Driving

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 some 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

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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

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’

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

He was unaware of his fines as they were sent to old home

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

Next roadworthy check deadline for motorcycles in France approaches

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

Crackdown on speeders after rise in road deaths in three areas of France

Penalties for dangerous driving have increased and more checks are taking place

Do second-hand car purchases in France come with a warranty?

Buyers have some statutory protection from both dealerships and individual sellers

Are electric vehicle grants available for second-home owners in France?

Two main schemes are available for residents

Crit’Air 3 vehicles to be allowed limited access to Paris in 2025

The new 12-day rule will affect 422,000 private vehicles and 59,000 commercial vehicles in Greater Paris

Letters: Motorcyclists are too aggressive on the Paris périphérique

Connexion reader says that many drive too fast and act rudely when drivers do not let them

Graph: The fluctuating price of petrol and diesel for drivers in France

Significant increases are now expected due to rising tension in the Middle East

Mass car recalls in France: which brands and models are impacted and why?

Peugeot, Opel, Fiat among brands that have been impacted

How do driving points work in France, how often given and what about foreign licences?

100 times as many drivers face having licences suspended compared to 30 years ago

What is XTL 'green diesel' and can it improve French Crit'Air rating?

The fuel was made available to the general public in June

French air pollution restrictions: how and where bans on older cars will work

Vehicles in two major cities are set to face tougher rules - but other areas have been given a temporary reprieve

Surge in parking fines as French towns use radar checking cars

In Paris, the number of fines issued has risen by as much as 75%

A guide to Crit’Air stickers in France

Crit’Air stickers, showing how polluting a car is, are required in more and more French cities. How do you get one, and what pitfalls should you watch out for?

14 recent and upcoming changes you may have missed in France

Rules on train tickets, new UK and EU border controls and driving all feature

Works underway to complete Normandy motorway's barrier-free toll system

Drivers will still need to pay but all booths are expected to have been removed from the A13 by end of year

Sales of small, no-licence, cars are booming in rural France

The cars are especially popular among students and elderly people

Is carrying a spare tyre required when driving in France?

There are requirements for drivers to have certain items in their car

What are the rules for driving a mobility scooter in France?

The regulations can vary dependent upon the vehicle’s maximum speed

When will EU driving licence changes apply in France?

The limit for standard permit ‘B’ licences is set to increase from 3.5 to 4.25 tonnes for some vehicles

Is it possible to sell a second-hand car in France without speaking French?

The paperwork required could make a sale difficult without assistance

Traffic disruption this weekend as motorcyclists protest new French rule

Bikers’ federation wants to see compulsory roadworthiness tests scrapped

Police to increase road checks in south-east France due to high death toll

42 people have died in accidents already in 2024, significantly higher than last year. Statistics include many motorcyclists

Albi: Historic bridge in south of France closed to vehicles for months of repairs

Alternative route is now open to drivers who want to cross Tarn river

Letters: I have always used my French licence to drive in the US

A reader tells of his trouble-free experience of driving abroad

Drivers can compare local contrôle technique fees at new official French website

You can search by engine type and commune or use an interactive map

Three cars confiscated as French police helicopter helps spot speeders on national route

The operation helped officers on ground to catch offenders

What are the risks of not carrying your licence when driving in France?

Some drivers can now carry - and present - a digital version of their licence

How long should it take to exchange a foreign driving licence for a French one?

The process can appear slow is linked to the complexity of the checks officials must carry out

Trial allowing motorbikes to ride between lanes extended in France

The test is ongoing in 21 departments

Paris ring road: region to oppose October speed cut to 50 km/h

It comes after the Ile-de-France president said the Paris mayor was ‘denying democracy’

Letters: France’s toll-free motorways: a ‘nightmare’ or ‘no trouble at all’

Readers spar over their vastly different experiences with the new system

British retiree in France refunded after paying £2,100 to drive in Ulez

Transport for London rectified Low Emission Zone error after The Connexion reached out about his case

BMW recalls around 64,000 vehicles in France over possible brake fault

1.5 million vehicles are affected worldwide

Pyrénées road connecting France and Spain will be closed for months

Last weekend’s storms caused damage to the route in several places

France’s quickest traffic lights stay green for just 6-8 seconds

One light only lets a couple of cars through at a time - and some say it is dangerous

Driving app Waze update to make journey times in France more accurate

The previous version has bugs, which are affecting iPhone users. Here is how to ensure you have the latest update

Photo: 50-metre hole cuts road in two after storms in France

Alerts remain in place for flooding and storms in several areas

Drivers face fines as France tyre ban comes into force

The use of ‘all-season’ 'M+S' tyres without the 'three peak mountain snowflake symbol' - is to be penalised from November in certain areas

How should you dispose of used tyres in France?

They cannot – usually – be dropped off at tips

Do ‘Crit’Air’ stickers go out of date for French low-emission zones?

Almost all vehicles are given a pollution rating between 1 and 5, and the most polluting are not allowed in certain towns

Half a million 'illegal' speed bumps could be flattened after French court ruling

Two that did not meet the 1994 standards have already been demolished

Do older drivers have to sit any aptitude tests in France?

In some EU countries medical tests for elderly drivers are an annual requirement

Three changes to driving laws in France being introduced this September

Drivers and motorcyclists will be affected

Fuel prices at lowest since 2022 in France, will the trend continue?

Lower global demand and a strong euro has seen prices drop

Do you know the meaning of this rare French road sign?

It related to a law which proved both controversial and unpopular

What are French rules for children’s car seats?

There are strict regulations on booster seat manufacturing

Can French Télépéage badges be used across multiple vehicles?

Toll badges are a popular means of passing through tolls quicker

Traffic forecast for August 30 - September 1: Roads to avoid in France

The end of the summer holiday season and the start of the Paralympic Games are a potent mix for busy roads this weekend

Tired British driver crashes after driving on left side of road in south-west France

Nobody was seriously injured in the head-on accident

TotalEnergies customers to benefit from lower car fuel cap at French pumps

Four million bill payers are eligible for new discount

Car repair and insurance costs on the rise in France

Technological complexity, inflation, and even weather are noted as reasons for the increase in prices

Gendarme killed by driver who refused to stop on motorway near Cannes

The deceased was a 54-year-old married father of two

Is it possible to sell a second-hand right-hand drive car in France?

An imported car will need to be registered for use in France

Tourist fined for driving golf buggy on public road in south-west France

The vehicle did not have a number plate but its Belgian driver was ‘surprised’ she could not use it

Mont Blanc tunnel to close for three months

Alternative routes through Switzerland or Fréjus tunnel are available

Heavy traffic expected in France this weekend: roads to avoid

Traffic watchdog Bison Futé has put in place red level traffic warnings

Electric cars: charging at French motorway services ‘too expensive’

Cost can sometimes exceed the price of fuel for the same journey. Motorway operators’ profits on chargers are far higher than for other services and goods