Driving in France is basically the same as driving in the UK. But there are some very obvious differences. Firstly, the most obvious one is that for some inexplicable reason they drive on the other side of the road. If this comes as a shock to you I’m sorry to have been the one that had to tell you. Maybe a better question to ask is why the UK drive on the left?
I’ve read that the reason we drive on the left is because way back when people rode horses, most people held a sword in their right hand. Therefore it was better to have people pass on the right so you could more easily impale someone should they try anything funny whilst passing you. Remember, they were more violent times. There’s me thinking it was because everyone disliked the British and just wanted to do something different.
What You’ll Need When Driving In France
Whilst driving in France there are a number of things you need to carry to remain legal. On the spot fines are available for those who choose not to carry :-
Equipment
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Breathalyser (check the dates if you have them) You don’t really need them, as there is not a fine associated with not having them, French have basically ignored the law since it was introduced. However, we always take them because a) they’re quite cheap and b) you might get an awkward officers, better safe than sorry.
Sale
French Breathalyzer – Certified French Breathalyzers*- Beware of products without the Official NF Logo which despite their claims they may not be legal for use in France
- A minimum of 2 approved disposable breathalysers must be carried in your car at any time while in France.
- NF breathalyser standards, Please note you will receive 2 x single breathalysers
- When you pass the red line you are over the French drink drive limit.
- All Current stock has a long expiry date May 2019
French NF Approved Breathalyzer Triple Pack*- Genuine NF Approved Breathalyser – complies with French law
- Supplied by the largest breathalyser manufacturer in France
- Item Package Weight: 0.132 lb
- Item Package Dimension: 15.0cm L x 10.6cm W x 3.4cm H
- High Viz jacket one per occupant. I find this law is closely observed in France. Having driving many thousands of miles in France, everyone I see at the roadside with a broken car has a high Viz on.
Sale
AA High Visibility Vest for safety and emergencies – Yellow*- Conforms to EU standard, EN 471 (class 2)
- Velcro fastening
- Universal fit (max fitting 44″ to 46″ chest)
- Compulsory in some EU countries when driving in Europe
Sale
Hi Vis Vest Yellow & Orange Small To 6XL 2 Band & Brace (Yellow, 2XL)*- Conforms to EN ISO 20471 Class 2
- 2 Reflective Band & Brace
- Durable Lightweight Fabric
- Velcro Fastening
- Polyester Bound Edges
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Warning triangle. Supplied as standard with many new cars, but can be purchased quite cheaply.
AA Warning Triangle For Breakdown Roadside Emergency Hazard AA0071 – EU Driving Legal Standard For Cars Vans Trucks – Storage Case Included*- Be seen be safe with this highly reflective triangle
- Warns other road users of accidents and breakdowns
- Heavy duty to withstand strong winds
- Complies with EU driving laws
- Folds flat in its storage case (included)
Sale
TekBox Folding Car Warning Safety Triangle in Protective Plastic Case/Reflective Red Hazard EU Emergency Breakdown For Car, Van, Truck, Lorry*- EMERGENCY TRIANGLE – These car warning triangles are an important bit of kits to keep in the back of your car in case of a breakdown
- FOLDS AWAY – These fold down into a small box for keeping the back of the boot without losing loads of space
- HIGHLY REFLECTIVE – The triangles are highly reflective to make sure you stay visible at any time
- SAFE STAND – The triangle has a secure stand for ensuring it stays upright and visible
- DIMENSIONS – These triangles measure approx 42cm on each side when folded out, and can be kept in its storage box which measures 43cm x 5cm x 2.5cm
AA Euro Travel Kit AA6318 – for Driving in France/Europe – Includes Zipped Storage Bag and UK Identifier, Multicolour*- ESSENTIAL items for safe and enjoyable driving in Europe
- FOR EMERGENCIES first aid kit, warning triangle, hi-vis vest, bulb kit
- FOR SAFETY headlight beam benders and a UK plate
- FOR CONVENIENCE maps and the AA European Driver’s Handbook
- AA BRAND products in a compact and convenient kit with zipped storage bag
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Spare bulb kit. Now this is one I have an issue with. Obviously it’s good practice to keep spare bulbs. If one does blow, then you can replace it. Our car has LED lights, so in theory, well, not in theory, but in practice it doesn’t have replaceable bulbs! I do take a spare set for the caravan though.
