Motoring

French roundabouts are also about revolution of a political kind

France has more roundabouts than any other country – we trace their history and how they have come to symbolise deep worries about French cultural identity

Price of car repairs and tyres rising sharply in France

A combination of parts shortages and increasing raw materials and workforce costs are making vehicle maintenance more and more expensive

France trials signs asking drivers to give cars on hard shoulder space

The new signs will appear on national roads and motorways over the next three years

practical

Can I drive in UK with French licence?

I have a French driving licence. Will I be able to drive on it in the UK or will I need an International Driving Permit?

Can UK drivers hire nine-seat vehicles in France?

My family are coming over in July and need to hire a nine-seater vehicle. They are all aged over 21 and have held licences for over two years. According to French law, will they be able to hire a nine-seater?

How many yellow vests must you have in a car?

A friend broke down and police officers checked the car and said she should have had a yellow vest for every seat in the car. Is this true?

Tesla tops list of electric cars sold in France in 2021

New ranking puts the American brand ahead of usual favourites Renault and Peugeot, and was published just before government aid for electric cars dropped by €1,000

Know the rules in case your car breaks down on a French motorway

When you can use the hard shoulder, who to call - and where from - how much it costs to get towed, and what happens if you run out of fuel...

How to compare prices of petrol or diesel at stations across France

Use the government's online price guide to see the latest prices for the cheapest fuel available in your area

Explained: Car contrôles techniques checks in France

Use the government's price guide to see latest prices for contrôles techniques at test centres near you

Tips for saving money on air-con for your car in France this summer

How you can keep the cost of refilling your car's air-conditioning down

Why cost of car repairs in France could plummet next year

MPs introduce a new bill to end manufacturers' monopoly on certain spare parts. Price reductions of up to 70% for some parts predicted

What changes for drivers in France in 2021

Rules take in everything from buying a new car and scrapping an older vehicle to winter tyres, taxes and insurance premiums

More French regions use private unmarked speed camera cars

Cars will take to the roads in three regions in the first quarter of 2021

Vintage vehicles take to streets of Paris

Hundreds of cars, vans, buses, motorbikes and tractors are expected to take part in the 13th annual Traversée de Paris

All-in French garage service price a costly surprise

Number plate ‘cloning’ is on the rise in France

Béarning rubber...in southern France

Although Pau is a dream destination for anyone interested in historic cars, it has plenty of other attractions.

Registering French car for UK plates

What are the rules for taking a French-registered car back to the UK? Ours was originally British and is still right-hand drive. N.M.

Charged extra for our car by French authorities?

We bought a new Land Rover Discovery TDV6 3.0L and had agreed on the price but, when given the bill, we discovered the price included €8,000 marked as MALUS ECO PASTILLE. In addition, we now receive a demand each year for €189. Can you clarify if these charges are correct and why? T.B.

Start your engines to tour France’s motoring heritage

The Connexion sets out in search of car-lovers’ paradise – and finds there’s more than one

Driver bills department council for speed bump damage

Traffic calming measure caused thousands of euros of damage to vehicle

Safety fuel top-ups 'not needed' French motorists told

Temporary shipment difficulties from refineries are not affecting fuel supplies, Ministry says

MPs ignored suburban and rural France at their peril

Mathematician Hervé Le Bras, emeritus researcher at France’s Institute for Demographic Studies and director of research at the School for Advanced Studies in Social Sciences, gives his verdict on the gilets jaunes and migration

France shivers in first cold snap of winter

Temperatures across France dip 2C below seasonal norms ahead of the expected arrival of a period of 'very bad weather' later in the week

Readers and their Citroëns

We’ve travelled all around the world in our 2CVs for some incredible adventures

International télépéage options online

Motorists who regularly drive in several European countries can take advantage of automatic toll payment badges

France's speed cameras can now catch uninsured drivers

Every vehicle caught speeding or running through a red light now automatically checked on insurance database

The rise and rise of camping cars in France

The Connexion spoke to Louise and Bill Peacocke, have just returned to their home in the Haute-Savoie after a month-long camping-car holiday in Iceland

French MPs propose one-off 'tax' on heavy new vehicles

Norway-style payment would be imposed on vehicles weighing more than 1,300kg if it becomes law

Cross-country motor rally revs up to boost Red Cross

Rally round to see an incredible variety of motor vehicles revving up to raise funds for charity

France's confusing speed limit signs a fine mess

"A gift for those collecting speeding fines"

Smoking also distracts drivers in France

Nobody speaks of the danger of smoking at the wheel

Rising death toll among cyclists in France

Number of cyclist deaths on French roads has risen 2.4% a year since 2010, official figures reveal

French gendarmes stop flying unicorn on way to beach

Giant inflatable blocked view out of rear window

EU law means black boxes in new cars from 2022

Motoring lobby group fears plans to install so-called black boxes in new cars in the EU will "punish" drivers for all minor traffic infringements

