is also a time limit and set procedure to follow to recover a car

Angry drivers launch court action against 50 km/h speed limit on Paris ring road

Lawyers claim the change was made without necessary prior approval

What is changing for daily life in France this December?

A rise in fees for doctor consultations is a key change. There is also the opening of a new stretch of toll-barrier free - but paying - motorway

Big drop in state aid for electric cars in France: what is still available?

Reduction in aid for buying an electric car to drop up to €3,000 for some households

Is it necessary to pay a French driving fine before contesting it?

There is a time limit on contesting a fine you have received

Does France use ‘AI’ speed radars? What does this mean for drivers?

Changes to how radars work are set to come into force next year

Parking ticket fraud on rise in France – how to avoid being scammed

Beware of the increasingly common crime of ‘quishing’ via QR code

Mystery over how French driving fines continue to reach UK addresses

Information sharing agreements ended when Brexit came into force in 2021, but the number of fines sent across the English Channel increased in 2023

Why parking fines in France are now more likely to be cancelled

It comes after France’s highest administrative court found in a driver’s favour

Why are French roundabouts so confusing?

There are actually two types with different rules

Smartphone SOS alert saves driver's life in France after crash

Crash Detection system is triggered by violent movement and sends message to emergency services

Will roadworthiness tests penalise drivers in France for removing emission-limiting liquid?

AdBlue converts nitrous oxide particles, but has been criticised by drivers who believe it damaged their vehicles

One of main aids to purchase an electric car will end in France in 2025

Only the ecological bonus and social leasing will remain, but their amounts are as-yet unconfirmed

Ignoring this increasingly common French road sign could cost you €135

New driving rule relates to areas designated a zone à trafic limité

2024 Map: see where in France road speeds are reverting to 90km/h limit

Several departments have made changes with more currently considering doing so

French carmarker provides solution for noisy roads

Engineers utilise vehicle noise-cancelling data to identify road noise and reduce environmental impact

Are eyesight rules for drivers the same for licence-free cars in France?

It can be advisable to get an eye test before purchasing a voiture sans permis

Uber drivers disrupt traffic in several areas of France, more action expected

‘Workers are increasingly insecure and most earn less than the minimum wage,’ said a union rep

LIST: What offences will France’s new AI cameras be able to detect?

From 2025 the new cameras will see more than just excess speed

Citroën faces backlash in France over airbag delays

Cars were recalled and drivers warned over faulty airbags

MAP: How likely are you to pass your French driving test by department?

Your location could make more of a difference than you think

How many electric vehicle charging ports are in France and where?

Interactive maps can help drivers find available ports

No snow tyre fines in France this winter – but insurers may require them

Tyres are required in mountainous communes, but non-compliance will not be punished this winter

Do licence-free vehicles in France require a roadworthiness test?

Law change in April 2024 saw motorbikes require contrôle technique tests

Exploring the complexities of private roads and access rights in France

Droit de passage rules can sometimes lead to decades-long disputes

Record rise in driving fines in France: what offences and how caught

There are over 1,000 offences that can result in fines

Driving through fog in France: rules and penalties for infractions

Many vehicles are now equipped with special fog lights

Can UK car insurance be extended to provide cover in France?

Standard policies last for 90 to 180 days

Number of wrongly issued driving fines rising in France: how to appeal

Here is how to contest a parking ticket if you believe it was issued in error

Driver discovers she is subscribed to insurance as she pays French parking fee

She said she had never asked for or wanted the insurance and had to right to be refunded

ZTL (limited traffic zone) in Paris: when will fines begin and how much?

Central parts of the city are now closed to many drivers

Taxi drivers in Toulouse stage ‘snail’ protests against sector deregulation

Travel towards the airport or main train station is set to be affected by

What do the different number plate colours of cars mean in France?

Standard passenger vehicles must be white, but do you know what the other colours signify?