AA Compact Universal Car Bulb/Fuse Kit AA0552 – Includes Popular Halogen Bulbs H1 (448) H4 (472) H7 (499) – Suitable for Most Vehicles, Black/silver*- SUITABLE for the vast majority of vehicles that have halogen headlamps
- UNIVERSAL – it also has 3 of the most common halogen headlight bulbs H1 and H4 and H7
- POPULAR bulbs 1 x 501 and 1 x 382 and 1 x 380 and 1 x 207 are included
- FUSES are 1 x 10amp (red) and 1 x 15amp (blue) and 1 x 20amp (yellow)
- CONVENIENT small box will fit into your glovebox, door pocket or centre console
Simply UKB1 Universal Headlight Bulb Kit, Includes 7 Multiple Standard Car Bulbs,H1,H4,H7 and Others Main Types, Convenient Carry Case for Easy Storage, Yellow*- Universal Automotive Bulb Kit
- Includes all bulbs needed in standard cars
- Compact packaging
- Easy to store in your car
- Includes H1, H4 and H7 bulb
Documents
You’ll need to be sure you take these with you. It’s not advisable to leave them in the car, or caravan though, so exactly where you’re meant to keep them…..
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Insurance ( Check European cover default is 3rd party – see notes on Insurance)
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V5C (logbook)
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CRIS Document for the Caravan
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Driving Licence
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GB Sticker (if not on number plate) We changed our number plate to one with GB on it, I don’t like the idea of sticking a zonking great GB sticker on the car and the caravan.
General Driving Advice
Roundabouts
I find going around a roundabout the “wrong” way the strangest thing to get used to. Exiting on the right takes some getting used to. I have, on a couple of occasions some out of a T-Junction and driven on the left. It’s so natural to do that it’s sometimes scary. Only once was it a real problem and I didn’t notice until a car was driving towards me. My instinct was to think “What’s the nutter doing?” Which was exactly what the French guy was thinking about me no doubt. Realising my error I corrected it quickly and all ended well. (Apart from some hand gesturing from the said French driver. Maybe he was waving?)
Traffic lights
These do work differently. There’s no amber light after red. A flashing amber is like a caution (beware).
Fuel
Unleaded – sans plomb
Diesel is Gazole or gasole (gaz warle) or deisel
Generally you can pay at pump or mostly pay at the cashier. I’ve got away with just saying a number and please. One of the first times I went to France, I realised that I didn’t actually know that many numbers in French. I did German at school! So, I had to avoid certain pump numbers. More specifically I new 1,2,3,4,5,6 and 9. Which is a good start, I went to pump 13 once and I have no idea, even now what 13 is in French. In the end I resorted to “Noir Audi” (black Audi) I was driving a black Audi, it seemed to work. So my advice when getting fuel. Go to a pump number you know OR now your car colour in French!
Insurance
Check with your insurance. I had to tell my car insurance I was driving in France. You don’t actually get a green card, but they give you a reference number.. I had an interesting conversation when I asked if I was insured to drive in France. The reply was yes. To which I said “Oh that’s good I had to pay extra with my previous company”. They went on to explain I was insured, but 3rd party. As that was the minimum required in France. I paid extra to get fully comprehensive cover in France. Be careful of that little gotcha.
When I first drove in France, traffic on a roundabout had to give way to traffic entering the roundabout (exactly the opposite to the UK) this has slowly changed, now most work the same as in the UK. Obviously the traffic travels anti clockwise.
Ring Automotive RCT1 9 Piece European Travel Kit, with Warning Triangle, 2 High Vis Vests, Bulb Kit, First Aid Kit, Foil Blanket, Beam Reflectors, UK Sticker and Storage Case, Blue*
- AVOID FINES: All the legal essentials for driving in Continental Europe. If you don’t meet the regulations in the country you are driving in, you could be given an on-the-spot-fine.