France's speed limit u-turn "will not affect fines"

Road safety officials reject lawyer's claim that 'hundreds of thousands' of speeding cases could be cancelled after government u-turn on 90kph speed limits

French city makes camera-fines system permanent

Dedicated traffic management camera system becomes fixture after successful trial

Unmarked speed cars in three more French regions

Government unveils plan to extend use of private radar cars following trial in Normandy

French departments ready for speed limit changes

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe's announcement that local authorities could set own speed limits gets cautious welcome

Game of drones on France's autoroutes

Police issue a fine every two minutes during two-hour drone operation at an accident blackspot

France's third-largest city cuts periph speed limit

Speed on a busy stretch of ring road reduced in bid to cut pollution

Road marking machine takes a detour in SW France

A solid white line, broken white lines and give-way markings in a few confused metres along a stretch of road

Town honours historical gridlock with big traffic jam

Medieval commune on Nationale 6 route recalls traffic levels of past with classic car rally

What changes in France in April 2019

As always, the start of a new month brings small changes that can affect everyday life in France. April sees benefits and healthcare changes - as well as new rules on car parts coming into force

No-deal 'will mean Green Card for UK drivers in EU'

Motorists warned to apply early for green card insurance certificates, which could take a month to process

Drivers in Paris face €90 fine for blocking junctions

City's cameras will catch drivers who block traffic at busy intersections in capital

New website to take risk out of buying used car

Government site tracks the administrative history of vehicles on the road - including past insurance claims, ownership changes and whether it has ever been reported stolen

Parade of classic cars brings vintage glamour to Paris

The 19th edition of La Traversée de Paris combines automobiles and much-loved comic books

Fuel prices in France dip to lowest level in 2018

Cost of a litre of petrol or diesel has fallen by up to 15 cents a litre since October

Five arrests over French driving licence scam

Estimated 600 people now using illegally obtained licences, police believe

Government ponders cheap green car loans

Less well-off could benefit from low-interest, or even zero-interest, loans to buy greener cars

Radars will flash at 80kph even if signs still say 90

Speed limits change to take place from July 1

Police slam brakes on Brit racers on French autoroute

Gendarmes confiscate licences of Modball Rally drivers after vehicles clocked driving at between 180kph and 265kph on A26 near Calais

No cars towed as pound staff strike

Dispute over working conditions could close car pounds across Paris

Mayor bans private speed radar cars from village

Village in Gironde out of bounds to private speed radar vehicle drivers, even before they start operating in the region

Carte grise backlog: Angry motorists head to court

An estimated 450,000 car registration documents are now stuck in processing, prompting frustrated drivers to take legal action against the State - and they're winning

Crit'Air fines soar in crackdown on slow drivers

Period of grace well-and-truly over for motorists in Paris whose cars do not have Crit'Air stickers

First private speed radar cars hit French streets

Motorists' association launches legal bid to stop roll-out of privatised unmarked cars equipped with speed radar

Motorists in rush to beat CT deadline

Contrôle technique centres working flat out as drivers seek to have vehicles tested before new tougher rules come into force on May 20

We have free tickets for ‘ultimate luxury car show’

Subscribers can get €100 of tickets to see some of the world’s most exciting cars and luxury accessories at Top Marques Monaco

'300,000 backlog in carte grise system'

Drivers' association claims hundreds of thousands of motorists affected by bugs in struggling online system

One department gets tough on speeding drivers

Préfecture of Ain decides to double - and in some instances triple - sanctions for motorists who break the speed limit

French motorists collect good driving awards

Police in Dordogne hand out €50 petrol vouchers to four considerate drivers

Police to hand out €50 rewards to good drivers

If you're stopped by police in Dordogne on Friday, don't panic - they may just want to give you something

Know when to fit snow chains

Law obliges drivers to fit chains on signed roads

Scratched rental car may mean hefty fee

Beware rush as drivers try to beat strict new contrôle

Test centres brace for surge in demand ahead of tough new standards

Pollution spike prompts speed limit reduction

Driving in the Haute-Garonne this weekend? Watch your speed

New sign prompts drivers not to put pedal to the metal

A simple but effective addition to a standard speed radar warning sign has seen motorists cut their speed along one road in Dordogne

MPs approve four years of diesel tax rises

Tax on 'gazole' to increase 2.6 cents every year until 2021 to bring levy in line with that on petrol

Nord turns to video to catch driving offenders

Local authorities in the department are increasingly turning to video evidence to issue tickets

Four cars in one as show celebrates French design

Classic exhibition will be as interesting for the cars parked outside as the ones on display inside the halls

Wooden 2CV joins online museum

Citroën pay tribute to woodworker’s six-year labour of love

Pensioner makes fake speed trap to trick motorists

Annoyed by speeding motorists in his street, a 63-year-old Frenchman took the law into his own hands – by disguising his car as a police vehicle and mocking up his own roadside speed trap.