Important changes for drivers in central Paris from November 4

A 5.5 km2 zone in the centre will now have traffic limitations in place

Website shares list of cars acting as speed cameras in France

Unmarked vehicles operated by private companies perform the role in many departments

Rising cost of vehicle spare parts in France leads to increase in thefts

Official figures reveal a sharp increase in thieves targeting car parts such as bumpers and doors

Driver fails to register change of address and amasses €14,500 in fines from same French radar

The drive was unaware he was accruing fines as they were sent to old home

What is the process for ordering a replacement vehicle registration in France?

Replacements can be ordered in cases of loss, theft, and damage

Are French bank cards required at electric vehicle charging stations?

Payment for charging electric vehicles on the road can be made in many different ways

These French roads will be exceptionally busy this week as school holidays end

Traffic will be heightened due to November 1 bank holiday and end of holidays

What the new red lines on these French motorways mean

Drivers who fail to follow rules relating to the marking face a €135 fine

Increase in number of driving fines sent via email

Initiative saves on paper but drivers should be aware of scammers posing as authorities

Vehicle ‘malus’ increase rejected by French parliament - but could it still come?

Even MPs from the prime minister’s own party called the measure ‘too negative’

Car registration fees in France: Normandy rise highlights national variations

By January 1, 2025 the cost for a carte grise in Normandy will have risen by 72% in two years

French speed cameras set to detect more types of offences

Cameras set to use AI technology to help spot infractions such as driving without a seatbelt

CHART: Fewer petrol cars being bought in France in 2024

Drop in market share for petrol vehicles as hybrids become increasingly popular

Second weekend of school holidays in France: these roads will be very busy

Traffic is expected on major motorways as people depart cities for the country

17 new and recent changes in France

Many of the recently-announced measures will come into effect from January 2025

Letters: Minority of French motorcyclists think they are in a video game

Reader says that UK and German bikers act more responsibly

Foreign drivers can now switch to French licence 'at any time'

Authorities previously did not always accept licences that had more than six months left of validity

Why are only some US states’ driving licences exchangeable for a French one?

Exchanging a non-EU licence for a French one is based on reciprocal agreements

Paris mairie publishes first results from ring road speed drop to 50 km/h

The results are cautiously positive, after the speed drop was only introduced this month

These are the common and rare cycling signs all road users should know in France

Cycle lane rules, yield signs, and two-way bike traffic signs are all key for drivers to know

Recap: the French motorways which have barrier-free tolls, or soon will

Work to remove toll barriers from A13 motorway is underway

Explained: what does an 'A' symbol on a car in France mean and rules for use

What does the A symbol mean, who has a probationary licence, and what are the rules?

Next roadworthy check deadline for motorcycles in France approaches

The timing of the contrôle technique depends on when your vehicle was first registered

How France’s vehicle maluses work and what changes are planned

It is expected that four in five vehicles sold will face ecology taxes by 2027

Armour-plated Peugeot 205 formerly owned by France's richest man up for auction

Bernard Arnault, whose net worth is estimated at $177billion, was reportedly once denied entry to his office as the guard did not believe a man in his position would drive such a car

Roadworthy CT tests expected to change for car owners in France in January 2025

Potential frauds over pollution emissions are being targeted, reports car magazine Auto Plus

Car hits 12 boars on motorway in Normandy: three people injured

Road closed for nearly an hour after incident

Speed cameras effective from today to enforce new Paris ring road limit

Drivers going above new limit are now liable to stronger fines

Driving

Cars and driving: What's new in France in 2025

Traffic warnings in France as Christmas holidays begin: which roads to avoid?

Car fuel sold at cost price at many Intermarché supermarkets today and tomorrow

What fines do motorcyclists risk after trial for ‘inter-filing’ on French roads ends?

