France: with a licence held for less than 3 years your limit is 0.2 ‰ and lower speeds apply (110 km/h on motorways). Motorways are tolled, and cities require a Crit’Air sticker.
Key points for young drivers:
Everyone must wear a seat belt; children travel in child seats suited to their height and weight.
As in most EU countries – official sources point out no particular differences in traffic lights.
Motorcyclists, moped riders and their passengers must also wear CE-certified gloves, and the motorcycle rider must carry a high-visibility vest.
A breathalyser is not compulsory.
No specific requirements in the sources.
From 1 November to 31 March, in 34 mountain departments (Alps, Massif Central, Jura, Pyrenees, Vosges) – in areas marked by signs – your car must have 4 winter tyres or carry snow chains or snow socks for at least 2 wheels. Only tyres with the snowflake symbol (3PMSF) count as winter tyres – with M+S tyres alone you must also carry chains.
Phone only with a hands-free kit (e.g. the car’s Bluetooth). Headphones and earphones are banned – also for listening to music.
Drugs: driving after taking any narcotic substance (THC, methamphetamine, MDMA and others) is banned – zero tolerance.
Speed camera warning devices (radar detectors) are banned.
Most motorways are tolled – you pay at toll booths (péage) by card, in cash or electronically. On the A13/A14 (Paris–Normandy), the A79 in the Allier department and the Boulay junction on the A4 there are no barriers (flux libre): a camera reads your number plate, and you pay online on the operator’s website or at Nirio network outlets – you have 72 hours to do so.
Low-emission zones (ZFE) operate in many cities, including Paris. For these zones and during smog episodes you need a Crit’Air sticker – also with foreign number plates. Order it only on the official website certificat-air.gouv.fr.
A driving licence from an EU/EEA country (plastic card) is valid here – you don’t need an international driving permit. Take your vehicle registration certificate and proof of third-party motor insurance. You don’t need a Green Card in the EU/EEA – your EU/EEA motor insurance is valid here.
Note: with a trailer, what counts is the maximum authorised weight of the whole combination (car + trailer). Up to 3.5 t you drive as with a car; over 3.5 t – max. 90 km/h on motorways (Article R413-8 of the French Highway Code).
Remember: Abroad, the rules of the country you are driving in apply – including lower alcohol limits for novice drivers. Road signs take precedence over the values in the table. Vignettes, toll booths and toll-free motorways: motorway tolls and vignettes in Europe.
Sources: European Commission – Your Europe, “Road rules and safety” (data from EU and EEA countries and Switzerland); Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Odyseusz, country profiles (in Polish); German Federal Foreign Office (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia); official national websites (listed for each country). Last updated: September 2026. Rules change – check them on the official websites before you travel.
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