France
Drives on the right · EUR · Emergency 112Speed limits
Urban
50 km/h
Rural / outside built-up areas
80 km/h
Motorway
130 km/h
Alcohol limits
General limit
0.5‰
Novice drivers
0.2‰
Mandatory equipment
- •Warning triangle
- •Hi-vis vest
Winter tires & snow chains
In designated mountain zones (Alps, Pyrenees, Massif Central, Vosges, Jura, Corsica), winter tires or snow chains are required from 1 November to 31 March on routes marked with a specific sign — check signage before entering these areas.
Tolls
System
Toll booths
Most autoroutes charge tolls at booths (péage), paid by cash, card, or an electronic badge. No nationwide vignette.
More things to know before you drive
Seatbelts
Mandatory front and rear for all occupants.
Mobile phone use
Hands-free only; holding a phone is prohibited even while stopped with the engine running.
Child seats
Children under 10 years old (or 135 cm) must use an approved child restraint; generally not permitted in the front seat unless an exception applies.
Headlights
Dipped headlights recommended in poor visibility; not generally mandatory in daylight outside tunnels, though many newer cars run daytime lights by default.
Low-emission & restricted zones
Numerous "Zones à Faibles Émissions" (Paris, Lyon, Grenoble, and others) require a Crit’Air sticker matching the vehicle’s emissions category.
Right of way & roundabouts
"Priorité à droite" applies at many unmarked junctions; roundabouts generally give way to circulating traffic, with some older exceptions signed otherwise.
Parking
Many town centers use blue "disque de stationnement" zones — display a parking disc showing arrival time for free, time-limited parking.
Speed cameras
Widespread fixed and mobile radar network, including average-speed sections on some roads.
Good to know
Default rural limit is 80 km/h except where signed 90. Novice drivers (first 3 years, or 2 after accompanied driving) have a 0.2 alcohol limit.