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Residency rights and border changes: What's new in France in 2025

Storms and snow: French weekend weather outlook December 21 - 22

French inheritance law: couples anxiously await EU decision as discussions continue

Police warn drivers of car headlights rules in France

Half of UK election postal votes - including from France - 'did not count'

Father’s anger at wine used in meals served to girl, 3, at state creche in Nice

Fines levied for failure to declare bank accounts held out of France

Are there rules to follow when changing a vehicle’s numberplate in France?

Camper vans on the road in France boost local economy

Police warn drivers of car headlights rules in France

Christmas parties: what are drink-drive limits and breathalyser rules in France?

How to recognise French road signs for recommended, not obligatory, behaviour

French road sign expands to Spain - but most drivers unaware of its meaning

Photo: French police stop driver over car covered in Christmas lights

New pollution bans from January: Which cars and which cities in France?

Fréjus Tunnel that connects France and Italy to close this weekend

Do drivers have to change number plates if they move to new French department?

What to do if télépéage badge not detected on French free-flow motorway?

The Code de la route has changed for cyclists in France

12,500 French parking fines cancelled after IT bug

See which offences can result in a car being impounded in France

Drivers can now get proof of driving licence online in France

Pay to park by income: Where in France and how does it work?

Driver arrested after dodging French motorway tolls with ‘kind words’ trick

When is a CT roadworthiness test needed to sell a vehicle in France?

Hospital transport change: French taxi driver protests cause 490km of traffic jams

Angry drivers launch court action against 50 km/h speed limit on Paris ring road

What is changing for daily life in France this December?

Big drop in state aid for electric cars in France: what is still available?

Is it necessary to pay a French driving fine before contesting it?

Does France use ‘AI’ speed radars? What does this mean for drivers?

Parking ticket fraud on rise in France – how to avoid being scammed

Mystery over how French driving fines continue to reach UK addresses

Why parking fines in France are now more likely to be cancelled

Why are French roundabouts so confusing?

Smartphone SOS alert saves driver's life in France after crash

Will roadworthiness tests penalise drivers in France for removing emission-limiting liquid?

One of main aids to purchase an electric car will end in France in 2025

Ignoring this increasingly common French road sign could cost you €135

2024 Map: see where in France road speeds are reverting to 90km/h limit

French carmarker provides solution for noisy roads

Are eyesight rules for drivers the same for licence-free cars in France?

Uber drivers disrupt traffic in several areas of France, more action expected

LIST: What offences will France’s new AI cameras be able to detect?

Citroën faces backlash in France over airbag delays

MAP: How likely are you to pass your French driving test by department?

How many electric vehicle charging ports are in France and where?

No snow tyre fines in France this winter – but insurers may require them

Do licence-free vehicles in France require a roadworthiness test?

Exploring the complexities of private roads and access rights in France

Record rise in driving fines in France: what offences and how caught

Driving through fog in France: rules and penalties for infractions

Can UK car insurance be extended to provide cover in France?

Number of wrongly issued driving fines rising in France: how to appeal

Driver discovers she is subscribed to insurance as she pays French parking fee

ZTL (limited traffic zone) in Paris: when will fines begin and how much?

Taxi drivers in Toulouse stage ‘snail’ protests against sector deregulation

What do the different number plate colours of cars mean in France?

Important changes for drivers in central Paris from November 4

Website shares list of cars acting as speed cameras in France

Rising cost of vehicle spare parts in France leads to increase in thefts

Driver fails to register change of address and amasses €14,500 in fines from same French radar

What is the process for ordering a replacement vehicle registration in France?

Are French bank cards required at electric vehicle charging stations?

These French roads will be exceptionally busy this week as school holidays end

What the new red lines on these French motorways mean

Increase in number of driving fines sent via email

Vehicle ‘malus’ increase rejected by French parliament - but could it still come?

Car registration fees in France: Normandy rise highlights national variations

French speed cameras set to detect more types of offences

CHART: Fewer petrol cars being bought in France in 2024

Second weekend of school holidays in France: these roads will be very busy

17 new and recent changes in France

Letters: Minority of French motorcyclists think they are in a video game