- SAFETY ESSENTIALS: Kit includes warning triangle, 2 high vis vests, universal bulb kit, first aid kit, foil blanket, beam reflectors and GB stickers.
- STAY TIDY: Comes with storage case to keep kit tidy in the car – Velcro strips attach to the boot lining.
- TRAVEL NECESSITIES: It is a legal requirement to have motoring essentials in France, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Italy, Austria and Poland.
- UPDATED CONTENTS: Due to regulation changes in the UK and France, the RCT1 European Travel Kit now includes UK stickers instead of GB stickers, and no longer includes an NF breathalyser
AA Euro Travel Kit AA6318 – for Driving in France/Europe – Includes Zipped Storage Bag and UK Identifier, Multicolour*
- ESSENTIAL items for safe and enjoyable driving in Europe
- FOR EMERGENCIES first aid kit, warning triangle, hi-vis vest, bulb kit
- FOR SAFETY headlight beam benders and a UK plate
- FOR CONVENIENCE maps and the AA European Driver’s Handbook
- AA BRAND products in a compact and convenient kit with zipped storage bag
Sale
Family Motoring & Leisure 8 Piece European Travel Kit for Driving Abroad Quality Ultimate Safety Abroad European Travel Essentials storage bag & Emergency Roadside Breakdown Kit9*
- 8 Peice European Motoring Kit
- This Kit Includes –
- 1 x Set of Headlight Adaptors, 1 x High Visibilty Vest, 1 x Warning Triangle, 1 x Universal Bulb Kit,
- 1 x Twin Pack Breathalysers, 1 x UK Self-Adhesive Sticker, 1 x Mini First Aid Kit and 1 x Empty Kit Bag
General Hints and Tips
Avoid Paris
By mistake we ended up being far too near the centre of Paris on one trip. I had to change lanes and as I pulled out into the other lane, the car behind me accelerated up the side of the caravan, so I stopped. Each time I moved, he went further up the side of the Caravan. It was as if he was letting the tow car in, but not the caravan?
I had absolutely no choice but to stop the car leap out, run around the other side and literally scream obscenities, in English, at the driver of the car. He did have a shocked look on his face. I honestly think he though the caravan was a van driving behind me.
I had absolutely no choice but to stop the car leap out, run around the other side and literally scream obscenities, in English, at the driver of the car. He did have a shocked look on his face. I honestly think he though the caravan was a van driving behind me.
We now take a detour around Paris which adds maybe an hour to the journey.
Take Care if Using SatNav
General driving in my car I use Waze SatNav, this is a community based SatNav where you can report traffic jams, police cars, obstacles etc. However, it will tend to take you down narrow roads, which isn’t good with a caravan. I also tried ViaMichellin app. It was working fine until at one point it took us off a main road and tried to direct us into a school, which was absolutely bizarre, after that I somewhat lost confidence in it. Finally I stuck with CoPilot App with has a setting for entering caravan height and width and is meant to avoid roads that are “too narrow”. Unfortunately it’s definition if narrow is slightly different to mine. However, it’s the best of a bad bunch. Always best to plan route using a map and maybe use Sat Nav as an assistant.
Using Toll Roads
We use toll roads where ever possible. Ok, they obviously cost money, but for us, the roads are better, less traffic and more stop over points (Aires). I’d advise looking into getting a tag which you attach to your car windscreen and there’s no need to stop at toll booths and pay. We’ve found that getting the car near enough to a toll booth and reaching across was becoming an issue. Once I even grounded the caravan on a concrete block leading up to the booth!
These are available from Emovis-Tag webiste if you get them via the Caravan and Motorhome Club you save 10 euro
You pay for the tolls you use at the end of the next month.
BREXIT?
* There’s no specific BREXIT advice here, however, from what I know you may need two things
1) An Internaltional Driving Permit (IDP) available from the Post Office
2) A GB sticker
This may change as we get nearer to the BREXIT date.
See Also
CaravanVlogger YouTube French Adventure Playlist
Sorry, there was a YouTube error.
*Last update on 2024-12-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
